Gunung Halimun Salak National Park or TNGHS is a conservation area located in West Java province of Indonesia. The wide of this area is around 113.357 hectare, and it is increase from the previous which is only 39.941 hectare when it was within the status of Protected Forest.
It is called Mount Halimun Salak National Park because the area has two highest mountain peaks which are the Mount Halimun and Mount Salak. As a mountainous area, the natural charm in this national park is so diverse and amazing.
This can be seen from the many tourist destinations found along this area, such as waterfalls, mountains and ponds. The flora and fauna that grow and inhabit this national park are also very diverse from endemic species to rare species categories.
Location and Topography of Mount Halimun Salak National Park
Administratively the area covers three regencies which are Bogor and Sukabumi regencies, in West Java, and Lebak Regency in Banten area. When it was still a protected forest, this national park had an area of 39,941 hectare, then increased and expanded to include the forest areas of Mount Salak, Mount Endut, and several other forest areas until reach 113,357 hectare. The topography ranges from hilly and mountainous with an altitude of 500 meters above sea level to 2,211 meters above sea level with a slope of about 25% to 65%.
Credit: portalgunhal.com
Flora & Fauna of Gunung Halimun Salak National Park
As a conservation area, there are many types of flora and fauna that grow and live in Gunung Halimun Salak National Park. Starting from commonly known species, endemic species to rare species.
1. Flora
The diversity of flora in Gunung Halimun Salak National Park is very high, there are more than 500 plant species consisting of 266 genus and 93 tribes. The types of flora in this national park are Altingia excelsa (Rasamala), Amorphopallus titanum (Vulture Flower), Asplenium nidus (Bird’s Nest Fern), Castanopsis javanica (Riung anak), Schima wallichii (Puspa) and Podocarpus neriifolius (Kiputri). In addition, in this area there are 13 species of rattan, 12 species of bamboo, 258 species of orchids with 47 endemic and 5 new species and various species of mosses.
2. Fauna
There are 61 species of mammals, 244 species of birds with 32 endemic species, 27 species of amphibians, 50 species of reptiles and 31 species of fish that live in the Gunung Halimun Salak National Park area. Some endemic species that are threatened with extinction include the Macan Tutul Jawa (Panthera pardus-melas), Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch), slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) and jungle cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). Endemic bird species in this park are the Javanese gelatik (Padda oryzivora), Javanese eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi), Javanese celepuk (Otus angelinae), Javanese ciung-mungkal (Cochoa azurea) and Javanese luntur (Apalharpactes reinwardtii).
Ecosystem of Mount Halimun Salak National Park
The Gunung Halimun Salak National Park area has the function of life support, especially for the three administrative regions which are Bogor, Lebak and Sukabumi, including hydrological and climate functions. In addition, this protected area is also useful for the development of science, education, cultivation and nature tourism. The area consists of evergreen rainforest, the largest in Java. These type of forest are located in separate lowland areas and surround the national park.
Several types of ecosystems exist in Gunung Halimun Salak National Park based on the height of the area, including:
1. Collin Zone / Lowland Rainforest
This zone is at an altitude of 500 to 1,000 meters above sea level with damaged conditions and secondary forests. Plants that live in this zone are understory plants and pioneer trees, such as Manggong (Macaranga rhizoides), Kareumbi (Omalanthus populneus), and Cangcaratan (Nauclea lanceolata). Commercial trees also grow, including Rasamala (Altingia excelsa), Keruing (Dipterocarpus sp.), Suren (Toona sureni/sinensis), Riung anak (Castanopsis javanica) and Puspa (Schima walichii).
2. Submontana Forest Zone
The altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea level is the submontane forest zone or lower mountain forest which has very high biodiversity, for example, Puspa (Schima walichii), Rasamala (Altingia excelsa), Suren (Toona sureni/sinensis), Jamuju (Dacrycarpus imbricatus), Pasang or Oak (Lithocarpus sp. ), Baros (Magnolia blumei), Waru Sintok (Cinnamomum sintok), Kiputri (Podocarpus neriifolius), Antidesma montanum, Eurya acuminata, Evodia aromatic and various species of plants of the Fagaceae family. The area is also home to rattan epiphytes (Calamus sp.), as well as 75 species of orchids, including Bublophylum binnendykii, Bublophylum angustifolium, Bublophylum scottifolium, Bublophylum violaceum, Coelogyne correa, Cymbidium sundaicum and Dendrochilum raciborsckii.
3. Montana Forest Zone
Montana forest is a zone located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level and mostly consists of plants of the Fagaceae family, namely Pasang (Quercus sp.), Jamuju (Dacrycarpus imbricatus), and Kiputri (Podocarpus neriifolius).
Credit: dispar.bantenprov.go.id
The people of Gunung Halimun Salak National Park
The people who live in the national park area are predominantly Sundanese, especially the Kasepuhan Citorek and Cicemet residents. The surrounding population is still very adherent to ancestral cultural customs. They still practice various kinds of traditional ceremonies at certain times, for example:
Nandur, is a customary tradition carried out during the rice planting period.
Meupeuk pare berkah is a tradition when rice begins to grow and produce fruit.
Nganyaaran is the tradition of putting rice into the barn after harvesting
Seren tahun is held by the residents of Banten Kidul Kasepuhan in July to mark the end of the farming period.
The Kasepuhan people live in the villages of Cisungsang, South Banten, Cicarucub and Bayah. In managing the forest they also apply a certain system, which is in the form of three zoning, namely Leuweung Kolot (should not be disturbed), Leuweung Titipan (there must be permission from the customary leader) and Leuweung Biasa (can be used).
The western part of the national park is inhabited by Baduy People with traditional lifestyles and minimal influence from outside cultures. There are 44 villages in the buffer zone of Mount Halimun Salak National Park and 4 villages in the enclave area.
The residents of Mount Halimun Salak National Park are members of indigenous groups which are part of the indigenous peoples in Indonesia, which are very numerous with various unique cultural customs in each region.
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