Key Biodiversity Areas

Kelabit Highlands (16067)
Malaysia, Asia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1eB2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Kelabit Highlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 3.4889, Longitude: 115.3867
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Area of KBA (km2): 3758.80668
Protected area coverage (%): 17.66
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: This site occurs in northern Sarawak, Malaysia and contains Kayan Mentarang National Park and Pulong Tau National Park National Park. Habitats consist of montane forest and associated freshwater systems.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known populations of Ansonia vidua, Leptobrachium kantonishikawai, Pelophryne linanitensis, and Pelophryne murudensis. Nine species of bird meet B2 and 82 meet legacy KBA criteria and need to be reassessed.
Manageability of the site: This site was identified in 2003 and confirmed as an AZE during the 2015-2018 AZE project.
Delineation rationale: This site was identified in 2003 and confirmed as an AZE during the 2015-2018 AZE project: Kelabit Highlands - SitrecID: 16067.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest50
Artificial - Terrestrial50

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Climate change & severe weatherHabitat shifting & alterationOnly in the future
Residential & commercial developmentTourism & recreation areasOngoing
Transportation & service corridorsRoads & railroadsOngoing
Agriculture & aquacultureAnnual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall-holder farmingOngoing
Biological resource useLogging & wood harvestingUnintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Ongoing