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Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
Gunung Kerinci is an unactive volcano and the highest point in Sumatra, located on the northern part of Penuh River. This area dominated by slope forest, lowland forest and upper mountain forest. The area still have lowland forest, which under serious threat by illegal logging and land clearence (Colijn 1999).Kerinci Valley covering Kerinci Lake comprises some of Semangka Valley slope, and big enclave formed inside the area. The valley is used for rice field, tea plantation around of side of Gunung Kerinci, and cinnamon plantation. The cinnamon plantation already encroached this area.
Salvadori's Pheasant
Lophura inornata (Lambert & Howes 1989) and Schneider's Pitta
Pitta schneideri (Hurrel 1989) present in this area. The area is important for all Sumatran mountain bird species (except Hoogerwerf's Pheasant
Lophura hoogerwerfi and Mountain Serin
Serinus estherae which found only in the northern part)
Non-bird biodiversity: The mammal records in this area are confirmed by camera trapping (Holden personal communication. to D. Holmes 1997, Verbelen 2000):Aonyx cinerea, Arctictis binturong, Arctonyx collaris, Capricornis sumatrensis, Cuon alpinus, Felis bengalensis, Felis temmincki, Felis viverrina, Helarctos malayanus, Hylobates syndactylus, Hystrix brachyura, Macaca nemestrina, Manis javanica, Martes flavigula, Neofelis nebulosa, Panthera tigris, Felis marmorata, Tapirus indica.Sumatran Rabbit Nesolagus netscheri (endemic of Sumatra) also lives in this area.
Lower mountain forest (50%), upper mountai forest (30%), and lowland evergreen rain forest (20%).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Logging, firewood collection, forest conversion for plantation and wild hunting.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Integrated Conservation and Development Projecy inside and buffer zone of the National Park sponsored by GEF (through the World Bank), and WWF Indonesia is also involved actively in the management of this area.
Kerinci Seblat declared as National Park based on SK Menhut No. 736/X-1982 and in 1996 the status has strengthened by SK. Menhut No. 192/Kpts-II/96 on 5 January 1996 (1368000 ha) (Anon 1995, Anon 1998).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kerinci Seblat (Indonesia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kerinci-seblat-iba-indonesia on 03/12/2024.