Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra
Three Sumatran national parks recognized for biodiversity and beauty.
The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2004, comprising three Indonesian national parks on the island of Sumatra: Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park, and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. The site is recognized for its outstanding scenic beauty, significant on-going ecological and biological processes, and critical natural habitats for in-situ conservation. It has been on the Danger List since 2011 due to threats from poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and planned road construction.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Sumatra, Indonesia
- Includes
- #Gunung Leuser National Park / #Kerinci Seblat National Park / #Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park
- Criteria
- (vii), (ix), (x)(vii), (ix), (x)
- Year
- 2004
- Danger
- 2011–...
- Area
- 2,595,124 ha
- Link
- https: · whc.unesco.org/en/list/1167
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra consists of three national parks located along the Bukit Barisan Mountains, known as the 'Andes of Sumatra'. Gunung Leuser National Park in the north is 150 km long and mostly mountainous, with 40% steep terrain and the highest point at Mount Leuser (Puncak Leuser) at approximately 3,404 m. Kerinci Seblat National Park in the center extends 350 km along the mountain spine, averaging 45 km in width and containing Mount Kerinci, the highest volcano in Sumatra and the highest peak in Indonesia outside of Papua at 3,805 m. Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is also 350 km long but only 45 km wide, with the northern two-thirds rocky and the southern half lower, bordering the Indian Ocean along its western side for much of its length.
Reader's Guide
The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra represents a significant area of remaining forest on an island where tropical rainforest has been condensed to secluded areas over 50 years. The three parks together contain 50% of Sumatra's total plant variety, including the world's largest flower (Rafflesia arnoldi) and the tallest flower (Amorphophallus titanum). The site hosts populations of critically endangered species such as the Sumatran rhinoceros, Sumatran tiger, and Sumatran elephant. Kerinci Seblat National Park has the highest recorded population of Sumatran tigers and is one of 12 Globally Important Tiger Conservation Landscapes. The parks' varied habitats, from lowland forests to high mountains, support outstanding biodiversity, with 174 mammal species in Gunung Leuser alone. The site's placement on the Danger List since 2011 highlights ongoing threats from poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and road plans, underscoring the need for continued conservation efforts.
Did You Know?
- The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
- The site includes Lake Gunung Tujuh, the highest lake in Southeast Asia.
More in World Heritage Sites in Indonesia 1-21
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