Wetlands In Komodo National Park
Location:
8°35'S, 119°30'E; about 30 km off the west coast of Flores in the Sape Straits, between Flores and Sumbawa, West Flores, Nusa Tenggara.
Area:
Area of wetlands unknown; islands and surrounding waters 55,579 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level to 735m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.23.12.
Wetland type:
01, 04, 05 & 07.
Description of site:
The National Park comprises the two substantial islands of Komodo and Rinca, together with numerous small offshore islands and surrounding marine waters. The islands are generally rugged with sheer cliffs, numerous small bays and inlets, numerous coral reefs and powerful offshore currents which isolate and protect the islands. Komodo has a chain of hills along the north-south axis averaging 500-600m in height. Rinca comprises mainly rolling hills but the south is dominated by the sprawling Doro Ora (667m), and the north h~ the low but steep peaks of Gunung Tumbah (187m) and Doro Raja (35lm). Wetland habitat include mangrove swamps, sandy beaches and shallow inshore waters with coral reefs.
Climatic conditions:
Rather dry tropical monsoonal climate. The Park is in one of the drier parts of Indonesia, with an annual rainfall of only 800-1,000 mm. In only one month of the year does the precipitation exceed 200 mm. The northwest monsoon occurs from January in March; the southeast monsoon reaches a peak in August, when the winds are consistently strong and sea conditions rough. The weather is hot and dry from September to December, with temperatures rising as high as 49°C.
Principal vegetation:
The dominant plant communities are tropical tall grassland (70%) and tropical dry deciduous forest (25%). Mangrove and beach vegetation comprise 5% of the area, and include species such as Avicennia marina, Ipomoea pescaprae, Spinifex littoreus, Cassutha filiformis, Rhizophora spp, Ceriops candoleana, Sonneratia spp, Capplaris seplaria, Calophyllum inophyllum, Terminalia catappa, Hypoestes populifolia, Sterculia foetida, Cassia javanica, Tamarindus indica, Borrassus flabillifer and Gleichenia oleosa.
Land tenure:
State owned (Indonesian Government).
Conservation measures taken:
The islands were first designated as a Game Reserve (Suaka Maragasatwa) in 1965. In 1980, the reserve was gazetted as a National Park. In 1977, 30,000 ha on Komodo Island were accepted as a Biosphere Reserve. The fauna and flora of the islands are totally protected.
Conservation measures proposed:
The waters surrounding the Komodo Islands have been proposed as a Marine Conservation Area.
Land use:
Fishing and harvesting of other marine products. There are some human settlements and agricultural activities on the islands.
Disturbances and threats:
Expansion of the human settlements, the cutting of trees for timber and firewood, and dynamite fishing. There is also some illegal hunting of Timor Deer (the prey of the Komodo Dragon). The hunting dogs are often abandoned and live wild, competing with the dragons for food.
Economic and social values:
The islands are of considerable scientific interest, and have great potential for tourism.
Fauna:
No information is available on the fishes.
Seventy-two species of birds have been recorded in the National Park, including Fregata ariel, Braorides striatus, Egretta sacra, Ardea sumatrana, Haliastur indus, Megapodius freycinet, Esacus magnirostris. Glareola isabella, Pluvialis dominica, Charadrius peronhi. Numenius arquata, Tringa totanus, Actitis hvpoleucos, Sterna albifrons, Caloenas nicobarica, Ducula bicolor and Halcyon chioris. Mammals include the Timor Deer Cervus timorensis, Macaca fascicularis, Sus scrofa. Muntiacus muntjac, Rattus rintjanus, Pteropus eleta, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Herpestes javanicus, Dopsonia peroni and a variety of large and small cetaceans.
The National Park is the only locality in the world for the spectacular Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis. Other reptiles include the Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus and Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas, as well as Naja naja, Emoja sivilis, Draco volans, Peropus mutilatus, Mabouya multifasciata, Oreophryne sp and Cerberus rhynchops.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
Various ecological surveys have been conducted, and a considerable amount of research has been carried out on the Komoclo Dragon (e.g. by Auffenberg in 1969-1970).
References:
Auffenberg (1975); Faculty of Forestry of UGM (1976); FAO (1977b & 1979c); Hoogerwerf (1954 & 1955); IUCN (in prep); Voogd (undated).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b.
Source:
Agustinus W. Taufik and Marcel J. Silvius.