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Komodo National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1986. Its protected status reflects the park's extraordinary natural importance both on land and underwater.
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Criterion VII — Natural beauty | Dramatic landscapes including volcanic islands, savannah grasslands, and pristine coral reefs |
| Criterion X — Biodiversity | Habitat for the Komodo dragon (world's largest lizard), 260+ coral species, 1,000+ fish species, and critical marine megafauna |
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total area | 219,322 hectares |
| Marine area | ~147,000 hectares (67% of park) |
| Major islands | Komodo, Rinca, Padar, plus over 100 smaller islands |
| Established | 1980 (originally to protect the Komodo dragon) |
| UNESCO inscription | 1991 |
| Location | Coral Triangle — global epicentre of marine biodiversity |
The park's marine environment is what makes it globally important for divers. Located within the Coral Triangle — a region spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands — Komodo sits at the intersection of major ocean currents that bring together species from both the Indian and Pacific oceans. This creates an overlap zone with higher species diversity than almost anywhere else on Earth.
The UNESCO status is not merely symbolic — it brings international attention, funding, and conservation partnerships that help protect the park's marine and terrestrial ecosystems for future generations of divers and nature enthusiasts.