Included here are the Maluku Islands (formerly the Moluccas) including Ambon, Buru, Seram and Halmahera, and the Banda Islands.

Maluku Limestone Forests

Forests of base-rich soil can be found throughout these islands but seem to be prevalent on Halmahera. In the Sungai Dodaga region the limestone and calcareous sandstones support rich forests. Typical tree species include Gnetum gnemon, Vaticum papuana and the endemic or near endemic Pimeleodendron amboinicum (Euphorbiaceae) and Microcos ceramensis (Tiliaceae) together with species of Calophyllum, Canarium, Diospyros, Eugenia, Intsia, Litsea, Myristica, Pometia, Pygeum, Saccopetalum and Vitex.

References

Edwards, I. D., Macdonald, A. A. & Proctor, J. (eds). 1993. Natural History of Seram, Maluka, Indonesia. Raleigh International. Intercep Ltd, Andover.

Edwards, I. D., Payton, R. W., Proctor, J. & Riswan, S. 1990. Altitudinal zonation of the rain forests in Manusela National Park, Seram, Maluku, Indonesia. In: The Plant Diversity of Malesia. Proceedings of the Flora Malesiana Symposium commemorating Professor Dr. C. G. G. J. van Steenis Leiden, August 1989. Eds. P. Baas, K. Kalkman and R. Geesink. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Hugh-Jones, T. 1995. Habitats. In: Halmahera ’94. A University of Bristol Expedition to Indonesia in conjunction with Pattimura University, Ambon, The Biological Sciences Club, Jakarta and Sub-Balai Konervasi Sumber Daya Alam, Maluku. Report prepared for The Indonesian Institute for Sciences (LIPI) and The Directorate General for Forestry Protection and Nature Conservation (PHPA).

Monk, K. A., De Fretes, Y. & Reksodiharjo-Lilley, G. 1997. The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku. The Ecology of Indonesia Series. Oxford University Press.

Steenis, C. G. G. J. van. 1957. Outline of the vegetation types in Indonesia and some adjacent regions. Proceedings of the Pacific Scientific Congress, 8: 61-97.