Sungai Lalan
Location:
2°00'-2°22'S, 103°50'-104°35'E; 100 km northwest of Palembang, Musi-Banyuasin District, Sumatra Selatan Province, Sumatra.
Area:
586,417 ha, including 80,000 ha of swamp forest.
Altitude:
2-5m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.21.12.
Wetland type:
02, 06, 07 & 21.
Description of site:
The extensive mangrove swamps and intertidal mudflats in the estuary of the Sungai Lalan, and a large, low-lying area of freshwater swamp forest and peat swamp forest along the Sungai Lalan and many other smaller rivers. The swamp forests are under heavy pressure from logging and reclamation projects, and several areas are currently being developed for transmigration schemes.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate with an annual rainfall of 1,250-1,550 mm. Temperatures range from 24-32°C.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove forest with species of Sonneratia, Rhizophora and Bruguiera near the coast; freshwater swamp forest and peat swamp forest with species such as Oncosperma filamentosa, Pandanus tectorius, Gluta renghas, Melaleuca sp and Fagraea fragrans. Lowland rain forest further inland.
Land tenure:
State owned (Local Government of Sumatra Selatan Province).
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
The Lalan River has been proposed as a Crocodile Conservation Area.
Land use:
Fishing. Part of the area has been reclaimed for agriculture.
Possible Changes in Land use:
Part of the area will be reclaimed for transmigration schemes, and some other parts have been set aside for logging activities.
Disturbances and threats:
Logging, forest clearance for transmigration schemes, crocodile hunting, pollution and disturbance from boat traffic.
Economic and social values:
The mangrove forests and swamp forests support an important fishery.
Fauna:
Fishes include Ophiocephalus micropheltes, 0. striatus, Notopterus sp, Mastacembelus sp, Arias crassocheilus, Pluta sp, Macrones baramensis, Clarias sp, Opronemus sp, Apogon sp. Trichogaster trichopterus and Anabas testudineus. Very little information is available on the waterfowl. Species known to be present include Pelecanus sp, Anhinga melanogaster, Egretta intermedia, E. alba and a variety of kingfishers (Alcedinidae). Mammals include Tragulus napu, Manis javanica, Macaca sp. Cervus unicolor and Sus barbatus.
Both the Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus and False Gharial Tomistoma schlegelii occur in the area, along with Varanus salvator, Python reticulatus and Erynix triungis.
Special floral values:
No information.
References:
Direktorat Jendral Kehutanan (1976).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b.
Source:
Agustinus W. Taufik and Marcel J. Silvius.