Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve (16033)
Malaysia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.0667, Longitude: 100.7333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 6 to 373
Area of KBA (km2): 66.51679
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve is probably the largest remaining swamp forest in northern Peninsular Malaysia. The area consists of three main habitat types namely peat swamp, seasonally-flooded freshwater swamp and hill dipterocarp forests. The highest point is Bukit Palong Tinggi at 373 m asl. Four rivers drain the swamp forest, with the longest Sungai Jelutong joining Sungai Merah to feed Tasik Bukit Merah on the western side of the forest reserve. This lake is the source of irrigation water for the nearby Kerian rice-bowl district and also supplies water for domestic use. The forest reserve is bordered by vast oil palm plantations on the northern and eastern parts and rubber plantation down south (DWNP, 1987; Mashhor Mansor et al., 1998).
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: Pondok Tanjong with its peat swamp forest is an important IBA candidate for its habitat types, which provide sanctuary for habitat specialists such as White-bellied Woodpecker, White-chested Babbler and Grey-headed Fish-Eagle and other Biome-Restricted species. Non-bird biodiversity: Pondok Tanjung is home to several endemic fauna and flora. The blackwaters of the swamp forest is known to harbour about 60 species of fish, including the highly-endangered Asian Arowana Schlerophages formosus. The endemic aquatic yam, Cryptocoryne ellipitica, occurs in high densities in the swampy and shaded parts of the forest reserve (Mashhor Mansor and Baharuddin Sulaiman, 1997; Mashhor Mansor and Masnadi, 1994).Pondok Tanjung also supports at least 11 species of mammals, five reptiles, 13 amphibians and two freshwater crabs (Mohamed Hifni Mohd Baharuddin and Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah, 1999; Moh'd A. Ektella et al., 1999; Shahrul Anuar et al., 2002).(I) Globally threatened mammals (IUCN, 2002): ENDANGERED: Malayan Tapir Tapirus indicus; VULNERABLE: Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina; NEAR THREATENED: Long-tailed Macaque M. fascicularis, Ridley's Bat Myotis ridleyi(II) Globally threatened reptiles (IUCN, 2002): Malayan Box Terrapin????(III) Globally threatened plants (IUCN, 2002): CRITICAL: Dipterocarpus chartaceus, D. coriaceus, D. cornutus, Hopea nervosa, H. sublanceolata, Shorea kunstleri; ENDANGERED: Anisoptera costata, Shorea balanocarpoides, S. pauciflora, Diplodiscus hookerianus; VULNERABLE: Eugenia pallidula, Chisocheton pauciflorus, Madhuca rufa, Gonystylus bancanus, Pentace perakensis; LOWER RISK/ conservation dependent: Koompassia excelsa
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The freshwater and peat swamp forest have 110 (58 families, 84 genera) and 138 (44 families, 99 genera) plant species respectively. More than half of the species surveyed in both habitats were commercial timber trees (family Dipterocarpaceae). Both habitats also contained shrubs, herbs and epiphytes in varying degree of coverage. The freshwater swamp was dominated by Donax arundastratum (family Marantaceae) whilst Cryptocoryne minima (family Araceae) was the dominant cover in the peat swamp forest (Baharuddin Sulaiman and Mashhor Mansor, 1999; Asyraf B. Mansor et al., n.d.; Mashhor Mansor et al., 1998).
Land use: agriculture | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area surrounding the forest includes vast plantations of oil palm, orchards and about ten settlements with and estimated population of 10,000. Threats to the forest include resort development, logging, risk of peat fires and wildlife poaching especially the Asian Arowana. Endemic plants are also at risk from encroaching development.
Additional information
References: Asyraf B. Mansor, Mashhor Mansor, Amirudin B. Ahmad and Zainal Abidin Hashim. No date. A comparative study on floral diversity between a fresh water swamp and peat swamp in the Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve, Perak.Baharuddin Sulaiman and Mashhor Mansor. 1999. Peat Swamp Araceae of Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. (Abstract). International Conference & Workshop on Tropical Peat Swamps 'Safe - Guarding a Global Natural Resource', 27-29 July 1999, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.Chan, A.L. 2002. Letter to the Editor. Malaysian Naturalist 54(4): 6-7.Chan, K.S. (compiler). 2003. Updated Birdlist of Pondok Tanjong Forest Reserve, Taiping. (Unpublished)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).Lim, K.C. (compiler). 2003e. Recent Sightings. Suara Enggang 5 (September-October): 19-34.Lim, K.C. (compiler). 2003d. Recent Sightings. Suara Enggang 4 (July-August): 21-38.Lim, K.C. and Lim, S.Y. (compilers). Pondok Tanjong Forest Reserve, Taiping Birdlist. (Unpublished).Mashhor Mansor and Baharuddin Sulaiman. 1997. Notes on Araceae of the Pondok Tanjong Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia. Tropical Biodiversity 4(2): 209-213.Mashhor Mansor and Masnadi, M. 1994. Cryptoryne elliptica, an endangered amphibious plant in Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia. Aquatic Botany 47: 91-96.Mashhor Mansor, Ahyaudin Ali and Amirrudin Ahmad. 1998. Pondok Tanjung: A unique black water swamp in Malaysia. Paper presented at the International Workshop on Wetland Conservation and Management: The Role of Research and Education in Enhancing Public Awareness, 13-14 July 1998, Penang, Malaysia.Moh'd A. Ektella, Ibrahim, H.J. and Mansor, M. 1999. Study of the Frog Community and Diversity in Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve, Malaysia. (Abstract). International Conference & Workshop on Tropical Peat Swamps 'Safe - Guarding a Global Natural Resource', 27-29 July 1999, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.Mohamed Hifni Mohd Baharuddin and Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah. 1999. Survey on the Fauna Species of Peat Swamp Habitat at Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve, Perak, Malaysia. (Abstract). International Conference & Workshop on Tropical Peat Swamps 'Safe - Guarding a Global Natural Resource', 27-29 July 1999, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.Shahrul Anuar, M.S., Norasyikin, C.H., Nor Zalipah, M. and Nurul 'Ain, E. 2002. Preliminary study on the species diversity of understorey bats at Pondok Tanjung Forest Reserve, Perak. Journal of Wildlife and National Parks 20: 119-120.Tan, A. and Choy, W.M. 2003. Sightings of the Dusky Eagle-owl Bubo coromandus at Pondok Tanjung. Suara Enggang 4 (July-August): 7.The STAR, 2 October 2001. Jungle under Threat.