Vegetation Types

Indonesia’s terrestrial flora can be collected into characteristic vegetation groups. The most important determinant is rainfall, followed by temperature which affects water availability. The distribution of Indonesian flora is dominated by the broadleaf evergreen forests. This is mostly seen in the region, where the population density is still relatively low, i.e. Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and West Papua. In Java and Bali the vegetation is dominated by cultivated plants. Along the coastal lines swamp forests, mangrove and nipa palm forests can be found. On the mountainous regions subalpine and alpine vegetations are dominant. In the lesser Sunda islands, where rainfall is not as plentious as in other parts of Indonesia, grasslands are regularly seen.