Moluccas

From Opus

Map by Wintibird

The Moluccas are a group of islands in Indonesia.
They are situated west of New Guinea, northwest of Australia, east of Sulawesi and the Lesser Sundas.

Politically they form two Indonesian provinces:

• Maluku

• Ambon
• Aru
• Babar
• Banda
• Buru
• Kai
• Kisar
• Leti
• Seram
• Tanimbar
• Wetar

• North Maluku

• Ternate
• Bacan
• Halmahera
• Morotai
• Obi
• Sula
• Tidore

They lie in Wallacea, the biogeographical area between Asia and Australia. Their avifauna is more Australasian than Asian and families like Birds-of-paradise, Honeyeaters or Whistlers are represented by many endemic species.
The logging of rainforest for timber and the growing populations of the islands are a big threat to the future of many species.