Asean Heritage Parks

Unique Flora: Ant house plant (Myrmecodia sp.); ferns (Lecanopteris mirabilis); and carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes sp.); dipterocarprs, tree genera of Dracontomelon, Pterocarpus, Instia, Dialum, Palaqium, and Pometia; nipa, bakau, Pandanus julianettii, Colocasia esculenta; Pterocarpus pilgeri; and Nauclea coadunate

Unique Fauna:Endemic to snow mountains like the mountain quail, snow mountain robin, and long-tailed paradiagalla (Paragiagalla caruneulata); tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus sp.); tiger cat (Dasyyurusalbo punctatus); short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus); long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijinii); and southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).

Habitat Types: Mangroves in the coast; montane and alpine forests; extensive lowland wetlands; heath forests; snow-capped mountains
There is on-going mountain formation and major sculpting by glaciation and shoreline accretion; five major rivers flow almost directly to the south slopes of the reserve passing through extensive belts of freshwater and mangrove swamps.

Aside from spectacular ecosystems and biodiversity resources, the Park also has peaks, snowfields and hanging glaciers of Puncak Jaya. In this Park, tourists can also find Baliem Gorge, which is one of the longest, straightest, and steepest white water rivers in the world.

Adding to the awe that the park offers its guests are the various ethnic groups, with their semi-nomadic but simple lifestyle. These groups still practice their traditional agriculture, which evolved in harmony with the environment although controlled by cultural taboos and rituals to prevent over-exploitation of biodiversity.