Sulawesi
Biodiversity and Tropical Forests in Indonesia.

Summary

Sulawesi is the most spectacular center of endemicity for plants and animals in Indonesia. Its high mountainous terrain has protected much of its fauna and flora, although almost nothing remains of its lowland forests. It has the most extensive system of lakes in Indonesia as well as the largest forests on ultrabasic substrates in the world. It is one of the foremost two or three places globally as a center for marine biodiversity. While Sulawesi has on paper extensive protected areas, some additions are required, and planning is needed to integrate these protected areas into a system that conserves representative landscapes and their functions.

The terrestrial priority on Sulawesi should be to connect the existing protected areas with protected forests (Hutan Lindung) to form a more integrated system of protected areas, particularly to link protected areas in both the southern and southwestern arms of the island to those in North Sulawesi Province through the “hub’ protected area in Central Sulawesi -- Lore Lindu National Park.

An initial study to determine priorities for biodiversity action in the Maros-Pangkajene area in South Sulawesi (Allard et al. 2000) should be progressed as a priority.
Bunaken National Park and Taka Bonerate National Marine Park both are nationally and globally important centers of marine diversity that are heavily impacted by a range of threats. They are the top priority areas for conservation activities. Wakatobi is also an immensely important center for marine biodiversity, but it is not threatened and requiring intensive management as are Bunaken and Taka Bonerate.

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