34 PROJECT REPORT Conservation of Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora in Gn Sewu Geopark, Yogyakarta province, Java, Indonesia IRFAN ROSYADI, ARIF RUDIYANTO, ABDURRAHMAN, HERI SISWANTO, WIDODO S. PAMUJI & UJANG SUHENDAR BirdingASIA 32 (2019): 34–37 Introduction The Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora is endemic to Bali, Java and possibly Madura island off east Java, Indonesia. In its natural range, the species is classified as Endangered, with many populations extirpated as a result of hunting and trapping (BirdLife International 2001, 2019). The population in its natural range was estimated to be less than 1,000 individuals by Yuda (2008). Muchtar & Nurwatha (2001) surveyed 64 former sites and found a total of only 109 individuals at 17 of them. These residual populations were found only at Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve, West Java, Baluran and Meru Betiri National Parks, East Java, and the Bali Barat National Park, Bali. The species has been widely introduced outside its natural range, including Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi in Indonesia, and to many other countries, including Kenya and Tanzania in Africa, India, Sri Lanka, and widely in South-East Asia (BirdLife International 2001, 2019). However, it is reported that introduced populations are declining in many of these places, probably due to trapping for local sale as culinary items and temple offerings (Payne & Sharpe 2019). In 2017 and 2018 we carried out further surveys at some former known sites and engaged with the local communities in areas where birds were found. [Editors’ note: With the declaration of the Asian Songbird conservation initiative (Lee et al. 2016, Sykes 2017, Chng et al. 2019), the Java Sparrow was on the first list of species proposed for risk assessment.] Study area and activities The Gn Kidul regency, near Yogyakarta, Central Java, had been reported to support a small population of Java Sparrow, at sites including Jothak Cave, Maria Tritis Cave, Mandung cliff, Gupak Warak (Wardhani 2005, Yuda 2008), Song Banyu, Kanigoro (Laudisensius 2000), Gelatik Island (Yuda 2008), Watu Talang cliff (Mas Untung pers. comm.) and near Temuireng village (Matalabiogama 2005). This area is part of the Gn Sewu karst landscape, which is characterised by mountainous coral reef limestone holding many caves. The Gn Kidul regency, some 500 km² in area, lies between 7.767°S 110.35°E and 8.15°S 110.833°E. It is designated as state-owned forest and smallholder forest areas, although almost no natural forest remains and it is now dominated by plantations, mostly of teak Tectona grandis but also mahogany Swietenia mahagoni, acacia Acacia auriculiformis, rosewood Dalbergia latifolia, kapok Ceiba pentandra and Alstonia scholaris, with some areas dominated by scrub, including Chromolaena odorata and Lantana Plate 1. Carrying out an interview with a local resident, Gn Kidul regency, Central Java, Java, Indonesia, 24 August 2017. RAHMAN WIDODO SETYO PAMUJI Plate 2. Conservation-awareness meeting with school children, Pejaten Elementary School, Gn Kidul regency, 26 January 2018.