Berbak National Park
Largest undisturbed swamp forest in southeastern Asia.
Berbak National Park is located on Sumatra island in Jambi province, Indonesia. It contains the largest undisturbed swamp forest in southeastern Asia and the peat swamp forest with the greatest number of palm species. The area has been protected since 1935 under Dutch colonial law and is recognized as a wetland of international importance.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Sumatra, Indonesia
- Nearest city
- Jambi
- Area
- 1,627 km² / 628 sq mi
- Established
- 1992
- Governing body
- Ministry of Forestry
Facts from the source article.
Geography
Berbak National Park lies on the alluvial plain of East Sumatra, which covers about a quarter of the island. The terrain is mostly flat, with meandering rivers flowing northeast toward the coast. Beach ridges and intertidal mudflats appear along the coast and lower river sections. The park contains 600 km² of freshwater swamp forest and 1,100 km² of undisturbed peatswamp forest. Its eastern boundary is a muddy coast with a small mangrove fringe, and the southern border is the Benu River. Rivers reach up to 20 m deep and hold acid peatwater.
Vegetation and fauna
Berbak National Park shelters Shorea trees and 23 palm species, including the endangered Johannesteijsmannia altifrons and the newly discovered Lepidaria kingii. The park hosts endangered Sumatran tigers and Malayan tapirs, with possible but unconfirmed small populations of critically endangered Sumatran rhinos. Over 250 bird species, such as the Chinese egret, lesser adjutant stork, and white-winged wood duck, live here. Reptiles include the Malaysian giant turtle, batagur turtle, saltwater crocodile, and tiger barb.
Conservation and threats
The area was protected from 1935 under Dutch colonial law, later became a wildlife reserve, and was declared a Ramsar wetland and a national park in 1992. Since 1990, illegal logging and fires have degraded the park. Major fires in 1994 and 1997 destroyed about 12,000 ha along the Air Hitam Laut River and about 4,000 ha along the Simpang Melaka River. At least 25% of the park is estimated to have been affected by illegal logging and subsequent fires. Hunting, capturing of animals, and some illegal huts also occur. In 2013, a tree house was built at Simpang Malaka from a donation by Green Sands for observing tigers.
More in National Parks of Indonesia
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