Western Java rain forests
The Western Java rain forests ecoregion covers the lowland rain forests below 1,000 meters in elevation in the western half of the island of Java in Indonesia. There are a variety of forest types - evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, and even some patches of freshwater swamp. The forests have degraded by conversion of the low areas to agriculture, and by logging. National parks protect some of the last remaining untouched rain forest. A number of endangered mammals are found in the ecoregion, including the Javan rhinoceros, the silvery gibbon, and the Javan surili.
Location and description
The ecoregion surrounds the interior volcanic mountain ridge of western Java, stretching 500 km in length but nowhere more than 60 km wide. Above 1,000 meters in elevation the ecoregion transitions into the Western Java montane rain forests ecoregion.
Climate
The climate of the ecoregion is Tropical monsoon climate. This climate is characterized by relatively even temperatures throughout the year, and a pronounced dry season. The driest month has less than 60 mm of precipitation, but more than mm. This climate is mid-way between a tropical rainforest and a tropical savannah.
Flora
Almost 40% of the ecoregion is either under cultivation for agriculture or in built-urban areas. The remainder is 40% closed evergreen broadleaf forest, 14% open forest, and 6% other cover. The forest is, however, highly degraded by logging. The evergreen forest's common plants include Artocarpus elasticus, yellow mahogany, langsat, and Planchonia valida. The areas of moist deciduous forest generally have 1,500 to 4,000 mm/year of precipitation. These forests feature palmyra palm and palm trees of genus Corypha.
Fauna
The ecoregion supports 101 species of mammals, five of which are endemic. Mammals of conservation interest include the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros, the endangered silvery gibbon, the endangered Javan surili, the vulnerable fishing cat, the endangered banteng, and the endangered Sunda slow loris.
Protected areas
Only 2% of the ecoregion is officially protected. These protected areas include: