Danau Paniai and the Wissel Lakes
Location:
3°48'-4°05'S, 136°13'-136°25'E; near Enarotali, Kabupaten Pantai, Fakfak, Irian Jaya.
Area:
Danau Paniai 15,000 ha; Danau Tigi 3,000 ha; Danau Tage 1,600 ha.
Altitude:
1,750m.
Biogeographical Province:
5.1.13.
Wetland type:
14.
Description of site:
A large freshwater lake (Danau Paniai) surrounded by agricultural settlements and steep hills supporting lower montane and montane forests, and two smaller freshwater lakes (the Wissel Lakes: Danau Tage and Danau Tigi) further to the south.
Principal vegetation:
No information is available on the aquatic vegetation. Agricultural land, lower montane forest and montane forest in surrounding areas.
Land tenure:
No information.
Conservation measures taken:
Lake Paniai is included within the Enarotali Nature Reserve (Cagar Alam), a reserve of 300,000 ha established in 1980 and spanning an altitudinal range of l,750-4,000m. The Wissel Lakes are unprotected.
Land use:
Fishing; agriculture in surrounding areas.
Possible Changes in Land use:
There is a proposal to denotify the Enarotali Nature Reserve as it comprises one of the most densely populated areas in Irian Jaya. The forested portions should, however, be retained as protection forest.
Disturbances and threats:
There are some 12,000 people living illegally in the Nature Reserve, making this one of the most densely populated regions in the whole of Irian Jaya. All flat areas have already been converted to agricultural land, and the lower hillsides have been denuded by wood-cutting and burning.
Economic and social values:
No information.
Fauna:
The lakes are important for Oxyeleotris wisselensis, an endemic species of fish known only from Paniai Lake, the Wissel Lakes and their tributary streams. No information is available on the other fauna.
Special floral values:
No information.
References:
MacKinnon & Artha (1981b).
Criteria for Inclusion:
2d.
Source:
Marcel J. Silvius.