North-central Selangor coast (16029)
Malaysia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: North-central Selangor coast
Central coordinates: Latitude: 3.3167, Longitude: 101.2333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 14
Area of KBA (km2): 451.72334
Protected area coverage (%): 0.56
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: (I) Physical CharacteristicsThe North-Central Selangor is a coastal stretch of predominantly mangrove forest, which is inundated at high tide. It is dissected by several important rivers namely Sungai Klang, Sungai Selangor and other smaller tributaries. Avicennia alba, Sonneratia alba and Rhizophora apiculata are principal vegetation of the mangroves. The area contains one of the most important mangrove forests in the State of Selangor. The area is represented by three discontinuous stretch of mangrove forests namely;1.Tanjung Burung Mangrove Forest;2.Sekinchan, Banjar North and South Mangrove Forests; and3.Kapar Mangrove Forest.(II) Climatic ConditionsAverage annual rainfall is less than 2,000 mm and a mean annual temperature of 26.6oC. The wettest months are april and October-December, the driest, January-February and July. Experiences both the north-east and south-west monsoons, although the latter is mitigated by the mountains of Sumatra. (Scott, 1989)
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: The mangrove belt of the north Selangor coast is highly productive and has significant social and economic importance. Thousands of shorebirds utilize the extensive mudflats during low tide for feeding. Some 39,000 birds were counted in a 1985/86 survey along the coast. Asian Dowitchers, Lesser Adjutants and Milky Storks have also been noted frequenting the coastline. Consequently, the habitat is an important staging and feeding site for shorebirds internationally and locally (Scott 1989; Lopez and Mundkur 1997); Mundkur et al 1996; Silvius et al 1986). Monitoring of the coastline by the conservation groups and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Peninsular Malaysia) has been periodical in nature (Siti Hawa Yatim and Ismail Hj. Mamat 1994).The North-Central Selangor Mangrove Forests are important especially to waterbirds and certain globally threatened species particularly the Lesser Adjutants and Milky Storks. Spotted Greenshanks have been recorded and Spoon-billed Sandpipers have irregularly appeared along the coast. As an IBA site, it is classified under the A1 Globally Threatened Species and A4i Congregations categories. Non-bird biodiversity: Silvered Leaf Monkey (Presbytis cristatus(I) Globally threatened mammals (IUCN, 2002): VULNERABLE: Smooth Otter Lutrogale perspicillata; NEAR THREATENED: Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis; DATA DEFICIENT: Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Sousa chinensis
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Several critical issues surround the North-Central Selangor mangrove coast. The problems are exacerbated by the lack of enforcement and the demand for land for State development. The key threats to the habitat include reclamation for agriculture and housing, illegal mangrove timber extraction, pollution from developing industries, aquaculture schemes, use of pesticides in plantations, discharge of untreated sewage into Sungai Selangor, the proposed development of Sungai Selangor for water supplies and shorebird poaching (DWNP, 1987).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: DWNP. 1987. Malaysian Wetland Directory. Peninsular Malaysia: Department of Wildlife and National Parks.IUCN. 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.redlist.org (23 June 2003).Lane, B. 1991. Electric shorebirds. Asian Wetland News 4(2): 24.Lim, K.C. (compiler). 2003b. Recent Sightings. Suara Enggang 2 (March-April): 17-34.Lopez, A. and Mundkur, T. (eds.). 1997. The Asian Waterfowl Census 1994-1996. Results of the Coordinated Waterbird Census and an Overview of the Status of Wetlands in Asia. Kuala Lumpur: Wetlands International.Mundkur, T., Parish, F., Wells, D. and D'Cruz, R. 1996. Status and Conservation of Shorebirds and Wetland Habitats in Malaysia. In Wells, D.R. and Mundkur, T. (eds.). Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and their Wetland Habitats in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Proceedings of an International Workshop, Kushiro, Japan. 28 Nov-3 Dec 1994, pp. 137-151. Kuala Lumpur: Wetlands International-Asia Pacific, Publication No. 116 and Tokyo: International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau-Japan Committee. Scott, D.A. 1989. A Directory of Asian Wetlands. Gland: IUCN.Sebastian, A.C., Hughes, R.N. and Hurrell, P.J. 1993. Integrating ash pond management with shorebird conservation, tourism, and education at Stesen Janaelektrik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz, Kapar, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Restricted Circulation. Kuala Lumpur: Asian Wetland Bureau.Silvius, M.J., Chan, H.T. and Shamsudin Ibrahim. 1986. Evaluation of Wetlands of the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Their Importance for Natural Resource Conservation. Project MYS 78/85. Joint Project of WWF Malaysia, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, University of Malaya and Interwader, Kuala Lumpur.Siti Hawa Yatim and Ismail Hj. Mamat. 1994. A Review of the Four Years Mid-Winter Waterfowl Census in Peninsular Malaysia from 1990-1993. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 13: 27-39.Strange, M. 1990b. Kuala Selangor and Fraser's Hill Revisited. Singapore Avifauna 4(5): 38-40.Wells, D.R. (compiler). 1983. Bird Report: 1976 and 1977. Malayan Nature Journal 36: 197-218.Yang Chong. 2001. Sightings of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus) on two consecutive days in March 2001 at Tanjung Karang, Selangor. Suara Enggang 4: 9-12.Yeap, C.A., Sebastian, A. and Siti Hawa Yatim (compilers) 2003. The Asian Waterbird Census 2003 Country Report (Malaysia). Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Nature Society.