Muara Cimanuk
Location:
6°13'-6°20'S, 108°09'-108°19'E; 60 km NNW of Cirebon, Kabupaten Indramayu, West Java.
Area:
7,127 ha.
Altitude:
0-8m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.22.12.
Wetland type:
02, 05, 07, 10, 11 & 21.
Description of site:
An estuarine system with extensive mangrove forests, sandy beaches and some adjacent swamp forest. The area represents one of the largest remaining examples of mangrove swamp habitat on the north coast of Java. Large areas have, however, been reclaimed for fish ponds and agricultural land, and only 1,000 ha of mangrove forest near the Cimanuk River remain in a healthy condition. The tidal range is 0.5-Im.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate with an annual rainfall of 1,000-1,500 mm. The mean temperature is 27°C; the relative humidity varies from 65-78%.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove forest with Rhizophora mucronata. R. conjugata . Avicennia sp. Bruguiera parviflora, B. gymnorhiza, Sonneratia alba. S. acida, Aegiceras corniculatum, Ceriops eandoleana, Oncosperma filamentosa and Excoecaria agallocha. Plant communities in adjacent areas include Hibiscus tiliaceus, Xylocarpus granatum. Acrostichum aureum, Pandanus sp, Ficus resusa, Heritiera littoralis, Pluchea indica, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Paramignya littoralis and Acanthus ilicifolius.
Land tenure:
State owned (Forestry Department).
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
The site has been proposed as a mangrove conservation area.
Land use:
Some illegal exploitation of forest products; wet rice cultivation, fisheries, livestock grazing and forestry in surrounding areas. The hunting of waterfowl for human consumption is widespread in the area.
Disturbances and threats:
Illegal felling of mangrove for timber and firewood, high rates of siltation, enhanced natural flooding, expansion of fish ponds, and pollution from waste disposal, rubbish tips and sewage. The hunting pressure on waterbirds is extremely heavy. In a recent study of waterbird hunting in northern Java, it was estimated that about 300,000 birds are trapped for food each year in the Cirebon-Indramayo region alone. Mobile teams of trappers use whistles and horns to attract the birds which are then trapped in mist-nets. About 100,000 of these are shorebirds, particularly Oriental Pratincoles Glareola maldivarum.
Economic and social values:
The mangrove forest supports an important fishery resource.
Fauna:
The rich fish fauna includes Mugil cephalus, Ostracion tuberculatus , Chanos chanos. Ephinephalus sp, Tilapia mossambica, Lactoria cernuta, Siganus verniculator, Pletasus anguilaris and Periophihalamus sp.
Waterbirds include Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, P. niger, Nycticorax nycticorax, N. caledonicus. Ardeola bacchus, A. speciosa, Egretta sacra, E. garzetta, Ardea purpurea, A. cinerea, Mycteria cinerea, Leptoptilos javanicus, Plegadis falcinellus, Threskiornis melanocephalus. Dendrocygna sp, Rostratula benghalensis, Numenius phaeopus, Tringa stagnatilis. Actitis hypoleucos and the kingfishers Alcedo caerulescens and Halcyon chioris.
Mammals include Sus sp, Felisp, Panthera pardus and Macaca fascicularis. Reptiles include Mabouya rnultifasciata, Varanus salvator, Python sp, Vipera russeli, Boiga dendrophylla and Trimeresurus albolabris.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
Basic faunal and floral surveys have been carried out, and WWF, PHPA and the Asian Wetland Bureau have conducted a joint study of waterfowl hunting in the area.
References:
BKSDA HI (1982c); Direktorat P.P.A. (1982/83); MacKinnon & Artha (1982b).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 3b.
Source:
Agustinus W. Taufik, Edi Djuharsa and Agus Marhardi.