Komodo National Park
Destinasi Pariwisata Indonesia-Komodo
National Park is a national park in Indonesia located within the Lesser Sunda
Islands in the border region between the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and
West Nusa Tenggara.
Area: 1,733 km²
Established: 1980
Komodo
National Park is located between the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and West
Nusa Tenggara .
This
national park consists of three major islands of Komodo Island, Rinca Island,
and Pulau Padar as well as several small islands. The land area of this national park is 603 km² and the total area is 1817 km².
In
1980 the park was established to protect the Komodo dragon and its habitat.
There are 277 species of animals that are a mix of animals originating from
Asia and Australia, which consists of 32 species of mammals, 128 species of
birds, and 37 species of reptiles. Together with the Komodo dragon, at least 25
species of terrestrial animals and birds including protected animals, due to
their limited or limited number of spreading.
In
addition, in this region there are also coral reefs. There are at least 253
species of coral reefs found there, with about 1,000 species of fish. The
beauty of this reef attracts foreign tourists to swim or dive in these waters.
These
islands are originally volcanic islands. The population in this area is
approximately 4,000 inhabitants. In 1991 this national park was accepted as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site .
On
November 11, 2011, New 7 Wonders has announced a temporary winner, and Komodo
National Park entered the ranks of the winners along with, the Amazon Forest ,
Halong Bay , Iguazu Falls , Jeju Island , the Puerto Princesa River Basin , and
Table Mountain ] . Komodo National Park earns the most votes
These
volcanic islands are inhabited by a population of around 5,700 giant lizards,
whose appearance and aggressive behaviour have led to them being called 'Komodo
dragons'. They exist nowhere else in the world and are of great interest to
scientists studying the theory of evolution. The rugged hillsides of dry
savannah and pockets of thorny green vegetation contrast starkly with the
brilliant white sandy beaches and the blue waters surging over coral.
Outstanding Universal ValueBrief synthesis
Komodo
National Park, located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the
islands of Sumbawa and Flores, is composed of three major islands (Rinca,
Komodo, and Padar) and numerous smaller ones, all of them of volcanic origin.
Located at the juncture of two continental plates, this national park
constitutes the “shatter belt” within the Wallacea Biogeographical Region,
between the Australian and Sunda ecosystems. The property is identified as a
global conservation priority area, comprising unparalleled terrestrial and
marine ecosystems and covers a total area of 219,322 ha. The dry climate has
triggered specific evolutionary adaptation within the terrestrial flora that
range from open grass-woodland savanna to tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest
and quasi cloud forest. The rugged hillsides and dry vegetation highly contrast
with the sandy beaches and the blue coral-rich waters.
The
most remarkable inhabitant of Komodo National Park is the Komodo Lizard,
Varanus komodoensis. These giant lizards, existing no-where else in the world,
are of great scientific interest, especially for their evolutionary
implications. Most commonly known as 'Komodo Dragons', due to its appearance
and aggressive behavior, the Komodo Lizard, is the largest living species of
lizard, growing to an average length of 2 to 3 meters. The species is the last
representative of a relic population of large lizards that once lived across
Indonesia and Australia. As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park
provides a refuge for many other notable terrestrial species such as the
orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. The rich coral
reefs of Komodo host a great diversity of species, and the strong currents of
the sea attract the presence of sea turtles, whales, dolphins and dugongs.
Criterion
(vii): Komodo National Park is a landscape of contrasts between starkly rugged
hillsides of dry savanna, pockets of thorny green vegetation, brilliant white
sandy beaches and blue waters surging over coral, unquestionably one of the
most dramatic landscapes in all of Indonesia. Demonstrating exceptional natural
beauty that is all the more remarkable as a counterpoint to the dominant
lushness of vegetation which characterizes vast areas of forested Indonesia,
and with which most of the world associates the archipelago. An irregular
coastline characterized by bays, beaches and inlets separated by headlands,
often with sheer cliffs falling vertically into the surrounding seas which are
reported to be among the most productive in the world adds to the stunning
natural beauty of landscapes dominated by contrasting vegetation types,
providing a patchwork of colours.
Criterion
(x): Komodo National Park contains the majority of the world’s areas in which
wild populations of the Komodo dragon lizard still exist. The largest and
heaviest of the world’s lizards, the species is widely known for its impressive
size and fearsome appearance, its ability to effectively prey on large animals,
and a tolerance of extremely harsh condition. The population, estimated at
around 5,700 individuals is distributed across the islands of Komodo, Rinca,
Gili Motong and some coastal regions of western and northern Flores.
Other
fauna recorded in the park are characteristic of the Wallacean zoogeographic
region with seven species of terrestrial mammal, including an endemic rat
(Rattus rintjanus) and the crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) and 72
species of birds, such as the lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua
sulphurea), the orange-footed scrub fowl (Megapodius reinwardt), and noisy
friarbird (Philemon buceroides). The coral reefs fringing the coast of Komodo
are diverse and luxuriant due to the clear water, intense sunlight and rapid
exchange of nutrient-rich water from deeper areas of the archipelago. The
marine fauna and flora are generally the same as that found throughout the Indo
Pacific area, though species richness is very high, notable marine mammals
include blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and sperm whale (Physeter catodon)
as well as 10 species of dolphin, dugong (Dugong dugon) and five species of sea
turtles.
Integrity
Encompassing
the rugged topography that reflects the position of the park within the active
volcanic “shatter belt” between Australia and the Sunda shelf, the boundaries
of the Komodo National Park encircle the main park features, including the
outstanding scenery and the unique species it hosts; komodo monitor, birds,
marine mammals, coral reef-species, and others. The boundaries are considered
adequate to secure the habitat and the main ecological processes to preserve
them. The extensive marine buffer zone surrounding the park is key to
maintaining the integrity and intactness of the property and the number of
exceptional species that it hosts.
Illegal
fishing and poaching remain the main threats to the values of the property and
its overall integrity. There is an extensive marine buffer zone to the park, in
which management authority staff has authority to regulate the type of fishing
permitted and to some extent the presence of fishermen from outside the area.
This buffer zone, which assists in controlling poaching of the terrestrial
species that provide the prey species for the komodo lizard, will become
significant in the overall long-term protection of the property.
Protection and management requirements
Komodo
National Park is managed by the central government of Indonesia through the
Directorate General of Forest Protection and Natural Conservation of the
Ministry of Forestry. The history of protection afforded the site goes back to
1938 while official protection began when Ministerial Decree declared the area
as a 72,000 ha National Park in March 1980. This area was subsequently extended
to 219,322 ha in 1984 to include an expanded marine area and the section of
mainland Flores. Comprised of Komodo Game Reserve (33,987 ha), Rinca Island
Nature Reserve (19,625 ha), Padar Island Nature Reserve (1,533 ha), Mbeliling
and Nggorang Protection Forest (31,000 ha), Wae Wuul and Mburak Game Reserve
(3,000 ha) and surrounding marine areas (130,177 ha) the Komodo Biosphere
Reserve was accepted under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme in
January 1977. In 1990 a national law, elevating the legislative mandate for
conservation to the parliamentary and presidential level significantly
empowered the legal basis for protection and management.
In
order to ensure the effective management and protection of the park and its
exceptional landscapes and biota, the park is governed through the 2000-2025
Management Plan and a 2010-2014 Strategic Plan, which will require revision and
updating. These plans are important for ensuring the effective zoning system of
the park and guaranteeing the sustainability of the ecosystems of the property.
The management authority is known for designing specific plans to guide
management decisions which will require updating in line with changes to
priorities and threats, in particular expected increases in visitor numbers and
impacts from tourism.
The
Park receives strong support and resources from the central government of
Indonesia. As a tourism location known worldwide, the Indonesian Government has
a specific program for ecotourism management to promote the park at the
international level and to ensure the sustainability of tourism activities.
Additionally, in order to address illegal fishing and poaching, regular
patrolling of the marine and terrestrial areas is carried out for law
enforcement and a number of the problems and impacts associated with these
activities have decreased. Community awareness and empowerment programs are
being implemented to engage the local villagers regards to the sustainable use
of natural resources and park conservation. Research and study of the unique
biological features of the park is also being promoted and supported by the
management authority.
Increasing
levels of tourism and matters related specifically to the komodo lizard are the
major management issues that have been focused on to date. A broadening of the
management focus to address issues within the marine area of the park along
with other terrestrial species is required to ensure the long-term effective
conservation of the property. A focus on the issue of depletion of Komodo
monitor prey species stocks has resulted in some success and the same efforts
need to be focused on the issues of damaging fishing practices and impacts on
other unique species contained within the property.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon