Wetlands in Manusela Proposed National Park (Wae Mual and Wae Nun Reserves)
Location:
3°00'S, 129°30'E; the central part of Seram Island from the north coast to Teluk Teluti, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah, Central Seram, Moluccas.
Area:
Area of wetlands unknown; proposed National Park 180,000 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level to 3,027m.
Biogeographical Province:
5.1.13.
Wetland type:
04, 05, 07, 11 & 21.
Description of site:
The proposed Manusela National Park extends across the central section of Seram from the north coast to the south coast (over 55 km). It includes sections of two major east-west mountain ridges, deep-sided river valleys, and the headwaters of several major rivers. North of the mountain chain, there are low hills and alluvial plains with low ridges of coral limestone and coral sands. The northern plains are drained by a number of shallow and often very wide rivers. The southern region is drained by one major river, the Wae Kawa, and numerous fast-flowing streams in narrow valleys. Severe flooding occurs annually in the lowlands. Beach and mangrove communities occur along the north coast, and there are estuarine habitats at the river mouths. At the northwestern extremity of the reserve, there are steep limestone cliffs up to 100m in height. In some areas, small pockets of lowland swamp forest occur between the coastal mangroves and the montane forests of the interior. Large areas of forest are swampy, especially in the wet season from December to April. Wae Nua Reserve alone covers the maximum altitudinal range possible on the island, and the whole park encompasses the complete spectrum of Scram's forest ecosystems.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical maritime climate, with a long rainy season and temperatures ranging from 25-35°C. The average annual rainfall is approximately 2,000 mm; most rain falls during the wet season (December to April), but there is some rainfall throughout the year. The rainfall is not, however, uniformly distributed throughout the park, the pattern being influenced by the mountains. On the north coast and plains, the wet season lasts from November to April, and there are strong winds from January to March (west monsoon); the period from May to October is drier, with the monthly rainfall usually less than 100 mm. In southern areas, the wet season lasts from May to October; rainfall is heaviest in July, and there are strong winds in July and August (southeast monsoon). Manusela Valley has a climate similar to the north coast.
Principal vegetation:
The mangrove communities, which are best developed on Tanjung Mual, include species of Sonneratia, Rhizophora, Bruguiera and Avicennia along with Nypa fruticans. Beach formations include Casuarina equisetifolia and species of fpomoea, Spinifex, Term malolia and Pandanus. Lowland swamp forest occurs in small pockets behind the mangrove belt on the north coast. There are also areas of swampy forest to the north of Raho. Tree species in the swamp forest include Nauclea sp, Barringtonia racemosa, Ficus nodosa and Melaleuca leucodendron. Riverine vegetation is well developed along the major rivers. Characteristic species include Octomeles sumatrana, Eucalyptus deglupta, Pometia pinnata, Casuarina equisetifolia, Ficus Spp, Litsea spp and Eugenia spp. Riverine forest is characterized by species of Eucalyptus, Casuarina and Pandanus. The dominant plant communities elsewhere in the park are lowland rain forest and montane rain forest.
Land tenure:
State owned (Indonesian Government, PHPA).
Conservation measures taken:
Two Nature Reserves (Cagar Alam) were established in 1982; the Wae Nua Nature Reserve (20,000 ha) and the Wae Mual Nature Reserve (17,500 ha). The Wae Mual Nature Reserve has since been extended to 35,000 ha.
Conservation measures proposed:
MacKinnon and Artha (198lb) have proposed that an area of 180,000 ha, including both Nature Reserves, be designated as a National Park (Taman Nasional). Recommendations for management include: (a) limiting tourist development until demand exceeds the facilities already available; (b) better delimitation of the reserve boundaries; (c) increasing the number of management personnel; (d) enforcing strong protection measures for crocodiles and sea-turtles; (e) imposing a strict ban on the collecting of the famous endemic butterflies.
Land use:
About 90% of the proposed Manusela National Park is untouched. The other 10% has a long history of human habitation, especially along the southeast coast where there has been a recent increase in settlement. Thus, it is in these coastal areas, up to 400m in altitude, that most forest clearance has taken place. Cleared land is cultivated with perennial crops such as cloves and coconuts. There is some agricultural land along the north coast, as well as large areas of alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica). Logging activities have disturbed large patches of forest in the coastal regions of the Mual plains just behind the mangrove belt, but this logging has now been stopped. Forest in the Manusela Valley is heavily disturbed as a result of more than a century of cultivation. This area contains numerous gardens, clearings and patches of secondary forest in all stages of development. Other activities in the forest include collection of damar (resin from Agathis trees), rattans, firewood and timber, the trapping of birds for trade, and the hunting of pigs, deer and phalangers.
Possible Changes in Land use:
The island of Seram has been considered as a target area for transmigration schemes (DHV Consulting Engineers et al., 1982a & 1982b).
Disturbances and threats:
Logging and clearance of forest for agricultural purposes are the main threats. Logging is currently being carried out in the southern part of Central Seram, but is also planned for many other areas. Part of the northern lowlands were logged prior to the establishment of a Nature Reserve. In 1981, there were three companies active in the region. Forest cover is essential for the prevention of erosion of the shallow soil both on slopes and in flat lowland areas where severe flooding occurs every year. There is an increase in human settlement and shifting agriculture in coastal zones, especially in the Wae Nun area. Large numbers of birds, such as parrots, cockatoos and lories, are trapped for the cage-bird trade, and there is a considerable amount of trade in butterflies. Large numbers of eggs of the Geen Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas are collected for human consumption. Damar and other forest products are over-exploited, especially in the coastal plains of Wae Mual, and their is a lack of control or management of these resources. Road construction and mineral exploitation may have adverse effects in the proposed National Park. The Wae Mual Nature Reserve has been threatened by an irrigation scheme (Wind & Amir, 1978).
Economic and social values:
The forests are of vital importance in protecting the water catchment areas of some of Seram's largest rivers. Under appropriate management, a wide variety of forest products could be exploited on a sustainable basis. The area has high scenic values and great potential for scientific research, education and tourism. The proposed National Park includes a variety of unique biota and habitats, containing all of Seram's endemic species.
Fauna:
The fauna is a transitional mixture of Australian and Asian elements. A total of 117 species of birds has been recorded, including 14 species endemic to the island of Seram, but little information is available on the waterbirds. There is reported to be a good nesting beach for the Maleo Bird Macrocephalon maleo one km west of Wahai. Twelve species of mammals have been recorded including Cervus timorensis, Rhynchomeles sp and Phalanger spp. Six of these are endemic to Seram.
Six amphibians and 41 reptiles have been recorded from Seram, and most are believed to occur in the proposed National Park. Amphibians include the very big frog Ifyla amboniensis. Reptiles include the endemic snake Calamaria ceramensis and the sea-turtles Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata and Caretta careiza; C. mydas occasionally occurs on sandy beaches along the north coast. The Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus may occur; suitable habitat is present at the mouths of several rivers, and local people talk of hunting them.
Over 90 species of butterflies have been reported, including several famous endemic species. There are also seven endemic species of land snails.
Special floral values:
The proposed National Park contains a very rich and unique flora with many endemic species. The principal reason for the establishment of the two nature reserves was to protect endemic species of Shorea.
Research and facilities:
Few botanical expeditions have ever visited the Moluccas, and no detailed studies of the flora have been made. There is obviously a need for more collecting expeditions, especially in the rugged mountains which are interesting from the point of view of plant geography. Most of the information on fauna dates from the first half of the 20th century, and further research is urgently required.
References:
DHV Consulting Engineers et al. (1982a & 1982b); IUCN (in prep); MacKinnon & Artha (1981b); Smiet & Siallagan (1981a); Walker & Reynolds (1983); Wind & Amir (1978).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b, 2d.
Source:
Alison Skene.