Danau Bawab and Pulau Besar
Location:
0°40'N, 102°15'E; 90 km SSE of Bengkalis, Kabupaten Bengkalis, Riau Province, Sumatra.
Area:
23,750 ha.
Altitude:
0-6m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.21.12.
Wetland type:
14 & 21.
Description of site:
An area of peat swamp forests with two freshwater lakes and an island (Pulau Besar) in one of the lakes.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of 2,400 mm.
Principal vegetation:
Peat swamp forest (16,000 ha) and freshwater swamp forest (4,000 ha), dominated by Shorea sp and Gonystylus bancanus. Forests in adjacent areas are dominated by species of Shorea and Gonystilus, Terminalia gigantea and Melaleuca leucodendron.
Land tenure:
State owned (PHPA).
Conservation measures taken:
The area has been protected as a Nature Reserve (Cagar Alum) since 1979.
Land use:
Nature reserve; logging and transmigration settlements in surrounding areas.
Disturbances and threats:
Land clearance for transmigration, logging, oil exploration and the construction of roads.
Economic and social values:
The area has high aesthetic values, and is important as a genetic resource.
Fauna:
The area is rich in wildlife, including many rare or endangered species such as Elephas maximus, Panthera tigris, Tapirus indicus and several primates. The False Gharial Tomistoma schlegelii is present. Waterfowl include species of Egretta and various kingfishers (Alcedinidae).
Special floral values:
The reserve includes an excellent example of extensive Shorea and Gonystylus bancanus (Ramin) swamp forests in an attractive setting.
References:
Direktorat P.P.A. (l980e); MacKinnon & Artha (1982a).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b.
Source:
Marcel J. Silvius and Edi Djuharsa.