Yamdena and the Tanimbar Archipelago
Location:
6°38'-8°25'S, 130°40'-132°00'E; in the southeastern Moluccas, Kabupaten Maluku Tenggara, Moluccas.
Area:
Area of wetlands unknown; Tanimbar Archipelago 505,800 ha, Yamdena Island 60,000 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level to 240m.
Biogeographical Province:
5.1.13.
Wetland type:
02, 05, 06, 07, 11 & 21.
Description of site:
The Tanimbar Islands form the second largest archipelago in the southeastern Moluccas. The largest island, Yamdena, is surrounded by dozens of smaller islands and islets. The delta of the Wai Ranarmoje on the west coast of Yamdena supports extensive mangrove swamps which extend up to ten km inland. Elsewhere on the west coast, there are beaches fringed with intertidal mudflats and backed by seasonal swamps. Further inland, the land remains relatively flat for about 20 km and then rises gently for another 20 km to form a row of hills. The central part of the island is covered with deciduous forest still in an almost pristine condition.
Climatic conditions:
Tropical maritime climate with an annual rainfall of 1,951 to 2,070 mm.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove swamps with Aegiceras corniculatum and species of Bruguiera, Ceriops, Avicennia and Rhizophora; freshwater swamp with Oncosperma sp. Nypa fruiticans and Oncosperma characterize the transition zone to fresshwater conditions. Lowland deciduous forest in the interior of Yamdena Island.
Land tenure:
State owned (PHPA).
Conservation measures taken:
Three small conservation areas have been established: Angwarmase Island Nature Reserve (800 ha), off the northwest coast of Yamdena; and Nustaran Nature Reserve (3,200 ha), incorporating a narrow strip on the west coast of Yamdena.
Land use:
There is some agriculture and forestry on Yamdena.
Disturbances and threats:
Illegal hunting, cattle grazing and shifting cultivation.
Economic and social values:
No information.
Fauna:
The island is very rich in wildlife. A wide variety of waterfowl and sea-birds has been recorded including Pelecanus conspicillatus, Phalacrocorax melanoleucos, P. sulcirostris, Sula leucogaster, Fregata ariel, Nycticorax caledonicus, Butorides striatus, Egretta sacra, E. garzetta, Ardea sumatrana, Threskiornis molucca, Dendrocygna guttata, Tadorna radjah, Anas gibberifrons, Himantopus leucocephalus, Esacusmagnirostris, Vanellus miles, Charadrius leschenaultii, Numenius madagascariensis and Tringa spp. Birds of prey include Pandion haliaetus, Haliastur indus, and Haliaeetus leucogaster.
The Dugong Dugong dugon occurs in shallow waters around the islands; terrestrial mammals include Phalanger orientalis, Paradoxurus hermaproditus, Suncus murinus, and Sus scrofa. Reptiles include the Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus; the sea turtles Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata; varanus sp, Hydrophys mertoni, and Lygosama sp.
Special floral values:
The forest in the central part of Yamdena is virtually untouched and is of great conservation value as one of the few remaining areas of lowland deciduous forest in Indonesia. There is an endemic orchid Dendrobium Phalaenopsis on the island.
Research and facilities:
Preliminary faunal and floral surveys have been carried out.
References:
MacKinnon & Artha (1981b); Smiet et al. (1981).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b, 3b.
Source:
Marcel J. Siivius and Agustinus W. Taufik.