Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park

Lore & Background

The park was proposed as a national park in 1995, following earlier conservation recommendations. In 1981 the National Conservation Plan proposed four protected areas, including Aketajawe and Lolobata. Survey work by BirdLife International from 1994 to 1996 identified the area as an Important Bird Area. In 1999 a large forest area of 7,264,707 hectares was classified as State Forest Area, which included the Aketajawe and Lolobata Forest Groups. Finally, in 2004, a national park was declared with a total area of 167,300 hectares, formed by the Aketajawe Protected Forest Group (77,100 ha) and the Lolobata Forest Group (90,200 ha).

The park's vegetation consists primarily of lowland and montane rainforest, with high biodiversity including species such as Agathis, Calophyllum inophyllum, and Octomeles sumatrana. Of the 51 mammal species found in North Maluku, 28 are found on Halmahera, seven of which are endemic, including the ornate cuscus (Phalanger ornatus), endemic to the island. Among 211 bird species recorded on Halmahera, 24 are endemic, including Wallace's standardwing, white cockatoo, and invisible rail. Reptiles and amphibians include Callulops dubia, Caphixalus montanus, and Hydrosaurus werneri. Other endemic animals include two grasshopper species, three dragonfly species, one butterfly species, and twenty land mollusc species.

The park is home to a semi-nomadic community of people known as the Togutil people or Tobelo Dalam (Forest Tobelo), who share a common language with coastal Tobelo communities. Their number is estimated to be around 2,000, with 300 to 500 living in real isolation in the forest.

Reader's Guide

Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park holds significant importance for global biodiversity conservation, particularly for endemic bird species. BirdLife International considers the park vital for the survival of at least 23 endemic bird species, and the park is part of the Wallacea biodiversity hotspot, a region known for its unique flora and fauna. The park's designation in 2004 came after decades of conservation planning, including proposals in 1981 and 1995, and survey work by BirdLife in the mid-1990s. The park's forests, primarily lowland and montane rainforest, support a high level of biodiversity, including 28 mammal species (seven endemic) and 211 bird species (24 endemic) on Halmahera. However, the park faces threats from illegal logging and mining. Between 1990 and 2003, forests in North Maluku declined from 86% to just under 70%, with much of the loss occurring in lowlands below 400 meters, affecting species with large low-elevation ranges. The park also provides a home for the Togutil people, a semi-nomadic community of about 2,000 individuals, with 300 to 500 living in isolation within the forest. The park's legacy lies in its role as a refuge for endemic species and a cultural landscape for indigenous communities, though ongoing threats require continued conservation efforts.

Did You Know?

• The park is home to the ornate cuscus (Phalanger ornatus), a mammal endemic to Halmahera.
• The park was declared a national park in 2004, covering 167,300 hectares.
• The Togutil people, also known as Tobelo Dalam, are a semi-nomadic community living in the park, estimated at around 2,000 people.