Gunung Lumut

Information

Elevation

1.210 m

Country

Indonesia (ID)

Location / Range

Gunung Lumut Protected Forest, Paser Regency

Mountain type

Non-volcanic forest peak

Volcanic?

No (non-volcanic)

Coordinates

-1.9098, 101.4004

Difficulty

Very difficult — a thickly mossy, very slippery trail, steep cliffs, a malaria-prone area

Best Season

April–October (dry season)

Permits & Rules

Access has been effectively CLOSED since 2012 under a customary decision by the Muluy people for forest conservation

Hazards

Trails very slippery due to thick moss; leeches during the rainy season; malaria-prone area; no officially marked trails

Description

Gunung Lumut (1,210 m a.s.l.) is a protected forest area in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, nicknamed the 'moss paradise' because virtually every surface — soil, rocks, tree trunks and even the smallest twigs — is draped in dense, dripping green moss. Gazetted as a Protected Forest (Hutan Lindung) since 1996, the area spans approximately 42,000 hectares. Its biodiversity is exceptional: at least 160 bird species have been recorded, including the protected hornbill (Bucerotidae), along with over 120 fungal species and the pigeon orchid Dendrobium rumenatum. The Dayak Paser people — particularly the Muluy, one of 14 Dayak Paser sub-tribes who have lived at the mountain's base for centuries — are the area's traditional custodians and depend on the forest as their primary source of clean water. In 2012, Muluy elders decided to close all access to outside visitors in order to safeguard the forest's pristine condition; local customary communities have also sought national park status for the area.