Covering over 400 acres (162 hectares) just outside of the downtown area is one of the largest areas of rainforest in Singapore. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is an ASEAN Heritage Park, and is home to 500 species of animal and 840 varieties of flowers. The land is considered an integral resource for the propagation and protection of the native flora and fauna of the region. While there are some restrictions on the activities that can take place in the park, Bukit Timah is a popular destination for hikers, rock climbers, mountain bikers and nature lovers wanting to see the indigenous plants of Singapore in the wild.