PanEco

Sumatra is rich. Rich in terms of a unique flora and fauna, old cultural treasures – and raw materials.

Enormous mangrove swamps and powerful streams dominate the flat east coast. Here traditional settlements stand on stilts. By contrast, the west of Sumatra rises up into highlands of volcanic origin. In the hilly northern region lie the famous Lake Toba and the homeland of the Batak people, descendants of the first settlers of the Indonesian archipelago.

The greatest wealth of the island of Sumatra lies in its lowland rainforest. The overwhelming variety of animal and plant species has made it deservedly famous. Orangutans, tigers, and rhinos still live here, along with the rafflesia, the world's largest flower. This wonder of the world is, however, severely threatened: The plunder of the rainforest has increased dramatically, encouraged by the system of regional autonomy. According to realistic estimates, hardly any lowland rainforest will exist outside the confines of the national park in ten years time ...
 
Tropical wood, palm-oil, and natural rubber are the important pillars of the economy. The greatest source of income provide, however, raw materials such as oil and national gas. Off the east coast, thousands of drilling platforms pump the treasure out of the ground. The largest portion of national income flows to Java, which leaves the infrastructure on Sumatra underdeveloped. Still: All sights are reached in only a few hours drive from the capital city of Medan.