World Wildlife Fund

Strangely shaped with four mountainous peninsulas, Halmahera's geographic features include several active volcanos, scenic lakes, unexplored caves and plenty of stunning off-shore islands. It also boasts Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park, the first in North Maluku, and one of the most pristine and unvisited in all of Indonesia.

Halmahera is the largest island in the North Maluku province of Indonesia - the largest in the whole Mollucas Islands - and occupies a total of 17,780 sq km with more than 160,000 inhabitants.

The North Maluku province consists of eight districts, six of which include a part of Halmahera Island: North Halmahera, West Halmahera, East Halmahera, Central Halmahera, South Halmahera, Ternate Municipality, Tidore City and Islands and Sula Islands. Only Ternate Municipality – which acts as the capital city of the province – and Sula Islands do not include any part of Halmahera.

Halmahera, and its two sister islands of Ternate and Tidore, have long been known for its kingdoms before the Dutch colonization era. Cloves, nutmeg and other spices have been aggressively cultivated from the rich volcanic soils of islands in this chain for hundreds of years.

The indigenous population, mostly Malayans, engage in subsistence farming, hunting and fishing. The chief products are spices, resin, sago, rice, tobacco, and coconuts. It is a mountainous island, still largely covered with forests. The coastlines are rimmed with white sand and coral reefs are found in its waters. Offering a beautiful spectacle, Mount Mamuya expels burning lava from time to time, adding to the allure of this island.

People living in the Halmahera Island are mostly farmers, but those living in the small islands surround it are fishers. They are living with great respects to religions, to their forerunners and to its nature. The oceans in Mollucas are long known for its heavenly fishing ground for traditional fishers of Halmahera and fishers from outside of the area.

The Northern Halmahera is an emerging diving destination. Morotai Island, lying to the north of Halmahera, was an important place during the World War II, as it was made into the air-base for the Allies and the Japanese. The ghosts of war still linger in this area, where wrecks of aircrafts can be found underwater serving as home to coral reefs and marine creatures.

Recent study by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Indonesia Program found an ongoing outbreak of the crown of thorn starfish. On stretches of reef up to six miles long, three quarters of the corals had been killed and some of the colonies had been almost completely devoured. The survey found that starfish had attacked about 20 per cent of the Halmahera reefs and reduced coral coverage in these areas by 95 percent.

Halmahera also possesses the highest number of endemic birds of all Maluku Islands, and a fascinating variety of reptiles - with several interesting new species discovered in recent years. It is also a hotspot of biodiversity for endemic birds.  Up to 26 endemic species of bird are found in Halmahera and the surrounding islands, as well as endemic species of plants, mammals, amphibians, insects and snails.