ENIDDENL
Pitcher plants rise above padang scrub at Bako National Park, Sarawak.
Padang scrub in the kerangas landscape of Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia.Mgiganteus1 · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Cropped · Original
Heath forest · Central Kalimantan

Kerangas forest

Tropical heath forest, locally called kerangas, forms part of Tanjung Puting’s habitat diversity.

Characteristics

UNESCO explicitly identifies kerangas in the biosphere reserve. Its record stays distinct from peat-swamp and freshwater-swamp habitats so that species associations can be added only with appropriate evidence.

Sources & references · 1UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere Reserve

Distribution

Tanjung Puting in Kalimantan and Bako in Sarawak contain documented kerangas. Brunei’s biodiversity report also identifies coastal kerangas forests as important conservation sites. These named examples do not establish continuous heath forest across Borneo.

Sources & references · 3UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere ReserveSarawak Forestry Corporation · Bako National ParkGovernment of Brunei Darussalam / Forestry Department · Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Brunei Darussalam

Ecological importance

Kerangas adds a distinct heath-forest environment to Borneo’s forest diversity. Preserving this habitat alongside swamp and dipterocarp forest maintains the ecological variety documented in Tanjung Puting and Bako.

Sources & references · 2UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere ReserveSarawak Forestry Corporation · Bako National Park

Threats

UNESCO identifies illegal logging, fire, cultivation, mining and poaching among pressures on Tanjung Puting’s landscape. These pressures affect connected habitats; the listing is not a current condition survey of every forest patch.

Sources & references · 1UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere Reserve

Species found here

Examples in the linked species profiles include Black orchid. Their profiles identify the particular locality and evidence. A habitat association does not mean the species occurs in every patch of that habitat.

Sources & references · 2Royal Botanic Gardens Kew POWO · Coelogyne pandurataBKSDA Kalimantan Timur · Taman Wisata Alam Padang Luwai

Protected areas

Documented landscapes to explore include Tanjung Puting National Park, Kutai National Park, Bako National Park. These areas contain habitat mosaics; the habitat does not cover their entire surface. Check each area’s access information before a visit.

Sources & references · 2UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere ReserveGovernment of Brunei Darussalam / Forestry Department · Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Brunei Darussalam
On this pageBack to collection ↗

Related discoveries

Destinations

Nature areas

Coastal rock formations in Bako National Park.
Nature areas

Bako National Park

Sarawak

Bako National Park puts coastal rock, mangroves and several very different forests within reach of Kuching. Its appeal is the transition between them: a shaded trail can lead towards exposed sandstone and a tidal shore, while proboscis monkeys use forest edges without following a visitor timetable. This is a managed national park with a visitor headquarters, trails and bookable accommodation, rather than an unrestricted stretch of coastline. Getting there involves a road journey to Kampung Bako followed by a boat; sea conditions and the return arrangement are part of the day's planning. A full day allows a focused introduction, while a confirmed overnight stay gives more time for the forest. Choose routes with the park guide and staff, and leave space for weather, rest and observation instead of trying to complete every trail.

Documented occurrence in
Borneo mobilegrapher · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Walking infrastructure in Bontang Mangrove Park, Kutai National Park; current access must be checked separately.
Nature areas

Kutai National Park

East Kalimantan

Kutai National Park protects a mosaic of lowland rainforest, swamp, heath and coastal habitats in East Kalimantan. Orangutans and large ironwood trees are important parts of its identity, but neither represents every corner of the park. Visitors need to choose a named visitor sector: a river approach to Prevab is different from a forest walk at Sangkima. The park is not one attraction reached from a single central marker. Current park information describes guided facilities at Prevab, while route conditions and entry arrangements still need confirmation for your dates. Use nearby local access towns for the final approach rather than treating a hotel in Balikpapan or Samarinda as accommodation inside the forest.

Related
Gunawan gtp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original
Show all · 5
Sekonyer River in Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan.
Nature areas

Tanjung Puting National Park

Central Kalimantan

Tanjung Puting is a national park in western Central Kalimantan, where rivers lead into a mosaic of lowland, swamp, heath and coastal forest. Orangutan conservation is its best-known story, but the landscape also supports proboscis monkeys and distinctive wetland vegetation. Visitors normally plan through Pangkalan Bun and Kumai, then travel by boat along an agreed route. The park is larger than its familiar visitor corridor: a booking for particular sites does not open every research or rehabilitation facility. Choose the visit length, boat and overnight arrangement together, and confirm park reservations before departure. This is a guided river-and-forest experience, not a guarantee of close wildlife encounters.

Connected with this habitat
Nanosanchez · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped · Original

Species

Stories

Sources & references

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme · Tanjung Puting Biosphere ReserveAccessed: 2026-10-01

BKSDA Kalimantan Timur · Taman Wisata Alam Padang LuwaiAccessed: 2026-10-01

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew POWO · Coelogyne pandurataAccessed: 2026-10-01

Sarawak Forestry Corporation · Bako National ParkAccessed: 2026-10-02

Government of Brunei Darussalam / Forestry Department · Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Brunei DarussalamAccessed: 2026-10-02

Report a correction