karst cave: hidden natural treasures

Karst is an area formed from limestone. Limestone karts are coral reef fossils that lived millions of years ago. Indonesia has a wide karst area which reaches 15,4 million hectares and is spread almost all over the island. This shows that the islands in our country were originally the seabed that experienced uplift and hardening. The landscape of the karst area is characterized by the presence of closed basins and/or dry valleys in various sizes and shapes, there are red clay sediments (terraros), sparse or no surface drainage/river, as well as the formation of caves from underground drainage systems. Caves in karst areas are formed as a result of the dissolution process (karstifikasi) by rainwater and groundwater. As a result of the crystallization and dissolution process, a basin is formed, gap, hallway, as well as various forms of typical cave ornaments such as stalagtite, stalagmites, catch, straw, helectite, draperis, pearl, curtain, and others. The shape and time required for the formation of a kart cave is strongly influenced by local hydrological and geological conditions.

Habitat for biota with important ecological functions

Low biomass cave environment (no plant can grow), total darkness, high humidity, and there is no daily or seasonal climate variation, making the characteristics of the cave ecosystem very different from the ecosystem on the surface. Likewise, the types of fauna that live in the cave also have their own uniqueness. Adjustment of the shape of the organ owned, such as a longer antenna, eyes shrink, pigment or color that fades even transparent is a form of a very long evolutionary process of cave biota. Besides being unique, Cave biota also usually have a limited distribution or high endemicity. based on research results from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), at least there is 100 types of cave biota in Indonesia and at least there are 30 rare and endemic new species.

The underground hydrological system which is more developed than the surface makes the caves in the karst area a very important source of water. In addition to supporting the life of flora and fauna,, It is also the main source of water for the life of the people of the karst region. The outer walls of the cave where many swallows live are also a source of income for the community. Bats, which mostly use caves as their habitat, have an important role in seed dispersal (forest regeneration). other than that, the presence of bats as insect predators also plays an important role in controlling insect populations that have the potential to carry disease outbreaks.

Remains of evidence of life in the past that many find in the cave make it a place to study the past. The use of caves as shelters and tombs in the past left various evidences that we can study such as drawings on cave walls, utensils, even ancient human skeletons. These various roles make the karst cave ecosystem a giant natural laboratory for various scientific disciplines.

Damage to the cave ecosystem

Various threats to the preservation of the karst cave ecosystem are still happening today. Moreover, of the total karst area in Indonesia, only about 15% only protected. The threat of deforestation in the form of clearing land for plantations and mining is the biggest threat. Limestone mining as raw material for cement production will affect the formation of karst landscapes whose impacts are impossible to recover. The land change will lose the ability and capacity of karst as a water absorber and storage. Based on research conducted by Djakamihardja & Muhtadi in 2013 in one of the mines in Citeureup shows that the mined and reclaimed sites have lost their ability to absorb more than 75% compared to unmined karst. While the karst that has been mined and has not been reclaimed is almost 99% lost the ability to absorb water. Not only affects the cave biota, especially the aquatic biota that live in it, but also affects the availability of water sources for the surrounding community.

The opening of various natural cave tours that are not managed properly also affects the sustainability of the cave ecosystem. The addition of various permanent buildings such as cement stairs and the installation of lighting installations in the cave can disrupt the activities of the cave biota. The number of tourists who are not limited can trigger damage to cave ornaments which are nests of cave biota. The increasing intensity of incoming light and the noise generated by tourists will of course greatly affect the activities of specialized cave biota according to cave conditions in general.. Not to mention the garbage brought by tourists, of course it will become a foreign object that pollutes the cave ecosystem. The increase in garbage in river flows is also a threat, especially those whose flow goes directly to the mouth of the cave.

Source :

• http://lipi.go.id/lipimedia/opini:-karst-habitat-biota-dengan-fungsi-ekologis-penting-yang-harus-dilindungi/16251
• http://lipi.go.id/lipimedia/ekosistem-kawasan-karst-tak%20%09tergantikan/18002
• https://caves.or.id/arsip/508

Be a part of SCENTS mission to save beautiful creatures from illegal wildlife trafficking