Wae Apo
Location:
3°20'S, 127°04'E; seven km southwest of Namlea, northeast Pulau Buru, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah, Moluccas.
Area:
c.3,000 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
4.24.12.
Wetland type:
02 & 07.
Description of site:
An excellent stand of stabilized and well-formed mangrove forest at the mouth of the Apo River. The area is virtually undisturbed.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove forest dominated by Rhizophora sp along the seaward edge, and species of Avicennia and Bruguiera further inland.
Land tenure:
Partly state owned and partly owned by the local people.
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
MacKinnon and Artha (198lb) have proposed that an area of 3,000 ha be designated as a Nature Reserve (Cagar Alam). This would include only half of the mangrove forest the remaining half is considered quite adequate to provide mangrove products to meet the genuine needs of the local people.
Land use:
Some exploitation of mangrove products for local use.
Disturbances and threats:
The cutting of Rhizophora timber for boat-building, and cutting of mangroves for firewood. The area has potential for logging.
Economic and social values:
The mangrove forest is clearly of great importance in maintaining the local fishery, and protects the sawah areas of Wae Apo from tidal flooding.
Fauna:
No information.
Special floral values:
An excellent stand of mature mangrove forest; a rare habitat type in the Moluccas.
References:
MacKinnon & Artha (1981b).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b.
Source:
Alison Skene.