Lorentz National Park
* This name is listed on the World Heritage List. ª The region is classified by UNESCO.
The Lorentz National Park ( Indonesian: Taman Nasional Lorentz ) in West Papua, Indonesia, from the surface of a middle German federal state ( 23,555 km ²) is the largest national park in Southeast Asia. He is the only park that extends from the equatorial glaciers to tropical sea. It includes lowland rain forest, montane rain forest, subalpine vegetation zone, peat and freshwater swamp forest and mangroves. His diverse geology at the breaking point of two continental plates containing fossils sites that bear witness of the history of evolution in New Guinea. The National Park was named after the Dutch Hendrikus Albertus Lorentz.
Geography
In the northwest of the park is the highest mountain in Oceania, Carstensz Pyramid ( Puncak Jaya, 4884 m ) and its glacier, in the south the Arafura Sea, bordered to the west of the park on the concession area of the Grasberg mine of Freeport - McMoRan. Large parts of the park are not yet scientifically researched. On the one hand, the jungle of the park is extremely inaccessible, on the other hand it is difficult to obtain an access permit because the military suspected the liberation movement Papuans in the area.
Fauna and vegetation
The National Park is home to approximately 80 % of mammal species and 65 % of bird species of West Papua, many still unexplored plants and animals, as well as eight Indigenous peoples such as the Asmat, Nduga, Amungme ( Damal ), Nakai ( Asmat Keenok ) Sempan, Western Dani and Kamoro. The park in 1999 under President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie was included by UNESCO as a natural monument to the " World Heritage List" Due to the pressure from environmentalists and thus part of the World Heritage Site.
Particularly significant is the park because of its size and biodiversity, richness and representativeness of its flora and fauna. Nearly 90% untouched natural rainforest. Mammal specialists maintain the park for the most important region in the Austral - Pacific biodiversity of mammals.
The park is home to about 164 mammals, 324 reptiles, and 650 species of birds. The number of insect species is estimated at about 150,000. Among the mammals are unique so-called monotremes, of which two species live in the park, the short -beaked echidna ( Tachyglossus aculeatus ) and the Western Long -beaked Echidna ( Zaglossus brujini ). In addition, the mammals are represented mainly by marsupials. Among them are at least four types of couscous, the New Guinea Quoll ( Dasyurus albopunctatus ) and several species of tree kangaroos ( including the newly discovered Dingiso ). Among the birds are numerous threatened species such as the Southern Cassowary ( Casuarius casuarius ), the Krontaube ( Goura scheepmakeri ) and the bristle head ( Psittrichas fulgidus ). The äuffälligsten species among the reptiles include especially the two species of crocodiles, the Saltwater Crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus ) and the New Guinea crocodile ( Crocodylus Kookaburra ).
One of the most exciting discoveries in 1994 was the discovery of a new tree kangaroos called Dingiso ( Dentrolagus mbaiso ) by Tim Flannery in the Tembagapura - area at the Freeport mine. The species of land animal is remarkably tame and is protected from the tribe of Moni and worshiped as ancestor.
Threat
Endanger the park is also due to the rapid population increase in the over 100,000 population grown Timika town, attracted by the mining company Freeport. Before mining Timika had less than 2,000 inhabitants. That the mine numerous Indonesian military stationed improved his meager wages, including through illegal logging and smuggling of rare birds.
Mining
The largest gold mine in the world, the Grasberg mine is immediately adjacent. 238,000 tonnes of tailings over the rivers and Aghawagon Otomona be disposed of in the Ajkwa River daily. Copper and other heavy metals get into the Arafura Sea and have also been found in the groundwater of the park in high concentrations. On the other hand, the Lorentz National Park Conservation Project sees as a collaborative initiative for the preservation of municipal and environmental heritage in the field of Lorentz National Park.
45 km southeast of Grasberg in Hoea Valley is a presumably rich ore deposits, " Mamoa ". Compare it with geologists Grasberg, it has received the nickname " grass hill son." Fifteen of the world's biggest mining company, but in 2003 an agreement have taken World Heritage Parks geologically to explore.
According to the unpublished concession contract to Freeport's "Contract Area B" overlaps with the Lorentz National Park. Indonesian law allows mining in national parks, because mining is regarded as a higher form of land use as a park.