Jompie Botanical Garden

Tracing the Jungle's Footsteps in the City Center: The Charm of Jompie Botanical Garden Parepare

Parepare City in South Sulawesi might be more known as a service city and the birthplace of the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia, B.J. Habibie. However, behind the hustle and bustle of its port activities, lies a green gem that serves as the city's lungs and a conservation center for coastal plants: Kebun Raya Jompie. Located in Bumi Harapan Village, Bacukiki Barat District, this area offers a soothing symphony of nature, blending lowland tropical rainforest vegetation with hilly landscapes overlooking Parepare Bay.

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Unique Ecosystem and Coastal Biodiversity

Kebun Raya Jompie is not just an ordinary city park. Spanning approximately 13.5 hectares, this area holds the status of a collection center for plants from the Makassar Strait coastal region. Its unique ecosystem lies in its ability to maintain a microclimate amidst the typically hot temperatures of a port city.

Here, visitors can find hundreds of flora species grouped by biogeographic zones. One of its main attractions is the collection of rare and endemic Sulawesi plants, such as blackwood (ebony), various types of rattan, and bitti, which is the primary material for building Pinisi ships. Additionally, the area is home to various types of bamboo and traditional medicinal plants that have long been used by the local Bugis community. The presence of decades-old giant trees creates a dense natural canopy, allowing sunlight to penetrate the foliage only in poetic shafts of light.

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Natural Landscape and Geographical Features

Topographically, Kebun Raya Jompie is situated in a hilly area that offers dramatic variations in scenery. One of the most prominent natural features is the presence of a clear, flowing natural spring. The Jompie spring not only sustains the garden's ecosystem but also serves as a source of clean water for some city residents.

Walking along the existing paths, visitors will be treated to undulating terrain. From several elevated points, you can see the silhouette of distant hills and the blue sea of the Makassar Strait bordering the horizon. The blend of lush forests and the salty aroma from the sea creates a unique sensory experience, rarely found in other botanical gardens in Indonesia.

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Tourist Experience and Outdoor Activities

Kebun Raya Jompie is designed to pamper nature lovers with various facilities integrated with the environment. Visitors can enjoy soft trekking along the jogging track that cuts through the dense forest. The path is designed to avoid damaging the roots of large trees, offering visitors the opportunity to experience "forest bathing" or shinrin-yoku to relieve stress.

For families, there are shaded picnic areas under the canopy of lush trees. One iconic spot is the Observation Tower. From the top of this tower, your view will be treated to a 360-degree panorama showcasing the contrast between the green vegetation of the botanical garden, the blue sea, and the cityscape of Parepare. Another popular activity is bird watching. Due to its well-preserved ecosystem, Jompie is a stopover for various tropical birds whose chirping constantly breaks the forest's silence.

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Conservation Status and Environmental Protection

As part of the botanical garden network under the guidance of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kebun Raya Jompie plays a crucial role in ex-situ conservation. Its primary functions are as a center for research, education, and environmental services. Conservation efforts are carried out through digital data collection of each collection tree, where every tree has a label with its scientific name and origin.

The area also serves as a primary water catchment for Parepare City. Protection of this area is very strict, with prohibitions against littering and rules against damaging plant collections. Education on the importance of preserving biodiversity is often provided to schoolchildren through educational visit programs, making Jompie the largest natural laboratory in northern South Sulawesi.

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Best Time to Visit

For the best experience, a visit in the morning between 07:00 and 10:00 is highly recommended. During this time, the air is still very fresh, and the activity of fauna such as birds and butterflies is at its peak. If you visit in the afternoon, you have the chance to see the beautiful gradation of the twilight sky from the elevated areas.

Seasonally, Kebun Raya Jompie has a different charm. During the rainy season, the vegetation appears very lush and the spring flow becomes stronger. However, during the dry season, some trees shed their leaves, giving an aesthetic and exotic seasonal forest ambiance, similar to the atmosphere of forests in temperate regions.

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Accessibility and Supporting Facilities

Access to Kebun Raya Jompie is quite easy due to its location within the administrative area of Parepare City. From the city center or Nusantara Port, the journey takes only about 10 to 15 minutes by motorized vehicle. The road to the location is well-paved and can be traversed by two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles.

The public facilities available are quite complete to ensure visitor comfort. There is a spacious parking area, clean restrooms, a prayer room, and gazebos scattered at several strategic points for resting. For researchers or students, there is an information center that provides data on the existing plant collections. The city government also continues to improve infrastructure, including adding aesthetic photo spots that are still in harmony with the natural theme, to attract the interest of the younger generation to love the environment more.

Kebun Raya Jompie is tangible proof that urban development and nature conservation can go hand in hand. It is not just a tourist destination, but a green heritage that maintains the ecological balance of Parepare City. Visiting Jompie is a short journey back to nature, a reminder of the rich biodiversity of the archipelago that must be preserved for future generations.