Sangaiaki Archipelago
Location:
2°09'N, 118°20'E; 50 km off the mouth of the Berau River, Kabupaten lanjung Redeb, East Kalimantan.
Area:
65 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12.
Wetland type:
03, 05 & 07.
Description of site:
A group of small coral islands with extensive sandy beaches and some mangrove forest, off the mouth of the Berau River. The principal islands are Pulau Semana, Pulau Sangalaki, Pulau Belambangan, Pulau Bilangan, Pulau Mataha and Pulau Sambit.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove.
Land tenure:
State owned (Indonesian Government).
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
Pulau Semana and Pulau Sangalaki have been proposed as Nature Reserves (Cagar Alam).
Land use:
Harvesting of sea-turtle eggs. Some two million turtle eggs are harvested annually from the islands. The right to collect turtle eggs is under the control of the local government which grants concessions to local contractors in return for fees. Records of the harvest are maintained by the Fisheries Department, Tanjung Redeb.
Disturbances and threats:
Excessive harvesting of turtle eggs and dynamite fishing on the coral reefs.
Economic and social values:
The income from the harvest of sea-turtle eggs was at one time the main source of revenue for the Kabupaten Tanjung Redeb, but it is now of only minor significance compared to the royalties from logging activities.
Fauna:
The islands are probably the most important nesting area for Green Sea Turtles Chelonia mydas in the whole region. Hawksbill Turtles Eretmochelys imbricata also breed on the islands, but in much smaller numbers. The peak nesting period is between June and December, when about 70% of the eggs are laid. No information is available on the other fauna of the islands.
Special floral values:
None known.
References:
FAO (1977a); MacKinnon & Artha (1981a).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2c.
Source:
Marcel J. Silvius.