General Information
Geographycally The East Part of Seram District lies between 02--0 52'10". - 40 47'12" SL dan 129056'36" -131054'45" EL and bordered:
to the North by the Seram Sea
to the South by the Banda Sea
to the east by the Seram Sea and Papua
to the West by sub-district North Seram and sub-district Tehoru Central Maluku District.
Administrtively the East Part of Seram District consists of 4 sub-districts : (Kecamatan Bula, Kecamatan Seram Timur, Kecamatan Pulau Gorom and Kecamatan Werinama), covering 56 villages and 210 dusun's.. The capital of the East Part of Seram is Bula.
The East Part of Seram district covers an area of ± 15.887,92 Km2 consisting of sea 11.935,84 Km2 and land 3.971,98 Km2 (Kecamatan Seram Timur 603,65 Km2, Pulau Gorom 171,53 Km2, Werinama 175,58 Km2, and Bula 301,32 Km2.
This District has approximately 31 islands where only 17 of them are inhabited. Among those islands 10 of them are used to cultivate agriculture. Some of the important islands are: Seram, Geser, Gorom and dan Watubela (Kesui dan Teor).
The East Part of Seram has a tropical climate with an average temperature of 27,9° C. The lowest temperature is 20,20 C and the highest reach 31,90 C. The highest rainfall occur during March, 323,0 mm, and the Relative Humidity reach the number of 79,7%. Average wind velocity from the South is 34,8 knot mostly during the months of December and January.
Flora & Fauna
The dominant flora of the East Part of Seram among others are Rhyzosoleman and Chaeteceros. Others are algae (Euchema, Hipnea, Gracilaria, Gelidium etc). The marine gardens are enriched with ; colorful sponges, soft corals, plate corals, brain corals, mushroom corals, red and black corals, crinoids (feather stars, feather duster worms, giants clams), gorgonians and sea stars not to mention a variety of coral fish such as; parrot fish, butterfly fish, clown fish, trumpet fish, damsel fish, piper fish, scorpion fish, lizard fish, butter fish and ornate ghost fish. Comodity fish for export are among others; shrimp, tuna, garfish, teri, octopus, i squid etc. Seaweed (Eugema) is mostly used for local consumption.Sea cucumber, pearl oyster, lobster and shells are also of an export comodity.
Flora consist of a formation of Terminelia katappa (Katapang), Metroxylen Spp (Sagu), Colophyllum enophyllum (Betanggur), Sonneratia Spp (Mange - mange), Rhyzophora Spp (Bakau/Mangrove), Nucivera (Kelapa), Clove (Cengkeh), Nutmeg (Pala), Coffee (kopi) and a variety of orchids ; Dendrobium Phalaenopsis (Bunga Larat), Dendrolum Granenafum Vandopsis (Anggrek Macan), and Palm endemic to Seram (Cyathea Binayana). Timber are among others; Kayu Linggua (Pterocarpus Indica), Damar (Agathis Alba), Kenari (Canarium Sylvester), Meranti (Shorea Sp), Jati (Instria Bituga) and others.
Wild animals could be found in the jungle such as; wild boar, deer and a variety of reptiles like cracodiles (Crocodylus Porousus), snakes (Calamaria Ceramensis), lizards (Dibamus Saramensis) and soa - soa (Hydrosaurus Amboinensis). In the swamps you can find a variety of frogs and other small animals. There are ± 28 species of birds where 8 among them are endemic to Seram among others; Nuri / Kasturi Merah tengkuk (kepala) hitam (Lorius Domicella/Black Head Lorry), Raja Nuri (Alisterus Amboinensis/ King Lorry), Nuri Merah Telinga Biru (Eos semilarvatus/ Blued ear lorry), Kakatua Raja (Probosciger Atterimus/King Cockatoo), Kakatau Jambul Kuning (Cacatua Galerita/Yellow Crest Cockatoo), Kakatua Seram (Cacatua Maluccensis / Seram Cockatoo), Burung Madu (Phylemon Subcorniculatis/ Honey Bird), Kasuari (Casuarius Casuarius/ Cassuari) etc.
Population
The total population of the East Part of Seram according to the sensus of 2005 is 132.720 souls or ± 36.726 families with a composition of 67.660 men and 65.050 women. Its population growth is 2 % annually. The mayor religion is Islam. Other religions are Christian, Hindu and Budha. Chinese decendants have lived in Bula since centuries ago, that's why we can find old Chinese graves in the graveyard of Bula.
Economy
The main export commodity of East Seram are marine products, to be followed by forestry, agryculture and others. The occupation of the population is mostly as fisherman, others are government employees and in the private sector.
Culture
The traditional dances expose the daily life of the society where the costumes are dominated by red, green and yellow colors. Some of the attractive dances are:
Tata Kora
This dance originate from the village Dai, on the island of Gorom. Kecamatan Pulau Gorom. Tata Kora perform daily happenings in the village. This dance is danced by young people of Gorom island.
Sawat dance (friendship dance)
Sawat is mostly danced in welcoming guests or during customary ceremonials, coronation of the village head etc. The dance is accompanied by sawat drum and flute. Its accompanying music boosts a strong Islamic influence.
Language
There are 4 local languages spoken in the 4 sub-districts of East Seram beside the Bahasa Indonesia as the national language of Indonesia. But in the capital Bula the Bahasa Indonesia is more dominant.
Religion
There are 5 religion in East Seram, but animism and dinamism still holds a strong influence on the people. Especially by the local tribe in the inland of Seram Timur sub-district and Gorom island. The Bati tribe in East Seram sub-district and Tubir tribe in Bula is one example. Hinduism is a minor religion by some Balinese people living in Dusun Waimatakabu (Bula).
