Indonesian

Abstract

Djufri. 2015. Leuser Ecosystem of Aceh Province as a natural laboratory for the study of biodiversity to find the raw materials of drugs. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1: 1543-1552. The Leuser Ecosystem is a natural landscape located between Lake Laut Tawar in Aceh Province and Lake Toba in North Sumatera including 11 districts namely Aceh Tenggara, Aceh Selatan, Aceh Utara, Aceh Timur, Aceh Barat, Aceh Singkil, Aceh Tengah, Deli Serdang, Langkat, Tanah Karo, dan Dairi. Positioned geographically at 2,250-4,950 North Latitude and 96,350-98,550 BT, the scope of the area is about 2,5 million Ha. Gunung Leuser National Park, the largest park in Indonesia, is one of exotic natural conservation with its biodiversity. The park which is one of the lungs of the world also plays important role in balancing life support system. It Is also as a water supply for five million people belong to Aceh Province and other tens millions of North Sumatera. Almost nine districts depend on the roles of the park such as use water supply, water for irrigation, soil fertility support system, flood prevention, and others. It also offers tour destination such as river rafting in River Alas, tracking through Mt.Leuser and Kemiri. Parts of the park namely Bahorok and Ketambe are homes to Orangutan, an endangered animal. It is also native habitat of sumatran wild animals such as Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris), Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii), Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Tapir (Tapirus indicus), Owa (Hylobathes lar), and Kedih (Presbytis thomasii). Moreover, the park is the home to 380 species of birds and 36 of 50 species of sundaland birds. Almost 65 % or 129 species of mammals of 205 of big and small mammals noted in the area. The park is also the habitat to most fauna, from mammals, reptile,amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and thousands flora as the sources of medicines. Mount Leuser National Park has very rich of biodiversity to be explored to find the sources of medicine.