Tasek Merimbun and Merit
Location:
4°35'N, 114°40'E; about 25 km south of Tutong Town, Tutong District.
Area:
2,500 ha.
Altitude:
Less than 15m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12
Wetland type:
14 & 21
Description of site:
A complex of shallow, freshwater lakes and marshes surrounded by a large area of seasonally flooded peat swamp forest, to the west of the Sungai Tutong. The lakes are fed by three streams and overflow from the Tutong River during the rainy season (August to December). The maximum depth of water in the lakes is about 4m; the pH is low. Parts of the lakes and the peat swamp forests dry out during the dry season.
Climatic conditions:
Tropical monsoonal climate with an average annual rainfall of about 3,000 mm. The region is under the influence of the northeast monsoon from mid December to mid March, and the southwest monsoon from mid May to the end of October. The average maximum temperature is 28.1°C and the average minimum, 23.6°C; the average maximum relative humidity is 94.6% and the average minimum, 73.1%.
Principal vegetation:
No information is available on the aquatic vegetation. Dryobalanops rappa and Dactylocladus stenostachys are the dominant trees in the peat swamp forest. Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) has been planted on adjacent, slightly higher ground.
Land tenure:
The wetland is state owned; a small area of the adjacent higher ground is privately owned.
Conservation measures taken:
The wetland is included within the recently designated Tasek Merimbun National Park, which initially covers an area of 7,800 ha. The National Park is still under development, and enforcement of the park regulations has not as yet been fully implemented.
Conservation measures proposed:
It has been proposed that the National Park be categorized into three zones: an intensive visitor use area, a low intensity visitor use area, and a conservation area. The low intensity visitor use area and conservation area would be strictly reserved for educational and scientific research purposes.
Land use:
There is a little fishing by the residents of Kampong Merimbun, particularly for eels. A few
cash crops and hill paddy are cultivated on the adjacent high ground.
Disturbances and threats:
Hunting and trapping of wildlife are insignificant, but littering may become a problem unless adequate enforcement measures are taken.
Economic and social values:
The lakes support a small subsistence fishery, and the area has considerable potential for
outdoor recreation, conservation education and scientific research.
Fauna:
The lakes support a rich fish fauna, including eels. Up to 30 Anhinga melanogaster and 30 Ardea purpurea are present all year round, and many other species of waterfowl occur as visitors. Mammals include Cervus unicolor and Sus barbatus. The Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus was formerly common in the area, but is now rare.
Special
floral values:
None known.
Research and facilities:
Brunei Museum carried out a one year project on the natural history of the area in 1983-84.
References:
Farmer et al. (1986); UGL Consultants (1982).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2b.
Source:
Mohammad Jaya bin Haji Sahat and Euan G. Ross.