Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra

Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Indonesia
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, ix, x
Reference	1167
Region**	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	2004  (28th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO.

Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra comprises three Indonesian national parks on the island of Sumatra — Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. The site is listed under Criteria vii - outstanding scenic beauty; ix- an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes; and x- contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation. UNESCO designated the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra a World Heritage in 2004.

Location and Size

The Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra is situated on the middle of Sumatra, Indonesia. It consist of three national parks; Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) 8,629.75 square kilometers (3,331.97 sq mi), Kerinci Seblat National Park (KSNP) 13,753.50 square kilometers (5,310.26 sq mi) and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) 3,568 square kilometers (1,378 sq mi). The total area of the rainforest is 25,000 square kilometers. The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra was chosen because, first, it represents significant area of forests on the island of Sumatra, because of the biodiversity, of lowland and mountain forest. This once vast island of tropical rainforest has been condensed to secluded areas, in the space of 50 years.

Second, the national parks that make up the heritage are all located on the well-known key spine of the Bukit Barisan Mountains, known as the ‘Andes of Sumatra’, and that all around it there are magnificent views. The mountains of each site represent important mountainous backdrops to the established and developed lowlands of Sumatra. The mixture of the stunning Lake Gunung Tujuh (the highest lake in Southeast Asia), the splendour of the giant Mount Kerinci volcano, many small volcanic, coastal and glacial lakes in natural forested settings. This shows the beauty of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.

Lastly, all three national parks have a very varied habitat and have outstanding biodiversity. Altogether the three sites make up fifty percent of the total plant variety, in Sumatra. At least 92 local common species have been recognized in GLNP. The nomination contains populations of both the world’s largest flower (Rafflesia arnoldi) and the tallest flower (Amorphophallus titanum). The Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra has just recently become apart of the World Heritage List, in 2004.

Geography

Gunung Leuser National Park in the north is 150 kilometers (93 mi) long, over 100 kilometers (62 mi) wide and is mostly mountainous. Forty percent of the park, which is mainly in the north, is steep, and over Template:1,500. Twelve percent of the Park only, in the lower southern half, is below 600 meters (2,000 ft) but for 25 kilometers (16 mi) runs down the coast. eleven peaks are over 2,700 meters (8,900 ft) and the highest point is Gunung Leuser, which 3,466 meters (11,370 ft) high.

Kerinci Seblat National Park in the centre extends 350 kilometers (220 mi) down the back of the Bukit Barisan, averaging 45 kilometers (28 mi) wide and 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) above sea level. The northern half has a lower eastern mountain range, between 800 meters (2,600 ft)-1,500 meters (4,900 ft). Three quarters of the park is steep. The highest point, and highest volcano in Indonesia, is the Mount Kerinci, standing at 3,805 meters (12,480 ft).

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is also 350 kilometers (220 mi) long but only 45 kilometers (28 mi) wide on average. The northern two-thirds are rocky, averaging 1,500 meters (4,900 ft) with the highest point, Mount Pulung standing at 1,964 meters (6,440 ft). The southern half is lower; 90 kilometers (56 mi) of it is a cape and the Park borders the sea for half its length. Many of rivers derive in the Parks and there are several lakes and hot springs.

The mountains have year-round little changing high temperatures, high humidity and high rainfall for nine months in wetter areas, seven months in drier areas. This climate has encouraged the high speciation (formation of new species) and variety of species. Gunung Leuser National Park, receives 3,000 millimeters (120 in) of rainfall, in the north, and collects 4,657 millimeters (183.3 in) in the lowland south. Temperatures average between 21 °C to 28 °C and the humidity is always above 60%, especially when over 1,700 meters (5,600 ft). In Kerinci Seblat National Park, the rainfall averages 2,990 millimeters (118 in), temperatures range from 16° to 28 °C and humidity is always high (seventy seven-ninety percent). In Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, the rocky west is wet especially during the November to May monsoon: rainfall is 3,000 millimeters (120 in)-4,000 millimeters (160 in). The east is drier, with 2,500 millimeters (98 in)-3,000 millimeters (120 in) of rainfall and the temperature ranging between 20°and 28 °C.

Animals

Gunung Leuser National Park is a part of the eighteen Indonesian regions classified by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) among the 200 global ecoregions of importance for preservation of the world’s biodiversity. 174 mammals, 3 being endemic and 21 listed as threatened in 2000. Little is known about the smaller mammals. 380 species of birds are listed, 13 being endemic and 52 threatened. Some of the important species: the orangutan, Sumatran rhinoceros, and the pigtailed monkey. Important plants are: Rafflesia arnoldi, and the Amorphophallus titanium. Several important bird species: Rueck’s blue flycatcher, and the white winged duck.

In KSNP, 85 mammal species are recorded, 5 endemic and 23 listed threatened 370 species of birds are listed, 13 being endemic and 58 threatened. Some important mammal species: Bornean Clouded Leopard, Asian tapir, and the Sumatran rhino. Several important bird species: White-winged duck and the Sumatran ground cuckoo. A few of important plant species: Hopea beccariana, Shorea ovalis ssp.seicea.

BBSNP, has 98 mammals are recorded, with 1 endemic and 25 threatened 379 species of birds are listed, 7 being endemic and 58. 59 reptile and amphibian species are recorded. BBSNP has the same bird species as KSNP. Some important mammal species: Sumatran elephant, and the leatherback turtle.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Nierenberg, Danielle. 2006. State of the world 2006: a Worldwatch Institute report on progress toward a sustainable society. New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN 9780393327717.
• Tan, Kim H. 2008. Soils in the humid tropics and monsoon region of Indonesia. Books in soils, plants, and the environment. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9781420069075.
• Terborgh, John. 2004. Requiem for nature. Washington, D.C.: Island Press [for] Shearwater Books. ISBN 9781559635882.
• Witton, Patrick. 2003. Indonesia. Melbourne: Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781740591546.

External links

• UNESCO World Heritage website

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