Bintang Range (16005)
Malaysia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Bintang Range
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.2167, Longitude: 100.9167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 60 to 1862
Area of KBA (km2): 2747.48493
Protected area coverage (%): 14.03
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve lies within the northern end of the Banjaran Bintang. This range runs parellel with, but is not connected to, the Banjaran Titiwangsa, from which it is separated by the valley of Sungai Perak. Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve is an extensive area of hilly rainforest stretching from Gunung Bintang in the north and abutting Bukit Larut in the south. A chain of granite peaks form the backbone of the area, including Gunung Bintang (1,862 m asl), Gunung Inas (1,801 m asl) and Gunung Titiwangsa (1,726 m asl). The rivers of Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve feed into several important waterways. East-flowing streams drain into Sungai Perak, the major river system in the state while west-flowing streams feed Tasik Bukit Merah and Sungai Krian, the main sources of water for the Krian ricefields.
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: Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve is an important IBA candidate because of its extensive size, wide altitudinal coverage and relatively undisturbed state. The area provides sanctuary for the Sundaic lowland and montane forests bird assemblages, including the Mountain Peacock-pheasant. The area lies within the autumn migration route of several raptor species including Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus, Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis and Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis. Non-bird biodiversity: (I) Globally threatened mammals (IUCN, 2002): CRITICAL: Sumatran Rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, Malayan Roundleaf Horseshoe Bat Hipposideros nequam; ENDANGERED: Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Tiger Panthera tigris, Malayan Tapir Tapirus indicus, South-east Asian White-toothed Shrew Crocidura fuliginosa; VULNERABLE: Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Serow Capricornis sumatraensis, Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Common Porcupine Hystrix brachyura; NEAR THREATENED: Banded Leaf-Monkey Presbytis melalophos, White-handed Gibbon Hylobates lar, Agile Gibbon H. agilis, Siamang Symphalangus syndactylus, Long-tailed Macaque M. fascicularis, Bronzed Tube-nosed Bat Murina aenea; DATA DEFICIENT: Malayan Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus(II) GLobally threatened reptiles (IUCN, 2002): No information.(III) Globally threatened plants (IUCN, 2002): CRITICAL: Parashorea lucida; VULNERABLE: Cynometra inaequifolia, Nepenthes macfarlanei; LOWER RISK/conservation dependent: Elaeocarpus glabrescens; NEAR THREATENED: Eugenia nitidula
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The vegetation in Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve consists of lowland mixed dipterocarp rain forest, lower montane forest and upper montane forest on the higher peaks. The latter forest is sometimes called mossy or cloud forest. The trees are typically gnarled and stunted, about 5 m tall and festooned with dripping mosses and epiphytes. The floor is covered by a soaking wet layer of sphagnum moss and pitcher plants.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The northern and southern part of the reserve has been logged but an undisturbed area lies near Gunung Inas. Illegal clearing of forests for orchards pose a problem.
Additional information
References: DWNP. 1992. Inventori Hidupan Liar Hutan Simpan Bintang Hijau, Selama, Perak Darul Ridzuan. Peninsular Malaysia: Department of Wildlife & National Parks. (Unpublished)DWNP. 1993. Wildlife Inventory of Gunung Inas Forest Reserve and Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve in the States of Kedah and Perak. Peninsular Malaysia: Department of Wildlife & National Parks. (Unpublished)Fletcher, K. and Baylis, D. 1986. Ulu Selama, April 1986. Nature Malaysiana 11(2): 4-7.Fletcher, K. and Baylis, D. 1992. Expedition to the summit of Gunung Inas, September 1992. Nature Malaysiana 17(3): 77-82.IUCN. 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.redlist.org (23 June 2003).Lim, K.C. (compiler). 2003d. Recent Sightings. Suara Enggang 4 (July-August): 21-38.Lim, K.C. and Lim, S.Y. (compilers). 2001a. Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve Birdlist. (Unpublished).Medway, Lord and Wells, D.R. 1976. The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, Vol. 5. London: H.F. and G. Witherby in association with Kuala Lumpur: Penerbit Universiti Malaya.Robinson, H.C. 1928. The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, Vol II. London: H.F. & G. Witherby.Wells, D.R. 1999. The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Volume 1. Non-passerines. UK: Academic Press.