Aru Tenggara Proposed Marine Reserve
Location:
6°35'-7°06'S, 134°22'-134°50'E; the southeastern part of the Aru Islands, Kabupaten Maluku Tenggara, Moluccas.
Area:
250,000 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level to 15m.
Biogeographical Province:
5.1.13.
Wetland type:
03, 05 & 07.
Description of site:
The proposed reserve encompasses all coastal and marine ecosystems in the southeast part of the Aru Islands, one of the remotest areas of Indonesia located at the easternmost extremity of the archipelago, south of New Guinea. The islands are situated on the Sahul continental shelf, and are comprised of raised coral reefs of quaternary origin, fringed by living reefs. The entire area is relatively flat, rising to only a few metres above sea level. The narine area between islands is shallow (0.5-18m). The proposed reserve includes about 10,000 ha of mangrove forest, 40,000 ha of sea-grass beds and extensive sandy beaches. The area is contiguous with the Pulau Baun Bird of Paradise Reserve (13,000 ha).
Climatic conditions:
Tropical maritime climate, with a dry season from May to August.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove forest with species of Sonneratia, Bruguiera and Rhizophora, and sea-grass beds; also beach formations with species of Barringtonia, Casuarina, Pandanus and Hibiscus.
Land tenure:
State owned; under the management of BKPH P.P. Aru.
Conservation measures taken:
None
Conservation measures proposed:
The entire area (250,000 ha) has been proposed as a Marine Reserve.
Land use:
Traditional fishing.
Disturbances and threats:
Hunting of dugongs, sea-turtles and crocodiles, collection of sea-turtle eggs, and cutting of mangroves.
Economic and social values:
The mangrove swamps are important breeding and nursery grounds for many commercially important fishes and crustaceans.
Fauna:
The reefs are rich in species of ornamental fishes; during a brief survey in 1973, 128 species of fishes were recorded. The area is known to be important for a wide variety of waterbirds and sea-birds, but little information is available. Species known to occur include Pelecanus conspicillatus, Phalacrocorax sp, Egretta spp, Threskiornis molucca, Haliaeetus leucogaster and many shorebirds. Marine mammals include the Dugong Dugong dugon and various small cetaceans. Reptiles include four species of sea-turtle (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea, Caretta caretta), the Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus and the New Guinea Crocodile C. novaeguineae.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
Preliminary faunal surveys have been carried out.
References:
Direktorat P.P.A. (1986f); IUCN (in prep); Smiet & Siallagan (1981la).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3b.
Source:
Marcel J. Silvius and Edi Djuharsa.