Danau Labaung
Location:
5°29'N, 117°43'E; at the head of the Danau River, in the Kinabatangan Flood Plain, Sabah.
Area:
c.8 ha (the lake itself is c.3 ha).
Altitude:
c.10m
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12.
Wetland type:
11 & 15.
Description of site:
A small, permanent, inland lake containing bushes and surrounded by logged lowland dipterocarp forest, at the head of the Labaung River, a tributary of the Kinabatangan River on the Kinabatangan Flood Plain. The lake is subject to seasonal and temporary flooding. The surrounding area has been logged twice and was burnt during the fire of 1983. Much of the immediate surroundings has been heavily burnt and many trees are dead. The lake itself contains a large area of low bushes. The water regime is presumably similar to that of the Kinabatangan Flood Plain as a whole. The water depth is highly variable, and the water level in the Labaung River can rise by as much as one metre after heavy rains.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 2,600 mm, well distributed throughout the year, but with a slight peak in December and January; the lowest rainfall occurs in March and April. The mean diurnal maximum and minimum temperatures are 32°C and 22°C, respectively.
Principal vegetation:
Relatively little aquatic vegetation; there are some low bushes in the lake, and the surface is covered with a scum of green algae. The principal vegetation in surrounding areas is logged and burnt remnants of lowland dipterocarp forest.
Land tenure:
State Land.
Conservation measures taken:
The Lands and Surveys Department has been requested by the Forest Department not to issue land titles in or near the site.
Conservation measures proposed:
The area would be given the status of Wildlife Sanctuary (a new status in Sabah). The wetland should be protected during the breeding season, and its potential for tourism should be developed.
Land use:
There is little use at present, other than some fishing by local people.
Possible Changes in Land use:
The Labaung area has been proposed for settlement by native small-holders; this is likely to go ahead on surrounding dry land.
Disturbances and threats:
The eggs of Anhinga melanogaster and possibly also species of Egretta are collected for human consumption, and this may be occurring on a large scale. Fishing by local people at weekends causes considerable disturbance.
Economic and social values:
The presence of an easily observed breeding colony of waterbirds and the abundance of mammals give the area considerable potential for nature-oriented tourism and conservation education. The wetland provides an excellent recreational area for future small-holders on surrounding land, and provides a source of protein through fishing.
Fauna:
Catfish and at least one other type of fish are present on a commercially viable scale. The wetland supports a breeding colony of the Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster (over 100 pairs), and several species of egrets Egretta spp and Ixobrychus flavicollis may breed. The fish-eagle Ichthyophaga nana breeds in the area, and the kingfishers Pelargopsis capensis and Alcedo meninting occur in good numbers. Mammals include Elephas maximus, Bos javanicus, Pongo pygmaeus and Presbytis hosei. The Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus occurred at least until the early 1980s, and may still be present.
Special floral values:
None known.
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b. 2a, 2c, 3b.
Source:
J. Payne, WWF Malaysia and R.V. Lansdown.