Integrating ecosystem restoration and development of recreation sites in degraded tropical mountain areas in East Java, Indonesia

The aims of this paper were to describe the principles of ecosystem restoration and development of recreation sites in degraded mountain areas, with special references to East Java, Indonesia. In East Java, the mountain ecosystem has been disturbed by anthropological and natural forces, and restoration is a crucial program to repair and recover the degraded area. At the same time, tourism to mountain areas is growing significantly, and there are opportunities for integrating development of recreation tourism areas and restoration programs in degraded sites. However, considerable research shows that there are less appropriate programs, planning and practice of integrating restoration and development of tourism areas in degraded mountain areas. Numerous exotic plant species were introduced as part of the effort to repair many degraded mountain areas in East Java. There are economical motives to the introduction of exotic plants, as sh own by the abundant number of multi-purpose plant tree species. A large number of exotic plant species were also influenced by attempts to increase the beauty of recreation sites, to provide consumable fruits and vegetables and environmental education. This paper shows there are misconceptions concerning restoration and development of recreation sites in conservation forests in mountain areas in East Java. Integrating recreation tourism area development and restoration programs should be established in the perspective of sustainable development.