Lore Lindu National Park
Encyclopedia
Lore Lindu National Park is a forested protected area
on the Indonesia
n island of Sulawesi
, in the province of Central Sulawesi
. The area of the national park is 2,180 km² covering both lowland and montane forests. It provides habitat to numerous rare species, including 77 bird species endemic to Sulawesi. The national park is designated as part of the UNESCO
World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In addition to its rich wildlife, the park also contains megalith
s dating from before 1300 AD.
to the south. The western boundary is formed
by a series of narrow valleys, known collectively as the Kulawi Valley. The Palolo, Napu, Lindu and Besoa Valleys were once lakes, now partially filled with sediment. Lake Lindu (Danau Lindu) is the only large lake remaining today. The altitude ranges from 200 to 2,355 m above sea-level.
The climate is tropical with high humidity. Temperatures vary only a few degrees over the course of the year, between 26°C–32°C in lowland areas. The temperature drops in the highland areas about 6°C (11°F) with every 1100 metres (3,608.9 ft) rise in altitude. The heaviest rain period occurs during the monsoon which lasts from November to April.
Plant species include Eucalyptus deglupta
, Pterospermum celebicum
, Cananga odorata, Gnetum gnemon
, Castanopsis argentea
, Agathis philippinensis
, Phyllocladus hypophyllus
, medicinal plants, and rattan
s.
Endemic mammals include the Tonkean Macaque
(Macaca tonkeana tonkeana), North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa celebensis), Pygmy Tarsier
(Tarsius pumilus), Dian's Tarsier
(Tarsius dianae), Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
(Ailurops ursinus furvus), Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus
(Strigocuscus celebensis callenfelsi) and Sulawesi rat (Rattus celebensis). Endemic birds include the Maleo fowl
(Macrocephalon maleo), Sulawesi Palm Civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii musschenbroekii). Reptiles and amphibians include the gold snake (Elaphe erythrura and E. janseni) and Sulawesian Toad
(Bufo celebensis). The Xenopoecilus sarasinorum
fish is endemic to Lake Lindu.
s in the area, of which about 30 represent human forms. They vary in size from a few centimetres to ca.4.5 metres (14.8 ft). The original purpose of the megaliths is unknown. Other megaliths are in form of large pots (Kalamba) and stone plates (Tutu'na). Various archaeological studies have dated the carvings from between 3000 BC to 1300 AD.
Biosphere Reserve
in 1978. The national park was formed through the amalgamation of three existing reserves: the Lore Kalamanta Nature Reserve, the Lake Lindu Recreation and Protection Forest, and the Lore Lindu Wildlife Reserve. While in 1982 an area of 2,310 km² has been "declared" for the national park, when the park has been officially designated in 1999, its size was reduced to 2,180 km².
Deforestation
as result of illegal logging and land encroachment for agricultural activities is one of the main threats to the park. Management challenges include lack of awareness of the importance of forest preservation and lack of law enforcement.
Since 2000, the Indonesian-German Collaborative Research Center "STORMA" (Stability of the Rainforest Margin in Indonesia) is intensively investigating Lore Lindu National Park and its buffer zone
. STORMA's analysis of the effect of environmental protection on the level of deforestation in the park, suggests a reduction of the deforestation rate of around 9% as result of the protected areas status of the park. This estimate was based on a methodology involving propensity score matching
rather than the conventional satellite image comparison.
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
on the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n island of Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
, in the province of Central Sulawesi
Central Sulawesi
Central Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia located in the centre of Sulawesi. It was established on 13 April 1964....
. The area of the national park is 2,180 km² covering both lowland and montane forests. It provides habitat to numerous rare species, including 77 bird species endemic to Sulawesi. The national park is designated as part of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In addition to its rich wildlife, the park also contains megalith
Megalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
s dating from before 1300 AD.
Geography and climate
The boundaries of the park are defined by the Palolo Valley to the north, Napu Valley to the east and Bada ValleyBada Valley
Bada Valley or Napu Valley, located in the Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, contains hundreds of megaliths going back to the 14th century. The purpose of the megaliths and their builders are unknown.-Source:...
to the south. The western boundary is formed
by a series of narrow valleys, known collectively as the Kulawi Valley. The Palolo, Napu, Lindu and Besoa Valleys were once lakes, now partially filled with sediment. Lake Lindu (Danau Lindu) is the only large lake remaining today. The altitude ranges from 200 to 2,355 m above sea-level.
The climate is tropical with high humidity. Temperatures vary only a few degrees over the course of the year, between 26°C–32°C in lowland areas. The temperature drops in the highland areas about 6°C (11°F) with every 1100 metres (3,608.9 ft) rise in altitude. The heaviest rain period occurs during the monsoon which lasts from November to April.
Flora and fauna
Lore Lindu National Park stretches over multiple ecosystem types, including lowland tropical forest, sub-montane forest, montane forest, as well as sub-alpine forest at altitudes over 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft).Plant species include Eucalyptus deglupta
Eucalyptus deglupta
Eucalyptus deglupta is a tall tree, commonly known as the Rainbow Eucalyptus, the Mindanao Gum, or the Rainbow Gum. It is the only Eucalyptus species found naturally in the Northern Hemisphere. Its natural distribution spans New Britain, New Guinea, Ceram, Sulawesi and Mindanao.The unique...
, Pterospermum celebicum
Pterospermum
Pterospermum is a flowering plant genus. Traditionally included in the family Sterculiaceae, it is included in the expanded Malvaceae in the APG and most subsequent systematics. Pterospermum is based on two Greek words, "Pteron" and "Sperma," meaning "winged seed."Some species are grown...
, Cananga odorata, Gnetum gnemon
Gnetum gnemon
Gnetum gnemon is a species of Gnetum native to southeast Asia and the western Pacific Ocean islands, from Assam south and east through Indonesia and Malaysia to the Philippines and Fiji...
, Castanopsis argentea
Castanopsis
Castanopsis is a genus of evergreen trees belonging to the beech family, Fagaceae. The genus contains about 120 species, which are today restricted to tropical and subtropical eastern Asia. A total of 58 species are native to China, with 30 endemic; the other species occur further south, through...
, Agathis philippinensis
Agathis philippinensis
Agathis philippinensis is a species of Agathis native to the Philippines, Sulawesi and Halmahera, where it occurs in upland tropical rainforest at 450-2,200 m altitude, rarely as low as 250 m in northern Luzon....
, Phyllocladus hypophyllus
Phyllocladus hypophyllus
Phyllocladus hypophyllus is a species of conifer in the Podocarpaceae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Conifer Specialist Group 1998. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, medicinal plants, and rattan
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
s.
Endemic mammals include the Tonkean Macaque
Tonkean Macaque
The Tonkean black macaque or Tonkean macaque is a species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family. It is endemic to central Sulawesi and the nearby Togian Islands in Indonesia. It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Macaca tonkeana tonkeana), North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa celebensis), Pygmy Tarsier
Pygmy Tarsier
The pygmy tarsier , also known as the mountain tarsier or the lesser spectral tarsier, is a nocturnal primate found in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, in an area with lower vegetative species diversity than the lowland tropical forests. The pygmy tarsier was believed to have become extinct in the...
(Tarsius pumilus), Dian's Tarsier
Dian's Tarsier
Dian's tarsier also known as Diana tarsier, is a nocturnal primate found and endemic to central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its head-body length is 11.5-12 cm plus a tail of 22 cm. Dian's Tarsier lives in rain forests. It was formerly called T. dianae, but that has been shown to be a junior synonym.-...
(Tarsius dianae), Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
The Sulawesi Bear Cuscus or Sulawesi Bear Phalanger is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests....
(Ailurops ursinus furvus), Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus
Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus
The Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia....
(Strigocuscus celebensis callenfelsi) and Sulawesi rat (Rattus celebensis). Endemic birds include the Maleo fowl
Maleo
The Maleo is a medium-sized blackish megapode with bare yellow facial skin, reddish-brown iris, reddish-orange beak and rosy salmon underparts. The crown is ornamented with a black helmet casque. The greyish blue feet have four long sharp claws, separated by a membranous web...
(Macrocephalon maleo), Sulawesi Palm Civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii musschenbroekii). Reptiles and amphibians include the gold snake (Elaphe erythrura and E. janseni) and Sulawesian Toad
Sulawesian Toad
The Sulawesian Toad is a species of toad in the Bufonidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marches,...
(Bufo celebensis). The Xenopoecilus sarasinorum
Xenopoecilus sarasinorum
Xenopoecilus sarasinorum is a species of fish in the Adrianichthyidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Kottelat, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 5 August 2007....
fish is endemic to Lake Lindu.
Megaliths
There are over 400 granite megalithMegalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
s in the area, of which about 30 represent human forms. They vary in size from a few centimetres to ca.4.5 metres (14.8 ft). The original purpose of the megaliths is unknown. Other megaliths are in form of large pots (Kalamba) and stone plates (Tutu'na). Various archaeological studies have dated the carvings from between 3000 BC to 1300 AD.
Human habitation
Surrounding the park there are 117 villages, from which 62 are located on the borders of the park and one is within the park. The local population belongs to the Kaili, Kulavi and Lore ethnic groups. There are also migrants from South Sulawesi, Java and Bali.Conservation and threats
Lore Lindu has been declared a UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
in 1978. The national park was formed through the amalgamation of three existing reserves: the Lore Kalamanta Nature Reserve, the Lake Lindu Recreation and Protection Forest, and the Lore Lindu Wildlife Reserve. While in 1982 an area of 2,310 km² has been "declared" for the national park, when the park has been officially designated in 1999, its size was reduced to 2,180 km².
Deforestation
Deforestation in Indonesia
Deforestation in Indonesia has been a massive environmental impact on the country, home to some of the most biologically diverse forests in the world, ranking third behind Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As late as 1900, Indonesia was still a densely forested country with the total...
as result of illegal logging and land encroachment for agricultural activities is one of the main threats to the park. Management challenges include lack of awareness of the importance of forest preservation and lack of law enforcement.
Since 2000, the Indonesian-German Collaborative Research Center "STORMA" (Stability of the Rainforest Margin in Indonesia) is intensively investigating Lore Lindu National Park and its buffer zone
Buffer zone
A buffer zone is generally a zonal area that lies between two or more other areas , but depending on the type of buffer zone, the reason for it may be to segregate regions or to conjoin them....
. STORMA's analysis of the effect of environmental protection on the level of deforestation in the park, suggests a reduction of the deforestation rate of around 9% as result of the protected areas status of the park. This estimate was based on a methodology involving propensity score matching
Propensity score matching
In the statistical analysis of observational data, propensity score matching is a methodology attempting to provide unbiased estimation of treatment-effects...
rather than the conventional satellite image comparison.