Satellite view of the pine forest on the northeast shore of Danau Toba, Indonesia Photograph by USGS   Indo-Malay Tropical and Subtropical Coniferous Forests   1,100 square miles (2,800 square kilometers) -- about the size of Rhode Island Vulnerable

· Hidden Treasures
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Hidden Treasures

If you were hiking through the tropics you might not expect to come across pine forests--something more commonly seen in northern and southern temperate regions. But such forests do occur in the tropics, usually at higher elevations. One such occurrence is in northern Sumatra, where you’ll find the Sumatra Tropical Pine Forests ecoregion.

Special Features

Found in the mountains of Sumatra, this ecoregion is relatively dry compared to other montane forests, which can receive up to 98 inches (2500 mm) of rain a year. These drier forests, which receive less than 47 inches (1200 mm) of rain a year, are dominated by the Sumatran pine species, Pinus merkusii.

	The secretive Sunda robin prefers humid montane forests near streams and waterfalls. Males have deep blue feathers with a white frontal spot, while females have dark brown feathers.

Wild Side

Wildlife in these pine forests is not as diverse as in the surrounding lowland or montane rain forests. Still, several near-endemic bird species can be found in this ecoregion, including species that are common in areas that have been disturbed by people. Filling these forests with song are bronze-tailed peacock-pheasants, Sunda minivets, blue-masked leafbirds, Sunda robins, black-capped white-eyes, and a trio of bulbul species--the cream-striped bulbul, spot-necked bulbul, and Sunda bulbul--among many other birds.

Cause for Concern

These pine forests are under far less threat than the lowlands and surrounding montane forests. More than a third of the ecoregion lies in officially protected areas. Dipterocarp trees--considered valuable by loggers--do not grow here, so the forests are relatively safe from over-harvesting. However, both natural and human-ignited fires are frequent.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.