Leuwang Sancang
Location:
7°45'S, l07°50'E; 55 km south of Garut, Kabupaten Garut, in the southeast part of West Java.
Area:
2,157 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level to 177m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.22.12.
Wetland type:
02, 04, 05, 07, 11 & 21.
Description of site:
The estuaries of the Cikaengan and Ciporeang Rivers with extensive coral reefs, mangrove swamps and sandy beaches, and the adjacent undulating lowlands with brackish swamp forest, dry beach forest, freshwater swamp forest and lowland rain forest. Peripheral areas of the site have been severely damaged by illegal tree-felling.
Climatic conditions:
Mangrove swamps with Rhizophora spp, Sonneratia acida, Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia sp; beds of the sea-grasses Sargassum sp, Gelidium sp and Halimeda sp; swamp forests with Cninum asiaticum, Nypa fruticans, Pandanus tectorius, Terminalia catappa, Calophyllum inophylum and Calotropis gigantea.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove swamps with Rhizophora spp, Sonneratia acida, Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia sp; beds of the sea-grasses Sargassum sp, Gelidium sp and Halimeda sp; swamp forests with Cninum asiaticum, Nypa fruticans, Pandanus tectorius, Terminalia catappa, Calophyllum inophylum and Calotropis gigantea.
Land tenure:
State owned (PHPA).
Conservation measures taken:
The site was first protected as a Nature Reserve in 1959, and renotified as a Cagar Alam in 1961 and again in 1978.
Conservation measures proposed:
A proposal has been made to extend the Nature Reserve towards the sea.
Land use:
Nature conservation; agriculture and fisheries in surrounding areas.
Possible Changes in Land use:
Spontaneous agricultural development and government development schemes.
Disturbances and threats:
Illegal agricultural encroachment, the cutting of timber, poaching, and the collection of sea-grasses, turtle eggs and ornamental fishes.
Economic and social values:
The area is of some importance as a source of commercially valuable seaweeds.
Fauna:
An important area for a variety of ornamental fishes, birds, large mammals and sea-turtles, with several rare and endangered species. The ornamental fishes include Amphiprion perideraion, Chaetodon meyeri, Balistoides sp, Pomacentrus sp, Heniochus sp. Lutjanus sp, Caranx sp and Acanthurus lineatus. The avifauna includes waterfowl such as Egretta .spp, Ardea spp, Leptoptilos javanicus and Plegadis falcinellus, and several uncommon land birds such as Buceros rhinoceros, B. sylvestnis and Pavo muticus. The larger mammals include Sus vittatus, Macaca iris, Panthera pardus, Bos javanicus and Muntiacus muntjak. Three species of sea-turtle have been recorded: Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbnicala and Caretta caretta. Other reptiles include Varanus salvator, Python sp and Tryonix sp.
Special floral values:
The flora includes several rare and endangered species.
Research and facilities:
Basic faunal and floral surveys have been carried out.
References:
Direktorat P.P.A. (1976a, 1979b & l982b); IUCN (in prep); UNAS (1976).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b.
Source:
Marcel J. Silvius.