Paloh
Location:
2°35'-2°46'S, 109°01'-109°22'E; 50 km NNE of Singkawang, Kabupaten Sambas, West Kalimantan.
Area:
176,548 ha.
Altitude:
0-5m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12.
Wetland type:
02, 05 & 07.
Description of site:
A large area of mangrove forest, dry beach forest and sandy beaches stretching for about 15 km along the coast from the mouth of the Belacan River, also some Nypa swamps along the lower reaches of the Belacan River. Some of the mangrove forest has been highly disturbed by logging activities.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical maritime climate with an average annual rainfall of about 3,000 mm. Average temperatures range from 27-30°C; the average relative humidity is 80%.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove communities with species of Avicennia, Rhizophora, Bruguiera and Sonneratia; Nypa fruticans swamp, particularly along the Belacan River; dry beach forest with Casuarina sp, Ipomoea pescaprae, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Terminalia catappa and Pandanus tectorius.
Land tenure:
BKPH-Sambas.
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
The area has been proposed as a Wildlife Reserve.
Land use:
Forestry activities and the collecting of sea-turtle eggs.
Disturbances and threats:
Excessive collection of sea-turtle eggs, cutting of mangroves for firewood and logging activities.
Economic and social values:
The mangrove forest is a breeding and nursery area for species of marine fishes and prawns important in the local fishery.
Fauna:
Fishes include Labroides dimidiatus and species of Katsuwonis, Mugil, Luijanus, Caranx, Epinephelus, Chaetodon, Acanthusus, Pomacentrus and Amphiprion. Waterbirds known to occur in the area include Phalacrocorax sp, Egretta intermedia, Ciconia episcopus, Pandion haliaetus, Haliaeetus leucogaster, Esacus magnirostris, Actitis hypoleucos, Sterna albifrons and Halcyon chioris. Mammals include Macaca sp, Presbytis sp, Sus sp, Muntiacus muntjak, Cervus unicolor and Manis javanica.The sandy beaches provide important nesting sites for the sea-turtles Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata and Lepidochelys sp. Other reptiles include Callagur borneensis and Varanus salvator.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
Preliminary faunal and floral surveys have been carried out.
References:
Direktorat P.P.A. (1986e).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b. 2a, 2c, 3b.
Source:
Edi Djuharsa and Marcel J. Silvius.