Kuala Sedili Kecil Mangroves
Location:
1°51'N, 104°09'E; on the east coast on Peninsular Malaysia, at the mouth of Sungei Sedili Kecil, Jason Bay, Johor.
Area:
433 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
4.7.1.
Wetland type:
02, 05, 07 & 11.
Description of site:
Riverine mangrove extending up the tidal reaches of Sungei Sedili Kecil. This mangrove forest extends in a wide zone on either side of the river and grades into lowland swamp forest on the northern fringe. There are sandy beaches on the adjacent coast. Part of the mangrove has been cleared. The mean tidal range at Sedihi Kecil is 1.8m.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate with an annual rainfall of 3,000-3,500 mm. There is a wet season during the northeast monsoon (October-January), with the wettest month December (over 500 mm). The driest month is April (just over 100 mm), during the southwest monsoon dry period.
Principal vegetation:
The mangroves Rhizophora apiculata and R. mucronata, up to 20m tall, are common on the waterline and in a fringe c.5m wide especially near the rivermouth. Xylocarpus granazum and Kandelia candel are interspersed amongst the Rhizophora along the river banks. Bruguiera parviflora and B. gymnorhiza occur in small quantities away from the channel edges, and Sonneratia alba grows on the waterline and along the edges of creeks. There are some mature stands of Sonneratia ovata, up to 25m tall, behind the Rhizophora zone. Nypa fruticans is the dominant plant along the channel edge about 5 km upriver.
Land tenure:
State owned (State Government of Johor).
Conservation measures taken:
Part of the area is gazetted as Forest Reserve.
Conservation measures proposed:
The area has been recommended as a Mangrove National Park (Ong, 1982).
Land use:
Collection of shellfish, fishing, local forestry, tourism on the sandy beaches, hunting, aquaculture in the northwestern part, and logging operations by Kejora (South East Johore Development Authority). Part of the area is gazetted as a Malay Reserve. There is mixed horticulture in the surrounding area.
Possible Changes in Land use:
Development for tourism and agriculture. The remaining area is mentioned as a potential aquaculture development site under the National Policy to clear 20% of the mangroves of the Peninsula for aquaculture.
Disturbances and threats:
Small-scale clearance of Rhizophora mangroves for local use, disturbance from hunting, possibly some disturbance from tourism at holiday peaks, and clearance of mangroves for aquaculture.
Economic and social values:
Fisheries, local mangrove produce and forestry (291 ha of productive mangrove).
Fauna:
No information.
Special floral values:
A species-rich mangrove forest (a restricted habitat on the east coast of the peninsula) of great scientific interest, constituting the only intact example of the mangrove/freshwater swamp forest transition zone in Peninsular Malaysia.
Research and facilities:
A preliminary survey and some shorebird counts were carried out by Howes et al. in 1986, and extensive floristic investigations were made by Corner from 1929-1940 (Corner, 1978).
References:
Corner (1978); EPU (1980); Howes et al. (1986); Johor State Department of Fisheries (1978); Ong (1982); Wong (1979).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2b, 2c.
Source:
Choy Siew Kiong.