Lore Lindu National Park

Did You Know?

• Over 400 granite megaliths exist in the area, about 30 representing human forms, ranging from a few centimeters to about 4.5 m.
• Other megaliths include large stone pots (Kalamba) with stone lids (Tutu'na), spread over the Napu, Behoa (Pokekea Megalithic Site), and Bada valleys.
• Surrounding the park are 117 villages, with 62 on the borders and one within the park; local ethnic groups include Kaili, Kulavi, and Lore, with immigrants from South Sulawesi, Java, and Bali.

Geography and climate

The park is bounded by the Palolo Valley to the north, Napu Valley to the east, Bada Valley to the south, and the Kulawi Valley to the west. The Palolo, Napu, Lindu, and Besoa valleys were once lakes, now partially filled with sediment; Lake Lindu is the only large lake remaining. Altitudes range from 200 to 2,500 m above sea level. The tropical climate has high humidity, with lowland temperatures between 26°C and 32°C year-round. The heaviest rain occurs during the monsoon from November to April.

Flora and fauna

The park spans lowland tropical, sub-montane, montane, and sub-alpine forest ecosystems. Plant species include Eucalyptus deglupta, Pterospermum celebicum, Cananga odorata, Gnetum gnemon, Castanopsis argentea, Agathis philippinensis, Phyllocladus hypophyllus, medicinal plants, and rattans. Endemic Sulawesi mammals include the Tonkean macaque, lowland anoa, North Sulawesi babirusa, pygmy tarsier, Dian's tarsier, Sulawesi bear cuscus, Sulawesi dwarf cuscus, Celebes rat, Sulawesi palm civet, and Sulawesi stripe-faced fruit bat. Endemic birds include the maleo, purple-bearded bee-eater, and geomalia. Reptiles and amphibians include the gold snake and Sulawesian toad. The fish Oryzias bonneorum and Oryzias sarasinorum, and the crab Parathelphusa linduensis are endemic to Lake Lindu.

Conservation and threats

Lore Lindu was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978. The national park was formed by amalgamating the Lore Kalamanta Nature Reserve, Lake Lindu Recreation and Protection Forest, and Lore Lindu Wildlife Reserve. In 1982 an area of 2,310 km² was declared for the park, but upon official designation in 1999 the size was reduced to 2,180 km². Deforestation from illegal logging and land encroachment for agriculture is a major threat. Management challenges include lack of awareness of forest preservation importance and lack of law enforcement. Since 2000, the Indonesian-German research center STORMA has studied the park and its buffer zone. STORMA's analysis, using propensity score matching, suggests the protected area status reduced the deforestation rate by about 9%.