Pulau Betet
Location:
2°45'S, 104°50'E; south of Terusan Dalam and north of the Benawang River, Sumatra Selatan Province, Sumatra.
Area:
c.10.000 ha.
Altitude:
0-0.5m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.21.12.
Wetland type:
06 & 07.
Description of site:
A large island with a broad fringe of mangrove forests and intertidal mudflats, and peat swamp forests in the interior. According to local fishermen, there are several freshwater lakes in the interior of the island with breeding colonies of large waterbirds. However, no survey data are available other than observations made from a boat survey in 1984. The tidal amplitude is about 2.0-2.5m.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove forest dominated by species of Rhizophora and Bruguiera. Land tenure: State owned (Government of Indonesia).
Land tenure:
State owned (Government of Indonesia).
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
The area should be surveyed as soon as possible and, if necessary, recommendations made for its protection. As the site is an island, it should be easy to implement adequate protective measures.
Land use:
Fishing in the mangrove swamps and surrounding sea.
Possible Changes in Land use:
There may be logging operations on the island in the future.
Disturbances and threats:
Illegal logging, and the collection of eggs of waterbirds for local consumption.
Economic and social values:
The area is important as a nursery ground for fish and shellfish of commercial importance.
Fauna:
An important area for both resident and migratory waterfowl. According to local people, the island supports breeding colonies of large waterbirds, including the rare Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea. Waterfowl recorded during a brief survey in October 1984 included Anhinga melanogaster, Butorides striatus, Egretta sacra, E. garzetta, E. intermedia, E. alba, Ardea purpurea, A. cinerea, A. sumatrana, Mycteria cinerea, Leptoptilos javanicus, Threskiornis melanocephalus and Anas querquedula. Over 1,500 migratory shorebirds were observed along the east coast of the island. These included small numbers of Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer and Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus, along with Pluvialis squatarola, Charadrius mongolus, C. leschenaultii, Limosa limosa, L. lapponica, Numenius phaeopus, N. arquata, N. mad agascariensis, Tringa totanus, T. stagnatilis. T. nebularia, T. glareola, Xenus cinereus, Act itis hypoleucos, Arenaria interpres, Calidris canutus, C. rut icollis, C. ferruginea and Limicola falcinellus.
The Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus is known to be present.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
Silvius et al. (1986) carried out a waterfowl survey in October 1984.
References:
Silvius et al. (1986).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 1e, 2a, 2c, 3b.
Source:
Marcel J. Silvius.