Kapar Forest Reserve
Location:
3°00'-3°09'N,101°18'-101°24'E; north of Port Klang and about 40 km west of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor State.
Area:
Originally 5,717 ha; reduced to 3,836 ha by September 1987, with further excisions planned.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
4.7.1.
Wetland type:
02 & 07.
Description of site:
A coastal stretch of predominantly mangrove forest, inundated at high tide. The area is dissected by an extensive network of creeks and rivulets which join the main channels of the Sungei Che Awang and Sungei Puloh. These rivers drain fresh water entering the area from the eastern side. The eastern and southern sections of the Forest Reserve have been reclaimed by bund construction and drainage for oil palm plantations, port development, housing and industrial estates. The water is brackish due to the inflow of fresh water from Sungei Kapar Kecil, Sungei Che Awang, Sungei Klang, Sungei Puloh and several other rivers. The water quality is good (low sediment load), with Secchi disc measurements of 1.1-1.4m at high tide and 0.5-0.9m at low tide. The mean tidal variation at Pelabuhan Kiang is 4.1m.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate similar to Kuala Lumpur, with an average annual rainfall of under 2,000 mm. The driest month is January (120 mm) and the wettest, April (280 mm).
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove forest dominated by Avicennia alba, Sonneratia alba and Rhizophora apiculata. Other species include R. mucronata, Xylocarpus granalum, Bruguiera gymnorhzza. B. cylindrica, B. parviflora, Ceriops sagal, Excoecaria agallocha, Lumnitzera spp. Hibiscus tiliaceus, Acanthus ebracteatus, A. ilicifolius, Thespesia populacea, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Jpomoea pescaprae, Zoysia matrella, Acrostichum aureum and Nypa fruticans. There are coconut plantations and mixed horticulture in adjacent agricultural areas.
Land tenure:
No information.
Conservation measures taken:
Some 95% of the area is Forest Reserve.
Conservation measures proposed:
The Asian Wetland Bureau has made a number of recommendations, as follows:
1. An area of approximately 2,800 ha inside the Kapar Forest Reserve and outside that r claimed for the present Selangor State Development Authority PKNS development plan should be re-gazetted as some form of amenity reserve. This area should be sufficient to safeguard the mangroves for fisheries and wildlife, whilst allowing development of tourism and education projects.
2. Projects for the development of the area for tourism and education should be carefully planned and should take into account the following: (a) impact of the development and use of the area; (b) nature conservation interests; (c) zoning of activities within the area; (d) development of interpretative and educational activities; (e) environmental monitoring such as water acidity testing.
3. No further reclamation should be undertaken in the area and the recommendations of the Kiang Draft Structure Plan (Selangor State Government, 1986) should be strictly followed.
4. Discharge of effluents containing substances such as toxic chemicals, detergents, oil palm effluents, pesticides and herbicides into the Sungei Puloh and Sungei Che Awang should be strictly forbidden.
5. One or more sites in Kapar Forest Reserve within the area of scientific importance (e.g. north of Sungei Sementa Besar) should be gazetted as Virgin Jungle Reserve. It is especially important that as much as possible of the area between Sungei Perepat and Sungei Sementa Kecil be set aside for education and research, in view of the history of research by the University of Malaya in this area (SPSSM, in prep; Soo, 1979)
Land use:
Fishing, forestry and scientific research.
Possible Changes in Land use:
There are plans to excise several blocks of the Forest Reserve (SPSSM, in prep).
Disturbances and threats:
Reclamation for agriculture and housing, and illegal timber extraction. Some 1,200 ha of forest are to be cleared for industrial and housing developments. The construction of bunds is affecting the hydrology of the area, and there has been some pollution from industrial activities nearby. The area will become less attractive for recreational and educational projects as a result of these developments (Interwader, 1986). Studies by Universiti Pertanian Malaysia have revealed high levels of lead, manganese, iron and mercury in the Kiang estuary (Law & Singh, 1986 & 1987). Some of the extremely important research areas are already being disturbed by major cutting and clearance for power lines (SPSSM, in prep).
Economic and social values:
The Forest Reserve is of great importance to commercial fisheries and has a high potential value for sustainable yield forestry. It also has considerable potential for conservation education, recreation and tourism.
Fauna:
Over 100 species of marine fishes have been recorded. The area supports a diverse avifauna 62 species of waterbirds are known to occur including 41 species listed under Schedule 3 of the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 as totally protected wild birds. Noteworthy species include Ixobrychus cinnamomeus. Egretta alba, Leptoptilos javanicus, Haliaeetus leucogaster and four species of kingfishers (Alcedinidae). Mammals include Macaca fascicularis and Presbytis cristata; Lutra perspicillata, Felis bengalensis and Sousa plumbea probably occur. The Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus and monitor lizard Varanus salvator may occur in the area, but their presence has yet to be confirmed. Invertebrates include at least eight genera of crabs.
Special floral values:
Kapar Forest Reserve is the largest mainland mangrove forest in Selangor. It remains in good condition, and contains most of the vegetation types typical of Peninsular Malaysia. It is thus of special value for maintaining the genetic and ecological diversity of the region.
Research and facilities:
Certain parts of Kapar Forest Reserve have a long history of scientific research on the mangrove ecosystem, carried out by the University of Malaya and other bodies. The area between Sungei Perepat and Sungei Sementa Kecil, and the area north of Sungei Sementa Besar, are particularly important research sites.
References:
Aikanathan (1986); Aparow Sannasi (1977); Bahrim Ibrahim (1982); Ibrahim bin Suhib (1983); Interwader (1986); Kuthubutheen (1984); Law & Singh (1986 & 1987); Lee et al. (1984); Leh & Sasekumar (1984); Lim (1969); MacIntosh (1976 & 1984); 0mg & Sasekumar (1980); Selangor State Government (1986); Seow & Broom (1984); Silvius et al. (1987); Soo (1979); SPSSM (in prep); Wong (1974).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b. 2b, 2c.
Source:
Asian Wetland Bureau, University of Malaya and SPSSM.