TAMAN NASIONAL BUKIT
DUABELAS
Geographical location : 102°29-102°49 E ; 1°44-1°58
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Location Regencies : Provinsi Jambi (Kabupaten Sarolangun, Kabupaten
Bungo Tebo and Kabupaten Batanghari)
Area : 60,500 hectares
Temperature : 28° - 36° C
Rainfall : 1,500 mm/year (on average)
Altitude : 50 - 400 masl
Best time to visit : June to October
Bukit Duabelas National Park is representative of lowland tropical
rain forests in provinsi Jambi. In the past, the forest area functioned as a
permanent production forest, limited production forest and other forest land
uses which were later merged to become a National Park. The remaining natural
forest is situated in the northern part of the park, while the rest comprises
secondary forest.
Plant species include bulian (Eusideroxylon zwageri), meranti (Shorea
sp.), menggiris/kempas (Koompassia excelsa), jelutung (Dyera costulata), damar
(Agathis sp.), jernang (Daemonorops draco), and rattan (Calamus sp.). There are
about 120 species of plant, including fungi, which could be developed as
medicinal plants.
This Park forms a habitat for endangered and protected animals like
siamang (Hylobates syndactylus syndactylus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa
diardi), lesser Malay mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus kanchil), sun bear
(Helarctos malayanus malayanus), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak montanus), leopard
cat (Prionailurus bengalensis sumatrana), hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana),
Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus sumatrensis), Sumatran rabbit (Nesolagus
netscheri), crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela malayensis) and others.
Owing existence of so many rivers and tributaries (appearing on the
map like root fibres) which drain from within the Park area, Bukit Duabelas
National Park is an important water catchment area for Sungai Batanghari
watershed.
Topography of the Park varies from flat to slightly hilly with a few
higher hills like Suban, Punai (164 masl), Panggang (328 masl) and Kuran (438 masl).
The indigenous people of Suku Anak Dalam (Orang Rimba) have been
dwelling in the forest area of the Park for generations. They use the forest as
a place to roam where they can interact with the nature, maintaining a
symbiotic relationship with the forest. To meet their daily needs, the
indigenous people hunt pigs, fish, collect honey, and tap the sap from rubber
trees for sale.
The Bukit Duabelas area has only recently been declared by the
Minister of Forestry and Estate Crops as a National Park, and keep on preparing
facilities for visitors.