Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park recognized as ASEAN Heritage Park

Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park in Maros regency, South Sulawesi, has been declared an ASEAN Heritage Park.
The head of the national park, Yusak Mangetan, received the declaration certificate from ASEAN Center for Biodiversity executive director Theresa Mundita S. Lim during the sixth ASEAN Heritage Park Conference in Pakse, Laos that ran from Oct. 21 to 25, according to a statement.

During the event, Yusak, who was accompanied by Nurhidayah, who lives Pattanyamang village, Maros, also gave a lecture themed "Ecotourism: Business and Conservation" during a seminar session.

A stone garden in Bantimurung disctrict, South Sulawesi. (Shutterstock/krisbiantoandy)

Known as the second-largest karst area in the world, Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park is located around 50 kilometers to the north of Makassar. Other than being home to the famous Rammang-Rammang karst area, it also boasts dozens of prehistoric caves, unique animals such as Sulawesi moor macaque, red-knobbed hornbill, cuscus and Sulawesi palm civet, as well as endemic butterfly species such as Papilio blumei, Papilio polytes, Papilio sataspes and Graphium androcles. 
Initiated in 1978, the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Program aims to highlight the importance of some protected areas in the region and the global efforts in biodiversity conservation. It later named the first 11 protected areas listed under its program after it was officially established in 1984.

The ASEAN Center for Biodiversity currently serves as the secretariat of the AHP Program and the AHP Committee.
As of October this year, the Program has listed up to 49 protected areas. Other Indonesian landscapes that have been included are Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Way Kambas National Park. (JakartaPost)