Baluran National Park sits in Situbondo Regency, East Java. This conservation area acts as one of the most complete representations of biodiversity on Java Island.
The park spans a total area of 29,041.68 hectares. This impressive territory consists of 26,990 hectares of dry land and around 2,051 hectares of marine waters.
The park holds an incredible variety of ecosystems in one single area. Visitors can find monsoon forests, coastal forests, mangrove forests, brackish forests, savannas, and coral reefs. Natural savannas cover about 40 percent of the land area, making the famous Bekol Savanna the largest grassland on the entire island of Java.
A Home for Numerous Wild Animals
Baluran National Park provides a critical habitat for numerous wild animals. At least around 28 mammal species and hundreds of bird species live inside the park. The strictly protected core zone serves as a primary shield for key species. These include the Javan banteng, Timor deer, barking deer, Javan leopard, dhole (Asiatic wild dog), Sunda pangolin, and the green peafowl.
The bird population in Baluran shows dynamic changes over time. Records from 1990 showed 155 bird species, which later grew to 234 species. However, a 2013 Fauna Review Report revealed that observers could only find 201 active species. Sadly, more than 30 bird species have disappeared from the park.
Swiss Winnasis, a Forest Ecosystem Control Staff at Baluran, explained that bird data collection started in 1920 and continued through the 1970s. He noted that the peak number of 234 species is actually a tragic reminder, because the park has permanently lost more than 30 bird species.
Out of the total 234 bird species recorded, national laws protect 65 of them. Furthermore, 15 species face global extinction risks according to the IUCN Red List. This includes the green peafowl, which maintains a population of about 900 to 1,500 individuals in Baluran.
The black-winged starling also faces severe danger with very few individuals left, while the Javan rhinoceros hornbill subspecies has dropped to fewer than 10 observed individuals.
Additionally, Baluran protects 12 bird species that are completely endemic to Java, including the Javan hawk-eagle and the Java sparrow.
High Plant Diversity
The botanical wealth of Baluran matches its rich fauna. A 2013 Flora Potential Review Report listed 475 plant species from 100 different families, an increase from 423 species in 1977. This rich vegetation includes 144 tree species, 76 shrubs, 59 grasses, 135 herbs, 42 lianas, five orchids, and several ferns and epiphytes.
The core zone provides strict protection for several important native plants. These species include trenggulun, bayur, candlenut, neem (mimba), and sugar palm (aren).
However, park managers face a serious threat from non-native plants. The park currently hosts at least 21 invasive species and 31 exotic plant species that threaten to disrupt the natural balance.
Some of these invasive plants include Acacia auriculiformis, gamal, and kersen. Controlling these aggressive species remains a core strategy to protect the original savanna grasses and monsoon forest trees.
Zoning Management to Protect the Park's Future
To manage these diverse resources effectively, authorities divide Baluran into several distinct zones. These include the core zone, wilderness zone, marine protection zone, utilization zone, traditional zone, rehabilitation zone, and special zone.
Scientists and rangers use the wilderness zone for research and limited conservation work. Meanwhile, the utilization and marine protection zones allow for strictly supervised eco-tourism and water activities.
By combining land and sea ecosystems, Baluran National Park remains a vital stronghold for Java's natural heritage. Constant population monitoring, invasive species control, and strict habitat protection hold the key to the park's survival.
