Crocker Range (16011)
Malaysia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Crocker Range
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.5667, Longitude: 116.1000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 2076
Area of KBA (km2): 1952.17069
Protected area coverage (%): 70.26
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: (I) Physical CharacteristicsThe Crocker Range Park is a giant backbone of ridges that stretches down the west coast from Gunung Kinabalu's granite peaks, across the gorge of Sungai Padas and down into the swamp forest of the Sarawak border. The park is the largest single totally protected area in Sabah. Geologically, the range is made up of uplifted and folded sedimentary rocks consisted of weathered soft sandstones and shales. The highest point is Gunung Alab (1,964 m asl), located just outside the park. Most of the park boundary lies above 300 m asl, and the lowlands are used for smallholder plantations, cash crops and ricefields. The Tambunan valley (800 m asl), east of the range, are terraced with ricefields and groves of bamboos border the north-eastern part of the park (Phillipps, 1988; WWFM, 1998).The park is also important as a water catchment area and to supply water to the west coast and interior districts of Sabah (Murtedza Mohamed, 2001). Sungai Papar, Sungai Kimanis, Sungai Bongawan, Sungai Membakut, Sungai Padas and Sungai Melalap flow west to the park while the Sungai Pegalan, Sungai Pampang, Sungai Apin-Apin, Sungai Tendulu, Sungai Melalap, Sungai Liawan and Sungai Tikalod flow the opposite direction (Phillipps, 1988).(II) Climatic ConditionsThe average rainfall is about 1,800 mm with a relatively uniform temperature in the range of 23-28oC. Humidity is high (80-85%) (Shabdin Mohd. Long et al., 2001)
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.
Additional biodiversity: The Crocker Range Park shares the same range as Kinabalu Park. However, the avifauna in the park is not as well studied as Kinabalu Park, although they are presumed to share similar bird communities especially the restricted-range assemblages. A brief survey by Rahman et al., (2001) and Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah et al., (2001) revealed the presence of more than 51 species including several Bornean endemics and Near Threatened species. Non-bird biodiversity: A scientific expedition to Crocker Range Park in 1999 captured various aspects of the park viz. flora, fauna, geology, socio economic and cultural. Several findings on the flora and fauna component are stated below.One hundred and fifty-one and 71 families of gymnosperms and angiosperms, of which 40 taxa are incompletely determined. The Rubiaceae and Euphorbiaceae are the two largest families in the flora with 14 and 13 species respectively. The genera Ficus and Tetrastigma are the two largest with 8 and 7 species respectively (Latiff et al., 2001).Sixteen genera comprising 73 species of Araceae of which 70 are indigenous to Sabah. Important finds include the potentially threatened Alocasia cuprea, Pothos ovatifolius, Colocasia oresbia, an undescribed Schismatoglottis and Rhaphidophora latevaginata (Boyce et al., 2001).Seven species of wild Piper namely Piper canimum, P. erecticaule, P. aff. longamentum, P. magnibaccum, P. poryphyrophyllum, P. umbellatum and P. aff. ridleyi (Tawan et al., 2001). Presence of Rafflesia pricei and R. keithii in the park (e.g. Kimanis, Magindanau and Membakut).Seventeen species of freshwater fishes from four families were recorded in the upper rivers on the range, dominated by gatromyzontids (60%) with Bornean endemics such as Gastromyzon, Glaniopsis and Protomyzon (Khairul Adha A. Rahim et al., 2001). Another survey on the mountain streams revealed the presence of at least 19 species from three families, Cyprinidae, Balitoridae and Poeciliidae, dominated by cyprinids (Kavanagh, 2001).Tan (1992) collected seventy-nine species of amphibians and reptiles from Sungai Malutut and Sungai Purulon which include 31 species of frogs, 1 caecilian, 15 lizards and 32 snakes in an earlier survey. Ramlah Zainudin et al. (2001) identified 18 species of amphibians from the family of Ranidae, Bufonidae, Microhylidae, Megophryidae and Rhacophoridae. Rana kuhli dominated the collection.Several orders of macroinvertebrates such as Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Diptera and Collembola were identified in fast flowing rivers (Shabdin Mohd. Long, 2001).Presence of a species of gastropod, Melaniodes tuberculata (F: Thiaridae) in Sungai Mahua (Supian and Ikhwanuddin, 2001).Eight species of non-volant small mammals (Tuen et al., 2001a) and 41 species of bats (Tuen et al., 2000, 2001b) were recorded. Three hundred and seventy species of larger moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) from 15 families were collected with the Noctuidae and Geometridae representing the most diverse families. The rare Brahmaea hearseyi (F: Brahmaeidae) were also collected (Fatimah Abang and Catherine Ak Karim, 2001).Fifteen species of cicadas in nine genera (eight belonging to the family Cicadidae and one to the family Tibicinidae), of which 12 were new records for the Park (Zaidi et al., 2001).(I)Globally threatened mammals (IUCN, 2002): VULNERABLE: Hose's Civet Diplogale hosei; NEAR THREATENED: Brooke's Squirrel Sundasciurus brookei, Grey Fruit Bat Aethalops alecto, Dayak Fruit Bat Dyacopterus spadiceus, Bronzed Tube-nosed Bat Murina aenea, Common Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus schreibersi, Naked Bat Cheiromeles torquatus; DATA DEFICIENT: Black Myotis Myotis gomatongensis (II) Globally threatened reptiles (IUCN, 2002): No information.(III) Globally threatened plants (IUCN, 2002): VULNERABLE: Agathis lenticula, Dacrydium gracile, Nepenthes fusca
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Currently, the Park consists of many sizeable patches of lowland forests that have been cleared for agriculture and human settlements, the remaining larger portion of primary mixed hill dipterocarp forests, the last remaining on the west coast. The forest composition on Mahua according to Isa Ipor et al. (2001) is dominated by Duabanga moluccana followed by Knema ashtonii, Agathis lanceolata, Lithocarpus cantleyanus and Litsea ochracea. Other less prominent species include Xanthophyllum schizocarpum, Baringtonia sarcostachys, Shorea maxwelliana, Alseodaphne insignis, Litsea resinosa, Beilsmedia pauciflora, A. foxiana, Endiandra kingiana and L. machilifolia. The pristine montane forest is also rich in oaks, chestnuts and conifers. Mossy forest with orchids, rhododendrons and pitcher plants can be found on the ridges.
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Encroachment by local communities into the Park is a concern. Even though issues such shifting cultivation may not be very serious, if left unchecked, will threaten the remaining forested land. The recently established community at Bariawak Ulu, which is located near the Park headquarters, has already posed problems to forest and wildlife conservation efforts (Dimbab Ngidang et al., 2001). Poaching and illegal logging, which has reached remote areas (Timpangoh area), are other constant threats faced by the park (Roy Goh, 2001). Natural or man-induced forest fires are also of concern.The Crocker Range Park was also threatened by the proposed Beaufort-Tenom highway project in 2001, which would bisect the park and result in fragmentation. However, the project was cancelled within the same year citing high preparatory cost (Muguntan Vanar and Ruben Sario, 2001).
Additional information
References: Boyce, P.C., Baharuddin Sulaiman and Jain Lintong. 2001. Araceae of the Crocker Range National Park Sabah: A Preliminary Survey, Checklist and Generic. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 55-64. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Dimbab Ngidang, Abdul Rashid Abdullah and Gabriel Tonga Noweg. 2001. Land Use and Farming Systems at the Periphery of the Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 2. Socio-cultural and Human Dimension, pp. 65-88. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Fatimah Abang and Catherine Ak Karim. 2001. The Larger Moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) of the Crocker Range National Park Sabah: A Preliminary Checklist. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 209-226. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Isa Ipor, Hamsawi Sani and Cheksum Tawan. 2001. Floristic Composition of Forest Formation at Mahua, Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 21-32. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.IUCN. 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.redlist.org (23 June 2003).Kavanagh, K. 2001. Fishes from Mountain Streams in the Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 131-136. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Khairul Adha A. Rahim, Shabdin Mohd Long and Fatimah Abang. 2001. A Survey of Freshwater Fish Fauna in the Upper Rivers of Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 119-130. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Latiff, A., Berhaman Ahmad, Zainudin Ibrahim, A. and Mat-Salleh, K. 2001. An Account and Preliminary Checklist of the Angiosperms and Gymnosperms of Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 33-54. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Muguntan Vanar and Ruben Sario. 2001. Govt cancels Beaufort-Tenom highway project. The Star, 6 November: 18.Murtedza Mohamed, Lee, Y.H. and Geri Gopir 2001. The Surface Water Resource of the Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 1-20. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Payne, J. and Francis, C.M. 1985. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Society, and Petaling Jaya: WWF Malaysia.Phillipps, A. 1988. A Guide to the Parks of Sabah (Sabah Parks Publication No. 9). Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Parks Trustees. Phillipps, Q. 1970. Some important nesting notes from Sabah. Sabah Society Journal 5: 141-144.Rahman, M.A., Salleh, M.A. and Tuen A.A. 2001. Bird Diversity of the Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 198-200. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Ramlah Zainudin, Lizanah Wasly and Haidar Ali. 2001. An Account of Anuran at Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 137-146. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Regis, P. 2001. The Management of Protected Areas in Sabah. Pp. 67-98 in Zahra Yaacob, Moo-Tan, S. and S. Yorath (eds.). Proceedings of the International Conference on In-situ and Ex-situ Biodiversity Conservation in the New Millennium, 20-22 June 2000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Kota Kinabalu: Yayasan Sabah/Innoprise Corporation Sdn. Bhd. And Sabah Museum. Roy Goh, 2001. Crocker Range threatened: stop logging operations in hilly areas, Penampang MP tells Sabah authorities. The Sun, 10 September: 18.Shabdin Mohd. Long, Fatimah Abang and Khairul Adha A. Rahim. 2001. The Macroinvertebrate Community of the Fast Flowing Rivers in the Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 147-156. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah, Mohd Hifni Baharuddin and Ganesan Muthaiya. 2001. A Brief Survey of Birds at Mahua basecamp and Ulu Senagang, Crocker Range National Park Sabah. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 201-208. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Sheldon, F.H., Moyle, R.G. and Kennard, J. 2001. Ornithology of Sabah: History, Gazetteer, Annotated Checklist, and Bibliography. Ornithological Monographs 52: 1-285.Smythies, B.E. 1999. The Birds of Borneo (4th Edition). Revised by Davison, G.W.H.. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History Publications (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd.Supian, Z., Oakley, S. and Ikhwanuddin, A.M. 2001. Population Dynamics of Freshwater Molluscs (Gastropod: Melanoides Tuberculata) in the Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 157-168. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Tan, F.L. 1992. Ecological distribution of amphibians and reptiles in lowlands of Crocker Range National Park, Sabah. In Ghazally Ismail, Murtedza Mohamed and Siraj Omar (eds.). Proceedings of the International Conference on Forest Biology and Conservation in Borneo, pp. 496-497. July 30-August 3, 1990. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Center For Borneo Studies Publication No. 2.Tawan, C.S., Ipoh, I.B., Fashihuddin, B.A. and Sani, H. 2001. A Brief Account on the Wild Piper (Piperaceae) of the Crocker Range, Sabah. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 89-104. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Tuen, A.A., Hall, L.S., Rahman, M.A. and Salleh, M.A. 2001a. Preliminary Survey of Mammals at the Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 169-178. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.Tuen, A.A., Lakim, M. and Hall, L. 2000. Bats of the Crocker Range Area, Sabah. Paper presented at the In-Situ and Ex-Situ Biodiversity Conservation in the New Millenium, 20-22 June 2000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.Tuen, A.A., Lakim, M. and Hall, L. 2001b. Preliminary Survey of Bats of the Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia. In Ghazally Ismail and Lamri Ali (eds.). A Scientific Journey through Borneo: The Crocker Range National Park Sabah Volume 1. Natural Ecosystem and Species Components, pp. 179-188. United Kingdom: Asean Academic Press Ltd.WWF Malaysia. 1998. The National Parks and Other Wild Places of Malaysia. London: New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.WWFM. 1997. National Ecotourism Plan Malaysia. Part 2. Ecotourism Potential: Site Listings. Prepared for the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, Federal Government of Malaysia. Malaysia: World Wide Fund for Nature.Zaidi, M.I., Nordin,W., Maryati, M., Wahab, A., Norashikin, M.F., Catherine, K. and Fatimah A. 2001. Cicada (Homoptera: Cicadoidea) Fauna of Crocker Range Park Sabah. In Ghazally