Indonesia - Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra

Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (2004)
Indonesia

The 2.5 million hectare Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra site comprises three national parks: Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.

Indonesia 2003. Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra.

The site holds the greatest potential for long term conservation of the distinctive and diverse biota of Sumatra, including many endangered species. The protected area is home to an estimated 10,000 plant species, including 17 endemic genera; more than 200 mammal species; and some 580 bird species of which 465 are resident and 21 are endemic.

Indonesia 2003. Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra.

Of the mammal species, 22 are Asian, not found elsewhere in the archipelago and 15 are confined to the Indonesian region, including the endemic Sumatran orangutan. It also provides biogeographic evidence of the evolution of the island.

Indonesia 2005. Souvenir sheet for the Environment Care. Save the Mangrove Forests, featuring the Orangutan and the Milky Stork [Mycteria Cinerea].

Indonesia 1982. Souvenir sheet featuring the Western Parotia [Parotia Sefilata], and the Red Bird-of-Paradise [Paradisaea Rubra].

Indonesia 2005. Souvenir sheet for the Environment Care. Save the Mangrove Forests, featuring the Orangutan and the Milky Stork [Mycteria Cinerea].
Indonesia 1982. Souvenir sheet featuring the Western Parotia [Parotia Sefilata], and the Red Bird-of-Paradise [Paradisaea Rubra].

UNESCO states in its justification for inscription that all three parks that comprise the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra are areas of very diverse habitat and exceptional biodiversity. Collectively, the three sites include more than 50% of the total plant diversity of Sumatra. At least 92 local endemic species have been identified in Gunung Leuser National Park. The nomination contains populations of both the world’s largest flower (Rafflesia arnoldi) and the tallest flower (Amorphophallus titanium). The relict lowland forests in the nominated sites are very important for conservation of the plant and animal biodiversity of the rapidly disappearing lowland forests of South East Asia. Similarly, the montane forests, although less threatened, are very important for conservation of the distinctive montane vegetation of the property.

Sources and links:

Other World Heritage Sites in Indonesia (on this site). Inactive links are not described on postage stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, section Indonesia for further information about the individual properties.

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