Lahan Basah Mahakam Tengah (15914)
Indonesia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Lahan Basah Mahakam Tengah
Central coordinates: Latitude: -0.2333, Longitude: 116.3167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 864.05092
Protected area coverage (%): 57.41
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mahakam Tengah is the third biggest swamp in Kalimantan (see Danau Sentarum and Sungai Negara). Biologically, the area is the famous area for Orcaella brevirostris. The area covers 400000 ha, with Lake Jampang as the main lake. Melintang Lake and Semayang Lake has acid water and low fauna diversity.The lakes are very important as buffer area to regulate Mahakam River. The environment of the area is very dynamic and unstable.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: There is very limited information about birds from this area. The lake is often visited by wetland species such as Whistered Tern Chlidonias hybridus and Little Tern Sterna albifrons and some species of herons. In dry season, muddy area & grassland support very big number of migratory birds. The highest number recorded was Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilus javanicus (170 birds) on August 1996. A thousand Javan Pond-heron are recorded breeding in August (no year), together with other herons, although the exactly site is not yet identified.The biggest colony of waterbirds, probably is Oriental Darter Anhingia melanogaster and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilus javanicus, reported by local people from Muara Enggelam, the area that have not been visited by ornithologist. This site probably is the most important site for waterbirds colony in Kalimantan. Beside that, this area probably important for Moorhen, around 250-500 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio recorded around Danau Jempang on October 1996. Pheasant-tailed Jacana ia a common bird on Rawa Negara, although it is a rare bird in this area. Whistered Tern Chlidonia hybridus lives along the year (the highest number is 3758 bird on 31 August 1997). Around 658 Little Tern Sterna albifrons recorded at the same periode. Breeding colony of Little Tern is founded in 2 locations. Wandering Whistling-duck reported breeding in this area but the exact site is not yet identified. Grey-headed Fish-eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus recorded in small population, and Chestnut-checked Starling Sturnus philippensis recorded up to 5000 birds.In the forest around the lakes, there are Wallace's Hawk-eagle Spizaetus nanus, Long-billed Partridge Rhizothera longirostris, Crested Fireback Lophura ignita, Large Frogmouth Batrachostomus auritus, Gould's Frogmouth Batrachostomus stellatus, Javan Frogmouth Batrachostomus javensis, Sunda Wrinkled Hornbill Aceros corrugatus (recorded up to 75 birds), Garnet Pitta Pitta granatina, Blue-headed Pitta Pitta baudii, Bornean Blue-flycatcher Cyornis superbus, Rufous-chested Flycatcher Ficedula dumetoria and Bornean Bristlehead Pityriasis gymnochepala. Non-bird biodiversity: Orcaella brevirostris, Nasalis larvatus, Presbytis frontata, Presbytis rubicunda, Hylobathes muelleri, Neofelis brevirostris, Neofelis nebulosa, Helarctos malayanus, Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus siamensis and Tomistoma sclegelii (Scott 1989, Momberg et.al.1998a,b, Colijn 2000).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Lakes (around 10%), herbaceous swamp (45%), forested swamp (35%) others (10%). Originally the area is also covered by heath forest and lowland evergreen forest, but some area have been damaged by fire and conversion for oil palm plantation or wood industry.This area is used for fisheries, grass collection, logging, rice field and other activity in non swampy area.
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 | |
| Forest | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Unsustainable fish exploitation, unstable hydrology system caused by climate changes and shrinking of watercatchment area. Disturbance to the birds caused by high human population, egg and juvinel collection from water bird colonies, forest clearence and forest fires during the dry season (Anon 1995)
Additional information
References: Anon. 1995. National Conservation Plan for Indonesia, Kalimantan (5A-D). Ministry of Forestry, Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation, Jakarta.Anon. 1995. Statistik Perlindungan Hutan dan Pelestarian Alam. Departemen Kehutanan dan Perkebunan, Direktorat Jenderal Perlindungan Hutan dan Pelestarian Alam, Jakarta.Colijn, E.O. 2000. The Indonesian Nature Conservation Database. URL: http://www.bart.nl/-edcolijn/index.html.Momberg, F., Jepson, P. and van Noord, H. 1998a. Kalimantan: Biodiversity Assessment. Draft report. WWF Indonesia Project for Intergrated Park Management and Bioregional Planning. Momberg, F., Jepson, P. and van Noord, H. 1998b. Justification and boundary proposals for a new protected area in the Sebuku-Sembakung region, East Kalimantan. Bio-regional Management and Integrated Park Management Project, WWF Indonesia/EPIQ/USAID. Tech. Mem. 1 (2nd ed).Scott, D.A. 1989. A Directory of Asian Wetlands. Compiled for WWF, IUCN, ICBP & IWRB, IUCN, the World Conservation Union.