Ulu Muda (16048)
Malaysia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Ulu Muda
Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.0833, Longitude: 100.9833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 1260
Area of KBA (km2): 1775.84054
Protected area coverage (%): 15.33
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: (I) Physical CharacteristicsThe Ulu Muda forests encompass two Forest Reserves; the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve (105,060 ha) and Pedu Forest Reserve (15,540 ha). Three dams, the Pedu, Muda and Beris Dam and are situated within the forest reserves, forming large freshwater lakes. The Muda Dam supplies water to the Muda Ricefields Irrigation Project, covering about 100,000 ha of fertile coastal plains within Kedah and Perlis State, more than 50 km downstream (MNS, 2002). The terrain around Tasik Muda is generally flat and hilly towards the north, south and east. Several rivers, Sungai Teliang, Sungai Muda, Sungai Lasor, Sungai Baho, Sungai Pior and Sungai Weng drain the area. Gunung Bayu (777 m asl), Bukit Batu (953 m asl) and Gunung Batu Putih (821 m asl) are some of the highest peaks in the forest reserves (Bourke, 2000; DWNP, 1991, 1993).(II) Climatic ConditionsThe area experiences two dry seasons from January to February and June to Julai annually (DWNP, 1993).
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: Due to its size, the area is important to biome species for Peninsula Malaysia and several globally threatened species especially the Straw-headed Bulbul, currently threatened by the cage bird trade. Surveys have documented 174 bird species in the forest reserve (Department of Wildlife and National Parks 1993; Noramly et al 2001). The area has the potential to be developed as a trans-boundary protected area with neighbouring Thailand. The protection of the area will ensure the survival a unique habitat and flora and fauna. The Ulu Muda forests is nominated under two categories; A1. Globally Threatened Species and A3. Biome-Restricted Assemblages.Good representation of lowland forest specialist, significant number of NT birds, high number of hornbills (7 out of ten) (Noramly and Lim, 2002)NT birds: Grey-headed Fish-eagle, Lesser Fish-eagle (Lim, 2003c), Oriental Darter (1 location in peninsula), Great Hornbill (Lim, 2003c)Only known breeding population of Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida muelleri) in the peninsula Non-bird biodiversity: Surveys by the Bourke (2000), DWNP (1991, 1993), Juliana et al. (2002), Stevens (1968), Norhayati et al. (2002) and Norsham et al. (1999) showed that the area contains populations of large mammals due to the presence of saltlicks in the area.17 species of large mammals were recorded.12 species of small mammals recorded and another eleven species was detected from transects.13 species of amphibians and one reptile.20 species of freshwater fishes from nine families.The Ulu Muda forests may serve as an important link to the between Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand for the free movement of wildlife. (I) Globally threatened mammals (IUCN, 2002): CRITICAL: Sumatran Rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis; ENDANGERED: Tiger Panthera tigris, Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Malayan Tapir Tapirus indicus; VULNERABLE: Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii, Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Gaur Bos gaurus, Serow Capricornis sumatraensis, Smooth Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, Common Porcupine Hystrix brachyura, Ridley's Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros ridleyi; NEAR THREATENED: Banded Leaf-Monkey Presbytis melalophos, Long-tailed Macaque M. fascicularis, White-handed Gibbon Hylobates lar, Agile Gibbon H. agilis, Pangolin Manis javanica, Oriental Small-clawed Otter Amblonyx cinereus, Least Forest Bat Kerivoula minuta, Schreibers' Bat Miniopterus schreibersii; DATA DEFICIENT: Malayan Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus(II) Globally threatened reptiles (IUCN, 2002): No information.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The forest reserves comprised mostly of lowland dipterocarp forest, hill dipterocarp forest and to a lesser extent, secondary forest. The vegetation displays distinct ecological zones with shared affinities with southern Thailand especially the northern seasonal forest elements such as Meranti and Gerutu.
Land use: water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area has not been exposed to gross disturbances, such as logging, due to the reserve's importance as a water catchment. The level of poaching has not been studied, although with a number of active saltlicks and evidence of a number of hunting platforms, this is a concern (WWFM, pers. comm.). Helicopter logging (Restricted Briefing Paper and Konsumer)Poaching by villagers may pose a major threat to birds in future, a concern based on the absence of the Straw-headed Bulbul (with the exception of one individual) during the survey. This species was reported from earlier surveys along upper Sungai Muda, although only a pair were recorded (Noramly and Lim, 2002). This similar threat is also extended to possibly large mammals, evident through a number of hunting platforms encountered during surveys (MNS, 2002).Proposed helicopter logging of over 122,798 ha within Kedah's forest reserves to be carried out in 2 phases over a period of 10 years. The first phase would cover 72,934 ha of the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve while the second phase of 49,864 ha would be in the forest reserves of Chebar, Padang Terap, Pedu, Bukit Saiong and Bukit Keramat (Tan, 2002).
Additional information
References: Anon. (compiler). 2002. Appendix: Ulu Muda Bird Checklist. In Reza Azmi (ed.). Biodiversity of Ulu Muda Forest Reserve. Birds as an indicator for conservation., pp. 29-34. Petaling Jaya: WWF Malaysia.Bourke, W.M. 2000. Escape to the Great Outdoors of West Malaysia. Malaysia: High Adventure Publishing Sdn Bhd.DWNP. No date. Cadangan Penubuhan Taman Negara Ulu Muda, Kedah. Peninsular Malaysia: Department of Wildlife and National Parks. (Unpublished)DWNP. 1993. Inventori Hidupan Liar Hutan Rezab Ulu Muda Kedah. Penisular Malaysia: Department of Wildlife and National Parks. (Unpublished)Gregory-Smith, G. 1995. Birds of Perlis and Kedah, including Langkawi: an annotated checklist. Universiti Sarawak Malaysia: Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation.IUCN. 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.redlist.org (23 June 2003).Juliana, S., Norhayati, A., Sinnappah-Kang, N.D. and Nordin, M. 2002. High Anuran Diversity in the Sungai Weng Sub-catchment, Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah. In Omar, R., Ali Rahman, Z., Latif, M.T., Lihan, T. and J.H. Adam (eds.). Proceedings of the Regional Symposium on Environment and Natural Resources, pp. 536-541. 10-11 April 2002, Kuala Lumpur. Vol 1.Lim, B. L. 2002. Distribution and food-habits of the Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii) in Peninsular Malaysia). Journal of Wildlife and National Parks 20: 43-48.Lim, K.C. (compiler) 2003c. Recent Sightings. Suara Enggang 3 (May-June): 23-42.MNS. 2002. Part Two. Ulu Muda: One of Malaysia's Important Bird Conservation Site. In Reza Azmi (ed.). Biodiversity of Ulu Muda Forest Reserve. Birds as an indicator for conservation., pp. 15-18. Petaling Jaya: WWF Malaysia.MOCAT. 1996. National Ecotourism Plan Malaysia. Prepared for the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, Federal Government of Malaysia. Neoh, C.B. 1998. Birding around Desa Utara Pedu Lake, Kedah. Suara Enggang 5: 32-33.Noramly, G. 2001. Ulu Muda Bird Checklist. (Unpublished)Noramly, G. and Lim, K.C. 2002. Part One: The Bird Fauna of Ulu Muda and Pedu: A Preliminary Survey. In Reza Azmi (ed.). Biodiversity of Ulu Muda Forest Reserve. Birds as an indicator for conservation., pp. 5-13. Petaling Jaya: WWF Malaysia.Noramly, G., Lim, K.C. and Reza Azmi. 2001. Bird List of Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah. (Unpublished).Norhayati, A., Sinnappah-Kang, N.D., Juliana, S. and Nordin, M. 2002. Effects of Selective Logging on Amphibian Biodiversity and Abundance in the Sungai Weng Sub-catchment, Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah, Malaysia: Preliminary Results. In Omar, R., Ali Rahman, Z., Latif, M.T., Lihan, T. and J.H. Adam (eds.). Proceedings of the Regional Symposium on Environment and Natural Resources, pp. 313-322. 10-11 April 2002, Kuala Lumpur. Vol 1.Norsham, Y., Fuad Shariff, Norhayati, A., Nordin, M. and Lim, B.L. 1999. Pre-Logging Survey of Mammal Fauna at Sungai Weng Sub-Catchment, Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 17: 28-43.Proposal to heli-log water catchment areas in Kedah. Kedah, Penang and Perlis' Water Supply in Jeopardy. 2002. Utusan Konsumer August: 10.Stevens, W.E. 1968. The Conservation of Wildlife in West Malaysia. Seremban: Office of the Chief Game Warden, Federal Game Department, Ministry of Lands and Mines.Tan, A. 2002. Two-phase logging in Kedah with 'heli-harvesting'. The Star, 19 November.Zamri, R. and Mohamed, Z. 2002. Immediate Effects of Selective Logging on the Feeding Guild of the Understorey Insectivorous Birds in Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah, Malaysia. In Omar, R., Ali Rahman, Z., Latif, M.T., Lihan, T. and J.H. Adam (eds.). Proceedings of the Regional Symposium on Environment and Natural Resources, pp. 737-744. 10-11 April 2002, Kuala Lumpur. Vol 1.