Lorentz National Park

A protected area in Papua, Indonesia, spanning ecosystems from tropical coast and wetlands to equatorial glaciers. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Southeast Asia’s largest national parks.

New Guinea: The world’s second-largest island, divided between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Lorentz occupies a vast stretch of New Guinea’s western half.
Altitudinal zonation: The change in climate and biological communities with increasing elevation. Lorentz’s steep terrain creates successive habitat zones over short distances.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A place inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for outstanding cultural or natural value. Lorentz’s biodiversity and intact ecological gradients underpin its international designation.
World Heritage Committee: The body of representatives from states parties that oversees implementation of the World Heritage Convention. It evaluates the conservation status of Lorentz’s World Heritage listing.
Central Range: A high mountain chain running through the interior of New Guinea. Its peaks and valleys shape Lorentz’s highland habitats.
Tropical glaciers: Glaciers found in tropical regions, sustained by high elevation rather than latitude. High peaks in the park support rare equatorial ice.
Biodiversity conservation: The protection and management of biological diversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. The park safeguards connected habitats and many endemic species.
World Heritage Convention: The 1972 international treaty establishing cooperation to identify and protect cultural and natural heritage. The convention provides the framework for Lorentz’s international recognition.
Puncak Jaya: A 4,884-meter mountain in Papua, Indonesia, and the highest peak between the Himalayas and Andes. Its glaciers lie within the park’s high-altitude landscape.
Mangrove forest: A coastal forest of salt-tolerant trees rooted in intertidal environments. Mangroves represent the park’s coastal end of the habitat gradient.

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Highland PapuaRelated: Its northern highland landscapes approach communities and districts in Highland Papua.