Bukit Dua Belas

Bukit Dua Belas (meaning The Twelve Hills) National Park is a relatively small national park covering 60.500 hectares in East Sumatera, Indonesia. It is representative of lowland tropical rain forests in the Province of Jambi. Only the northern part of the park consist of primary rainforest, while the rest is secondary forest, as result of deforestation. Originally this area is the area of permanent production forest, limited production forest areas and other uses which are combined into a national park. Natural forests than still exist situated in the northern part of this national park. While the other is secondary forest.

Plant species that exist among other Bulian (Eusideroxylon zwageri), Meranti (Shorea sp.),  Menggeris/Kempas (Koompassia excelsa), Jelutung (Dyera costulata), Jemang ((Daemonorops draco), Damar (Agathis sp.), and Rattan (Calamus sp.)

Bukit Dua Belas National Park, with almost 60.500 hectares straddles on three district, namely Sarolangun, muaratebo, and batanghari. Lying between 30 m to 430 m above sea level, the national park is located at geographical location 102o31'37" - 102o48'27" East longitude and 1o44'35" - 2o03'15" South latitude.

There are approximately 120 species of plants including fungi that can be developed as a medicinal plant. Some of the medicinal plants found here are Cendawan Balus (Pycnoporus sp.), Tubo Kayu, Tubo Akar, Tembalau, Paku Balus, Selusuh Kayu, Selusuh Akar, Akar Penyegar (Smilax zeylanica), Terap, Rotan Sio, Tunam, and Sentubung.

This national park has the habitat of rare and endangered species such as Gibbons (Hylobates syndactylus syndactylus), Monkey (Macaca nemestrina), Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa diardi), Deer (Tragulus javanicus kanchil), Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus malayanus), Deer (Muntiacus muntjak montanus), Wild Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis sumatrana), Lutra Sumatera (Lutra sumatrana), Ajag (Cuon alpinus sumatrensis), Sumatran Rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri), Crested-serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela malayensis), and other.

The number of rivers and creeks are very much derived from within this region (shown on the map as the root fibers), so that, this region is an important water catchment areas for the Watershed Batanghari. Topography of this national park is flat to undulating, with hills/mountains like Suban Mountain. River Punai (± 164 m asl), Bake Mountain (± 328 m asl), and Hill Kuran ( ±438 m asl).

Bukit Dua Belas National Park is representing to specific and unique conservation area, because in this area live the indegeneous people "Suku Anak Dalam" or "Orang Rimbo". The traditional wisdom of Suku Anak Dalam in managing forest as live place and substance source require to be defended and preserve.

Therefore to involvement of coummuniti of Suku Anak Dalam in management of Bukit Dua Belas National Park is obliged to be entangled actively. Depending and mind tying and also natural instinct of society of Suku Anak Dalam with the Bukit Dua Belas National Park is very clouse, no wonder if this community very hungering for and expecting forest in National   Park remain to be awaked and make everlasting.In first stage at January 2007 authority Bukit Dua Belas National Park developed the Teams of Community Patrol which consisted of villager who leave sorround the park and community Suku Anak Dalam who leave in the park.

Community Patrol in Bukit Dua Belas National Park in this time amount to 13 people, and they have followed the training of Forest Protection Training for Beginner level. The training is carryed out by collaboratorion between The Management Authority of Kerinci Seblat National Park,  The Management Authority of Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park, The Management Authority of Bukit Dua Belas National Park with Police Department Region Jambi.


Declared by Minister of Forestry No. 258/Kpts-II/2000. August 23, 2000.

Bukit Barisan Selatan

Bukit Barisan Selatan was declared as Wildlife Sanctuary in 1935, and become a National Park in 1982. Initially the size of the park was 356.000 hectares, but actual current park area calculated using GIS is approximateli 324.000 hectares. At the geographical location between 103o23' - 104o43' East and 4o33' - 5o57' South, rainfall average 1.000 - 4.000 mm/annual

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is located on the tip of the south-west region of Sumatera. Seventy percent of the park (249.552 hectares) are fall under the administration Lampung Barat district and Tanggamus district, both are part of Lampung Province. 

The rest of the park covers 74.822 hectares (23 % or total park area) is in the Kaur District of the Bengkulu Province, Sumatera Selatan is also important for the park borders overlaps with province's border.

Besides its abundance in flora and fauna, the park is also blessed with a number of fascinating natural beauty spot, including its four lakes, four waterfalls, seven natural caves, and 23 river basin areas. 

The park has been highlighted as a priority area for Sumatran Rhino conservation through WWF's Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy (AREAS). In addition, IUCN, WCS, and WWF have identified the BBSNP as "Tiger Conservation Unit I" (Wikramanayake, et al., 1997), the most important forest area for tiger conservation in the world. Finally, on 2002, UNESCO has selected this area for nomination as a World Heritage Cluster Mountainous Area together with the Gunung Leusef and Kerinci Seblat National park.

The unfortunately, loss of habitat because of forest conversion into settlements, cultivation and plantations have become the major threat to the park and it's endangered species survival. Illegal encroachment for coffee, pepper and other agricultural plantations has gradually entered the park and contributed to a substantial loss of habitat. The clearing of forest in Bukit Barisan Selatan also increases another serious to the endangered species : poaching.

The overall goal of the Bukit Barisan Selatan National project is to ensure stable of increased population of Sumatran Rhinos, Elephants and Tigers.

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park was represents a significant natural habitat for insitu conservation because of its large diversity of flora, fauna and ongoing ecological and biological processes. It is home to a variety of wildlife, includinng 118 mammals, 425 birds, 45 amphibians and reptiles, and 51 fish species. It also contains around 200 species of tree, 126 orchids, 15 species of bamboo and 44 undergrowth species. The Sumatran Tiger, Elephant, Rhinoceros and Stripped Rabbit, are some of the unique and endangered animal species found in the park. 

Bukit Barisan National Park contains some of Sumatra's last protected lowland forest. It is extremetely rich in biodiversity and is home to three of the world's most endangered species : The Sumatran Elephant (fewer than 2.000 survive today), The Sumatran Rhino (total global population : 300 animals and declining rapidly), and The Sumatran Tiger (total global population around 400 animals).

The Bukit Barisan National Park has been included in the Global 200 ecoregions. WWF's ranking of the earth's most biologically outstanding terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats.

Coffee and lumber are two of the largest export products from Sumatera, Indonesia. The park has lost 20 % of its forest to illegal coffee growing. The World Wildlife Fund has found that more than 450 km2 of Bukit Barisan Selatan park land is being used for growing coffee, producing over 19.600 tons.

The coffe is then mixed in with legally grown Sumatera coffee and sold to the world market. Indonesia is the 4th largest producer of coffee and the 2nd largest of robusta coffee. Robusta coffee is the coffee found in the major brands in your grocery store. Vietnam is 1st in both, Madagaskar is also a major producers


Declared by Minister of Agriculture No. 736/Mentan/X/82. October 14, 1982.

Berbak

Berbak National Park is situated in Jambi province, Sumatra. Located on the east coast, this site begins approximately 10 km inland of Berhala Strait, extending down the coas to Benu river. The eastern boundary was revised in 1985 to exclude the coastal settlements that extend from Benu river in the south to Remau river in the north. The city of Jambi lies approximately 50 km to the west and reserve headquarters are locaten at Nipa Panjang, 10 km to the northwest. Access is difficult and time-consuming due to poor infrastructure. The entrance to the park at Desa Air Hitam Laut can be reached in approximately 5 hours by boat from the reserve headquarters, although travel time may double during the wet season.

Berbak National Park covers an area of 162.700 hectares, lies at the geographical location between 104o05' - 104o26' East and 1o08' - 1o43' South, altitude 0 - 20 m above sea level, rainfall in average of 2.300 mm/year.

Berbak National Park forms a nature conservation area for the largest unexploited swamp forest in southeastern Asia. The uniqueness of the park lies in its attractive combination of peat swamp forest and freshwater swamp forest which stretches along the east coast of Sumatra. 

Plant species in the park include Meranti (Shorea sp.) and various species of palm. The park in fact boasts the largest number of ornamental palm species in Indonesia. Of these, a number are categorized as endangered, including Daun Payung (Johanesteijmannia altifrons), and a newly found species, Lepidonia kingii (Lorantaceae family), which has a large, red/violet flower.

Berbak National Park is also a habitat for the Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatraensis sumatraensis), Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus), Lesser-malay Mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus kanchil),  300 birds species including Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), Lesser Adjutan-stork (Leptoptilos javanicus), all species of Kingfisher (Alcedinidae spp.), White-winged Wood-duck (Cairina scutulata), Malayan Giant-turtle (Orlitia borneensis), and Batagur Turtle (Batagus baska).

Hundreds, even thousands of migrant birds can be seen in this park, makin an amazing sight when they are flying through the air in a flock.

Nine months of the year, large areas of the park are flooded. The soil in the area is highly acidic and the trees tend to be low growing, having a canopy of about 40 metres. 

Though much of the area was once considered poor tiger habitat, due to a low prey base, it seems the area still holds a large number of tigers. The distribution and number are very vague and many of the conclusions drawn regarding the tigers of this area are based on little information and calculated quesswork. It is assumed, at the present time, that tiger occupy the entire park rather than restricting themselves to areas of higher prey base. The estimated tiger population for Berbak is 18 - 21 cats, 6 -7 males and 12 - 14 females.

When heavy rain cause vast flooding, the wildlife heads towards often inaccessible mountainous areas. Despite the high ground Berbak National Park is considered one of the least secure reserves for the tiger and a proposal for an improved buffer zone is underway to assist in remedying this.

Berbak National Park is home to approximately 150 members of the nomadic 'Kubu' tribe. These people were the original inhabitants of the swamps and even today they have almost no contact with outsiders. There are some people who consider the tribe may even have disappeared by now. The effect their presence may have on wildlife is unknown, but not presently considered of importance.

Declared by the Ministry of Forestry No. 285/Kpts-II/1992. February 26, 1992.

Batang Gadis

Batang Gadis National Park, is located in the Mandailing Natal (Madina) district of North Sumatra province. North Sumatra province covers 15 district and in contact with approximately 70 villages. 

The protection of Batang Gadis as a national park is part of a plan to create the Northern Sumatra biodiversity conservation corridor, which would be connected, via a series of protected areas and forest, to Gunung Leuser National Park in the north of the island.

The park is geographically located between 99o12'45" - 99o47'45" East longitude and 0o27'15" - 1o01'57" North. The name of the park comes from the name of the main river that flows and splitting Madina District.

Batang Gadis National Park is covers an area of 108.000 hectares or 26 % of the total forest area in the Madina district and located an altitude range of 300 to 2.145 meters above sea level, with its higest point at the peak of Merapi Volcano sorik. 

Batang Gadis National Park is formed through a process of initiation of the aspiration of local communities. Mandailing community has long run the local wisdom that still survive to this day. Traditionally the community has to protect natural forests and water resources and use natural resources wisely, for example through the ordinances, restrictions depths, spatial banua/huta, sacred place 'naborgo-borgo' or 'harangan-rarangan' (ban forests) that should not be disturbed and destroyed. In view of Mandailing community life, water is a 'spring of life' that lece-rigging with social institutions, cultural, economic and ecological, and should be protected existance.

The park formation can be interpreted also as a recognition of the country and strengthening of local traditions that have kept people Mandailing natural forest and water resources over the years. The establishment of local conservation initiatives driven by the desire of the parties to save the remaining natural forests and relatively intact in the province of North Sumatra and managed better, in order to bring long term benefits for local communities and local governments and the wider community on 'urnumnya'. The establishment of new conservation areas in the province of North Sumatra is increasingly important given the degradation rate of destruction of natural forests in the province in a situation of concern, due to the problems of unsustainable use of forests and forest mis managament in the past.

Batang Gadis National Park is a mountain range that has the potential diversity of flora and fauna are high, is the habitat of protected animal such as Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Tapir (Tapirus indicus), Honey Bear (Hylobates malayanus), Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Angkola Race, Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus), various species of birds and others.  In addition, to its function as water catchment areas and rivers in the upper district Mandailing Natal and South Tapanuli, thus play a role in the hydrological sustainability in the region, also has a beauty interesting nature, with cool air and there are a variety of natural attractions with huge potential to be developed into natural tourism area.

Exploration potential of nature tourism activities can be performed in conjunction with regional security activities (patrols, operations), the inventory of biological resources and other activities in the field. One potentially very valuable today for the utilization of natural attractions in the beauty/panorama Sorik Merapi volcano has a height of 2.145 m asl., where there is a crater lake is quite captivating. This potential has a fairly easy access from the Capital District, the city Panyabungan. Sibanggor Julu Village which is the entrance to the object of Mount Merapi Sorik also has its own peculiarities. In the village there's also the traditional houses are thatched roofed and residents can also see the presence of hot springs/geothermal. In addition to exploring the potential of nature tourism in the park, it is necessary also to perform data collection potential/existing natural attractions in the villages around the  area a national park.

Declared by Minister of Forestry No. 1266/Menhut-II/2004. April 29, 2004.