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Indonesia is known as one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world. From the tropical rainforests of Sumatra to the snowy mountains of Papua, Indonesia’s landscape contains an extraordinary wealth of ecosystems. In previous series in the Nusantara Series, discussions have raised various themes, ranging from nutritious traditional culinary delights, the importance of student health, to the role of teachers as the foundation of the nation. This time, the discussion turns to Indonesia’s natural wealth which has great benefits for the quality of the environment, especially the air we breathe every day.
In the midst of increasing urbanization, the growth of motorized vehicles, and industrial activities in various big cities, air quality is becoming an increasingly important issue. Air pollution is known to be associated with an increased risk of respiratory tract disease, heart disease, and reduced quality of life. Therefore, areas that still have extensive forest cover and low levels of pollution are very valuable assets.
It should be understood from the start that the title of this thread uses the term “good for the lungs” does not mean that the national park has air that can magically cure lung diseases. There is no scientific evidence that simply breathing the air in a national park can be a substitute for medical treatment. What this means is that these areas have very extensive vegetation, ecosystems that are still relatively natural, and levels of air pollution that are generally much lower than urban areas, thus providing an environment with better air quality.
Forests play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide, producing oxygen through the process of photosynthesis, helping filter particles in the air, and maintaining local climate balance. Therefore, preserving national parks means helping to maintain air quality for present and future generations.
The following are 5 national parks in Indonesia which are known to have very extensive forest cover and relatively unspoiled environments.
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1. Gunung Leuser National Park
Gunung Leuser National Park is one of the most important conservation areas in Indonesia. Located in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra, this national park is part of Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatradesignated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This area has very dense tropical rainforests, mountainous landscapes, rivers, swamps, and lowland forests. Very dense vegetation helps maintain air quality while maintaining ecosystem balance.
Apart from being famous as a habitat for Sumatran orangutans, this area is also home to Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, Sumatran rhinos and thousands of other plant species.
Because industrial activity within conservation areas is strictly limited, air pollution levels are generally much lower than in urban areas. These conditions make Gunung Leuser an area with an excellent natural environment.
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2. Lorentz National Park
When talking about the largest national parks in Southeast Asia, the name Lorentz National Park is almost always at the top of the list. Located in Papua, this area covers more than two million hectares.
Lorentz’s uniqueness lies in the variety of ecosystems. In one area, there are mangrove forests, tropical rain forests, grasslands, swamps, and high mountain areas which even once had tropical glaciers.
The extensive vegetation cover makes this area one of the largest natural carbon sinks in Indonesia. Apart from that, its location far from industrial centers means that air quality is relatively maintained.
UNESCO also designated Lorentz as a World Heritage Site because of its exceptional ecological value. This area is an example of how natural ecosystems can survive on a very large scale when well protected.
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3. Kerinci Seblat National Park
Kerinci Seblat National Park stretches across four provinces, namely Jambi, West Sumatra, Bengkulu and South Sumatra. This area is also part of Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.
This national park is famous for having Mount Kerinci, the highest volcano in Indonesia. However, the main attraction is not just the mountains, but the vast expanse of tropical rainforest.
The forests in Kerinci Seblat function as a water catchment area, wildlife habitat, as well as absorbing large amounts of carbon. Dense vegetation helps maintain air humidity and lowers environmental temperatures compared to areas that have experienced a lot of land conversion.
For visitors who enjoy climbing activities and natural tourism, the natural forest atmosphere provides a different experience compared to urban areas filled with vehicles and buildings.
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4. Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park
Still on the island of Sumatra, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is one of the last strongholds for various rare Indonesian animals.
This area has a combination of lowland forests, mountain forests and coastal areas which form a very diverse ecosystem.
Dense vegetation helps maintain air quality while protecting the soil from erosion. Apart from that, the presence of large trees plays a role in storing carbon that was previously in the atmosphere.
Bukit Barisan Selatan is also an important habitat for Sumatran elephants, Sumatran rhinos, Sumatran tigers and various endemic bird species. The preservation of this area is not only important for wildlife, but also for the stability of the environment of the surrounding community.
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5. Kayan Mentarang National Park
Kayan Mentarang National Park is in North Kalimantan Province, directly bordering Malaysia. This area is known as one of the most intact tropical rainforests on the island of Kalimantan.
The area is dominated by primary forest with a relatively low level of destruction compared to many other areas. Therefore, its ecological functions are still running well, starting from maintaining the water cycle, being a habitat for wildlife, to absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
Various studies show that Kalimantan’s tropical rainforests have an important role in maintaining regional and global climate balance. Therefore, the existence of Kayan Mentarang has meaning that goes far beyond Indonesia’s administrative borders.
For indigenous communities living around the area, forests are also an important part of social and cultural life. This shows that nature conservation is not only related to plants and animals, but also to the sustainability of local culture.
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Why Are Forests Important for Air Quality?
Trees carry out photosynthesis by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Apart from that, vegetation also helps capture some dust particles and improves microclimatic conditions through the process of evaporating water from the leaves.
However, it is important to understand that air quality is influenced by many factors, such as wind direction, season, forest fires, human activities and weather conditions. In other words, the presence of forests does not guarantee that the air is always perfect, but densely forested areas that are far from sources of pollution generally have better air quality than urban areas that are dense with traffic and industry.
This is why maintaining national parks is not only important for wildlife, but also for the health of the environment as a whole.
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Protecting National Parks Means Protecting the Future
The existence of national parks provides very broad benefits. Apart from maintaining biodiversity, this area functions as a carbon store, water regulator, scientific research site, environmental education facility, and ecotourism destination.
However, these benefits can only be felt if the area is preserved. Threats such as illegal logging, forest fires, encroachment and climate change can reduce the ability of forests to carry out their ecological functions.
Therefore, conservation efforts require cooperation between government, local communities, academics, conservation organizations and visitors. Responsible nature tourism, not littering, adhering to hiking trails, and respecting conservation area rules are simple steps that everyone can take.
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CLOSURE
Indonesia is fortunate to have conservation areas that are still very large and rich in biodiversity. Gunung Leuser, Lorentz, Kerinci Seblat, Bukit Barisan Selatan and Kayan Mentarang National Parks are clear examples of how Indonesia’s nature still contains extraordinary tropical forest landscapes.
These five national parks deserve to be called areas that are good for the lungs, not because they have the ability to miraculously cure disease, but because they have very abundant vegetation, relatively low levels of pollution, and very important ecological functions in maintaining air quality.
Protecting forests means maintaining air quality, protecting water sources, protecting wildlife, while passing on a healthier environment to the next generation. In the long term, these benefits are far more valuable than the momentary profits obtained from overexploitation of nature.
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SOURCE
Gunung Leuser National Park Hall. (2023). Profile of Gunung Leuser National Park. Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia.
Kayan Mentarang National Park Hall. (2023). Profile of Kayan Mentarang National Park. Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia.
Kerinci Seblat National Park Hall. (2023). Profile of Kerinci Seblat National Park. Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia.
Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Station. (2023). Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park profile. Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia.
Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia. (2024). Indonesian Environmental and Forestry Statistics. Jakarta: KLHK.
UNESCO. (2024). Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
UNESCO. (2024). Lorentz National Park. UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
World Health Organization. (2021). WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization.
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