GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES

West Part of Seram covers an area of 53.148 km2 consisting of 49.058 km2 sea and 4.090 km2 land. Included are also the islands Kelang, Manipa and Buano. The total population reaches the number 52.657 people spread over 89 villages in 4 sub-districts (Kecamatan) which are: Seram Barat, Kairatu, Taniwel and Hoamoal Belakang.
The capital of this District (Kabupaten Seram Barat) is Piru. Its original name is "Hatu Telu" which means 3 stones. During the colonial period Piru was the center of Dutch East Indie military forces for whole Seram Island. During the 17-th century West Seram, especially Hoamoal, became famous for its richness in spices of clove and nutmeg.
Nowadays, West Seram is potential in providing forest products, agriculture and fishery. Mining is till in the exploration stages.
West Seram is also rich on rattan, dammar and bamboo as well as home industry products such as eucalyptus oil. Well-known fruits are among others kiwi (Mangifera Odorata Griff) from Taniwel and salak (Salacca Zalacca varieta Ambpoinensis kultivar Salaka Lalakwe).

HISTORY
West Seram was once well known for the fierce Hoamoal War. Since early 1600, before the arrival of the Europeans, West Seram, as a colony of the sultanate of Ternate, was once the center of spice trade. Clove trees were planted by the Sultan of Ternate in Hoamoal, Hitu and Buru. During the Dutch period clove plantations on Hoamoal were destroyed and replanted on the islands of Saparua, Haruku and Ambon, in order to maintain the prices of spices in the European markets. Since the 16th century Portuguese and Spanish traders, and later on Dutch and English traders in the 17th and 18th century, enters the Spice Islands to trade for spices especially clove and nutmeg. In order to monopolize the spice, trade the Dutch East India Company (VOC) succeeded in defeating their opponents and holds the supremacy in spice trade throughout Maluku which lasted for about 350 years.
The people of Maluku especially in Hoamoal tried to fight back the European intruders known in a struggle called the "Perang Hoamoal" (Hoamoal War) since 1631 to 1655.
Before the independence of Indonesia the capital Piru was the center of Dutch military forces. Public facilities such as schools where Dutch language was used in the teachings and another school using Malay language. At that time Piru has developed unto a center of the local government with an "Assistent Bestuur" as the Head of the Region. The village Riring lies in the mountains and is famous for its salak (snake fruit) and was an entertainment place for the Dutch rulers.

ECONOMY
The economy of the District Seram Bagian Barat (West Part of Seram) is based on forestry and fishery. Those natural resources are not yet developed. There are 10 industries in the field of coconut, clove, cacao, timber, plywood, lock board, formalin, urea, pearl and others. Another mining product is marble stone. Agricultural products among others are vanilla, clove, coffee, t rice, corn, fruits, eucalyptus oil, lawang oil, palm I products such as sago, bamboo, cinnamon, gaharu, rattan and dammar.

POPULATION
The population of West Seram is mostly indigenous; the Javanese population there is a direct result of the transmigration program of the government. The sub-district Kairatu is the first sub-district of whole Indonesia who received transmigrants from Java. There is also a small amount of people originating from other parts of Maluku as well as from Indonesia. The indigenous people of Seram are commonly addressed as the Alifuru people. According to the local myth these people came from the mount Nunusaku in north Seram.

TOURIST OBJECTS
West Part of Seram has a unique and beautiful eco-system. Dense jungle, mountains, valleys,
rivers, sago forest, eucalyptus tree forest, coconut and other kind of trees and flowers such as various types of orchids. All tourist objects there have not been developed yet; all are in their natural condition