Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park
Encyclopedia
Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park is a national park on Halmahera
, the biggest island in the North Maluku
province of Indonesia
. The park is considered by BirdLife International
to be vital for the survival of at least 23 endemic bird species. Aketajawe-Lolobata, which has an area of 167,300 hectares, was declared a national park in 2004.
island in North Maluku
. It is part of the Wallacea
biodiversity hotspot
.
. The forest is characterised by a high level of biodiversity, including Agathis
species, Calophyllum inophyllum
, Octomeles sumatrana
, Koordersiodendron pinnatum
, Pometia pinnata, Intsia bijuga, Canarium mehenbethene gaerta, and Palaquium obtusifolium.
From 51 mammal
species found in North Maluku, 28 are found on Halmahera Island, of which 7 are endemic to this region, and one, the Golden Cat (Phalanger sp.), is endemic to the island.
From 243 bird species in North Maluku, 211 have been recorded on Halmahera Island of which 24 are endemic, including Wallace’s Standarwing, Halmahera Cuckoo-shrike
, Sombre Kingfisher
, White Cockatoo, Invisible Rail
, Blue and White Kingfisher (Halcyon diops), Dusky-brown Oriole
, Moluccan Goshawk
, Dusky Scrubfowl
, Long-billed Crow
, Grey-headed Fruit-dove
, Ivory-breasted Pitta
, and Purple Dollarbird
.
Reptiles and amphibians in the park include the Callulops Dubia, Caphixalus montanus, and Hydrosaurus werneri.
Other endemic fauna on Halmahera includes 2 grasshopper species, 3 dragonfly species, 1 butterfly species, and 20 land mollusc species.
with the coastal village communities of the Tobelo people. Their number is estimated to be around 2,000.
in 1994–1996 identified Aketajawe-Lolobata as an Important Bird Area
.
In 1995 the Aketajawe and Lolobata areas, were proposed as National Park. In 1999 a large forest area of 7,264,707 has been classified as State Forest Area, which included the Aketajawe and Lolobata Forest Groups. In 2004 a National Park has been declared with a total area of 167,300 ha, which is formed by the Aketajawe Protected Forest Group (77,100 ha) in the districts of Central Halmahera and Kota Tidore Kepulauan, and Lolobata Forest Group (90,200 ha) in East Halmahera district.
Threats to the national park are posed by illegal logging
and mining. Between 1990 to 2003 forests declined in North Maluku from 86% to just under 70%, with much of it occurring in the lowlands (below 400m). As a result, species with large amounts of their range at low elevations were most strongly affected.
Halmahera
Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.Halmahera has a land area of 17,780 km² and a population in 1995 of 162,728...
, the biggest island in the North Maluku
North Maluku
North Maluku is a province of northeastern Indonesia. It covers the northern part of the Maluku Islands, which are split between it and the province of Maluku. Maluku province used to cover the entire group...
province of 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...
. The park is considered by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
to be vital for the survival of at least 23 endemic bird species. Aketajawe-Lolobata, which has an area of 167,300 hectares, was declared a national park in 2004.
Location and geography
The Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park is located in the northern part of HalmaheraHalmahera
Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.Halmahera has a land area of 17,780 km² and a population in 1995 of 162,728...
island in North Maluku
North Maluku
North Maluku is a province of northeastern Indonesia. It covers the northern part of the Maluku Islands, which are split between it and the province of Maluku. Maluku province used to cover the entire group...
. It is part of the Wallacea
Wallacea
Wallacea is a biogeographical designation for a group of Indonesian islands separated by deep water straits from the Asian and Australian continental shelves. Wallacea includes Sulawesi, the largest island in the group, as well as Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Timor, Halmahera, Buru, Seram, and...
biodiversity hotspot
Biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...
.
Flora and fauna
The vegetation of the national park consists mostly of lowland and montane rainforestRainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
. The forest is characterised by a high level of biodiversity, including Agathis
Agathis
The genus Agathis, commonly known as kauri or dammar, is a relatively small genus of 21 species of evergreen tree. The genus is part of the ancient Araucariaceae family of conifers, a group once widespread during the Jurassic period, but now largely restricted to the Southern Hemisphere except for...
species, Calophyllum inophyllum
Calophyllum inophyllum
Calophyllum inophyllum is a large evergreen. It is native from East Africa, southern coastal India to Malesia and Australia.-Distribution and description:...
, Octomeles sumatrana
Octomeles sumatrana
Octomeles sumatrana is a species of plant in the Datiscaceae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands.-References:...
, Koordersiodendron pinnatum
Koordersiodendron pinnatum
Koordersiodendron pinnatum is a species of tree in the Philippines, locally known as amugis, which is a relative of the cashew tree. This red wood is commonly used for building houses and ships....
, Pometia pinnata, Intsia bijuga, Canarium mehenbethene gaerta, and Palaquium obtusifolium.
From 51 mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
species found in North Maluku, 28 are found on Halmahera Island, of which 7 are endemic to this region, and one, the Golden Cat (Phalanger sp.), is endemic to the island.
From 243 bird species in North Maluku, 211 have been recorded on Halmahera Island of which 24 are endemic, including Wallace’s Standarwing, Halmahera Cuckoo-shrike
Halmahera Cuckoo-shrike
The Halmahera Cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Sombre Kingfisher
Sombre Kingfisher
The Sombre Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and plantations . It is threatened by habitat...
, White Cockatoo, Invisible Rail
Invisible Rail
The Invisible Rail is a flightless species of bird in the family Rallidae , endemic only to Halmahera, north Maluku, Indonesia, especially its swamp forests, wetlands, and forest edges. The Invisible Rail is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species...
, Blue and White Kingfisher (Halcyon diops), Dusky-brown Oriole
Dusky-brown Oriole
The Dusky-brown Oriole is a species of bird in the Oriolidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Moluccan Goshawk
Moluccan Goshawk
The Moluccan Goshawk is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
, Dusky Scrubfowl
Dusky Scrubfowl
The Dusky Megapode or Dusky Scrubfowl, Megapodius freycinet, is a medium-sized , blackish bird with a short pointed crest, bare red facial skin, dark legs, brown iris and dark brown and yellow bill. The male and female are similar...
, Long-billed Crow
Long-billed Crow
The Long-billed Crow, Corvus validus, is a crow that ranges in the Northern Moluccas. It has a long bill and white iris. This crow is large with glossy plumage, and is of Least Concern....
, Grey-headed Fruit-dove
Grey-headed Fruit-dove
The Grey-headed Fruit Dove is a species of bird in the Columbidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Ivory-breasted Pitta
Ivory-breasted Pitta
The Ivory-breasted Pitta, Pitta maxima, is a species of bird in the Pittidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, and Purple Dollarbird
Purple Dollarbird
The Azure Dollarbird also known as the Purple Dollarbird or Azure Roller is a species of bird in the Coraciidae family. It is endemic to Maluku Islands in Indonesia....
.
Reptiles and amphibians in the park include the Callulops Dubia, Caphixalus montanus, and Hydrosaurus werneri.
Other endemic fauna on Halmahera includes 2 grasshopper species, 3 dragonfly species, 1 butterfly species, and 20 land mollusc species.
Human habitation
The park is home to a semi-nomadic community of people known as the Tobelo Dalam or Forest Tobelo. They share a common languageTobelo language
Tobelo is a West Papuan language spoken on the eastern Indonesian island of Halmahera and on parts of several neighboring islands. The Tobelo-speaking heartland is in the district of Tobelo, located on the western shore of Kao Bay...
with the coastal village communities of the Tobelo people. Their number is estimated to be around 2,000.
Conservation and threats
In 1981 the National Conservation Plan proposed the designation of four protected areas: Aketajawe, Lolobata, Saketa and Gunung Gamkonora. The 1993 Indonesian Biodiversity Action Plan recommended the designation of an integrated protected area. Survey work by BirdLifeBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
in 1994–1996 identified Aketajawe-Lolobata as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
.
In 1995 the Aketajawe and Lolobata areas, were proposed as National Park. In 1999 a large forest area of 7,264,707 has been classified as State Forest Area, which included the Aketajawe and Lolobata Forest Groups. In 2004 a National Park has been declared with a total area of 167,300 ha, which is formed by the Aketajawe Protected Forest Group (77,100 ha) in the districts of Central Halmahera and Kota Tidore Kepulauan, and Lolobata Forest Group (90,200 ha) in East Halmahera district.
Threats to the national park are posed by illegal logging
Illegal logging
Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission or from a protected area; the cutting of protected species; or the...
and mining. Between 1990 to 2003 forests declined in North Maluku from 86% to just under 70%, with much of it occurring in the lowlands (below 400m). As a result, species with large amounts of their range at low elevations were most strongly affected.