Leuser

Leuser refers to the Leuser Ecosystem, a large rainforest region in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, spanning parts of Aceh and North Sumatra. It includes Gunung Leuser National Park and several other protected areas and buffer zones. The term is commonly used to describe the broader forest complex that lies within the Barisan Mountain range and forms a critical wildlife corridor between lowland swamps and montane forests.

Biodiversity in the Leuser Ecosystem is among the most diverse in Southeast Asia. It hosts significant populations of orangutans (primarily the Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii), as well as elephants, tigers, and numerous other primates, birds, and amphibians. The region is a component of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2004.

Conservation status and management: Gunung Leuser National Park, established in 1980, lies within the Leuser Ecosystem and forms its core protected area. The broader Leuser Ecosystem is subject to conservation planning by Indonesian authorities and various conservation organizations, including collaborations through the Leuser Ecosystem Management and Leuser Conservation Forum.

Threats: The ecosystem faces ongoing pressures from deforestation for palm oil and pulpwood plantations, illegal logging, mining, and human-wildlife conflict. Habitat fragmentation and fires have affected wildlife populations and water resources, placing stresses on the region’s ecosystems.

Significance: The Leuser Ecosystem provides critical ecosystem services, such as watershed protection and climate regulation, and is a focal point of international conservation attention due to its unique assemblage of large mammals and high biodiversity.

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