Key Biodiversity Areas

Manusela (15984)
Indonesia, Asia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1eB2
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Manusela
Central coordinates: Latitude: -3.1030, Longitude: 129.4910
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 3027
Area of KBA (km2): 2482.53377
Protected area coverage (%): 68.06
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Topography is flat up to hilly, and high mountains in the southern part with the highest peak is Gunung Binaya (3207 m) which is the highest in Moluccas.There are 5 villages of indigenous people of Seram, in the enclave of the national park; Manusela, Elemata, Maraina, Selumena and Kanikeh. People work as dry land farmer, hunting, collect forest product such as sago, rattan, resin, eaglewood (gaharu), and catching bird, which they sale to the coas or barter it with equipment they need. Other people live in the coastal area in northern and southern part of the area.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: This area has 28 restricted-range bird species, and also important for Seram Cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis population. Non-bird biodiversity: The important faunas (endemic of Seram Island) are:Suncus murinus, Melomys aerosus, Melomys fraterculus, Rattus ceramicus, Rattus feliceus, Platymantis papuensis, Rana grisea ceramemsis, Rana modesta, Litoria vagabunda (Edwards et.al.1993, Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Wilayah VIII Maluku Irian Jaya 1996, Monk et.al.1997, Hitipeuw & Tuhumury 1999 obs.pri.).
Delineation rationale: 2015-06-10 (BL Secretariat): site area changed from 189000 ha to 248077 ha, following 2014 CEPF Ecosystem Profile.

Habitats


Summary of habitats in KBA: Evergreen rainforest and few of semi-evergreen rainforests in the north (Monk et.al.1997). Vegetation types are beaches, mangrove, lowland swamp forest, lowland rainforest, lower mountain rainforest, intermediate mountain rainforest, high mountain forest and subalpin forest (MacKinnon & Artha 1981).
Land use: forestry
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest90
Wetlands(Inland)10

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Logging, road development (Trans-Seram highway), encroachment by plantation company, mining (MacKinnon & Artha 1981, Monk et.al.1997), shifting agriculture, (Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Wilayah VIII Maluku Irian Jaya 1996), parrot catching (mainly Lorius domicela, Eos semilarvata, and Cacatua molucensis) for trade, Sus scrova, Cervus timorensis and Casuarius casuarius for consumtion or trade (MacKinnon & Artha 1981, Edwards et.al.1993).
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureAnnual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall-holder farmingOngoing
Agriculture & aquacultureWood & pulp plantationsSmall-holder plantationsOngoing
Agriculture & aquacultureMarine & freshwater aquacultureSubsistence/artisinal aquacultureOngoing
Biological resource useFishing & harvesting aquatic resourcesIntentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]Ongoing
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsIntentional use (species being assessed is the target)Only in the future
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsUnintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)Ongoing
Biological resource useGathering terrestrial plantsIntentional use (species being assessed is the target)Ongoing
Biological resource useLogging & wood harvestingIntentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]Ongoing
Agriculture & aquacultureAnnual & perennial non-timber cropsScale Unknown/UnrecordedOngoing
PollutionDomestic & urban waste waterSewageOngoing
Natural system modificationsFire & fire suppressionIncrease in fire frequency/intensityOngoing
Residential & commercial developmentHousing & urban areasOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceWar, civil unrest & military exercisesOnly in the future
Geological eventsAvalanches/landslidesOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherDroughtsOngoing

Additional information


References: Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Wilayah VIII Maluku-Irian Jaya, 1996. Informasi Kawasan Sumber Daya Alam di Propinsi Maluku. Kantor Wilayah Departemen Kehutanan Propinsi Maluku, Ambon.BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened bird of Asia: BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, U.K: BirdLife International.Edwards, I.A., MacDonald, A.A. & Proctor, J. 1993. Natural History of Seram, Maluku, Indonesia. Intercept Ltd, Andover.Isherwood I.S., J.D.A. Willis, T.R.K. Edwards, J.M.M. Ekstrom, S. Kuriake, I.R. Lubis, H. Notanubun, J. Putnarubun, J.C. Robinson-Dean & J.A. Tobias. 1997. Biological Surveys and Conservation Priorities In North-east Seram, Maluku, Indonesia. CSB Conservation Publication, Cambridge.MacKinnon, J & Artha, M.B. 1981. A National Conservation Plan For Indonesia vol VII: Maluku & Irian Jaya. UNDP/FAO National Parks Development Project, Bogor.Monk. K.A., de Fretes, Y. and Reksodiharjo-Lilley, G. 1997. The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku. Periplus Edition, Singapura