Landscape and Wildlife of Bali and Lombok

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Bali and Lombok have a rich flora and fauna. Human activity, including agriculture and (more recently) tourism, has caused some loss of habitat diversity. Nevertheless, large areas are still unspoilt, and some are officially protected. There are few places better for the nature-lover than Bali and Lombok, where conditions for walking and exploring range from arid mountain slopes and high natural forests to the margins of rivers and ricefields and the seashore.

FOREST
Much of Bali and Lombok was once covered in forest, including large areas of lowland rainforest. Much has been destroyed; causes include volcanic eruptions, coffee and coconut cultivation and collection of firewood. Lush forests still grow on Bali's southern and western mountain slopes. On the drier, northern slopes the forest is deciduous.







The black-winged starling is an endangered species that lives in the deciduous forest of nortwest Bali, as well as in open grasslands.

The long-tailed macaque monkey is often seen in forest, on roadsides and around temples.





VOLCANIC PEAKS
After volcanic ash is deposited by an eruption, centuries pass before the formation of soil capable of sustaining a rich plant life. However, the slopes are soon colonized by mosses, grasses and ferns, and there is a diverse bird life. On the grid northern and eastern slopes grows a grassland vegetation often punctuated by lontar palms.




The mountain white-eye gathers in treetops, uttering a characteristic high-pitched call.

The helmeted friar bird inhabits the arid mountain areas of Lombok

The senduduk flower, with its exotic pink petals, is found in mountain scrub.


RIVERS AND RICEFIELDS
Some 150 rivers flow through the gorges of Bali and Lombok, assisting irrigation of the rice crops. Here birds, frogs, toads and spiders can live on planthoppers and other small pests which cause damage to the rice itself. The birds include egrets, herons, ducks and small finches.

The Java sparrow, a red-billed native of Java and Bali, is found around river gorges and ricefields.

Toads live in the damp habitats such as ricefields; here they survive on the diet of insect, including grass-hoppers, beetles and crickets.

COASTLINES
The beaches, coral reefs and shallow waters around these islands support a huge variety of marine life, even in developed areas such as Sanur. Although little true mangrove forest remains, mangroves still absorb the force of waves, helping to reduce coastal erosion.

The lionfish, while visually attractive, is poisonous to touch. It lives in waters off the smaller islands around Bali.

The green turtle is endangered; it is hunted for its meat, sometimes used in Balinese ritual.

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