Marintaman Mengalong
Location:
4°57'-5°04'N, 115°26'-115°34'E; 15-20 km southwest along the coast from Sipitang, near the Sarawak border, Sabah.
Area:
7,400 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12.
Wetland type:
07, 08 & 21.
Description of site:
A strip of coastal peat swamp forest of varying stature, and a patch of mangrove forest at Kuala Mengalong (165 ha in 1978). The peat swamp forest in the southern part of the area north of Sungei Mengalong is in better condition than the forest in the northern part, south of Tanjong Marintaman. The main source of fresh water is local rainfall, but the swamps are occasionally inundated by fresh water from Sungei Mengalong in the south. The water in the peat swamp is presumably mostly acidic. The swamp forest is swampy all year round and may be developing into more mature peat swamp. The tidal range can be as high as 1.5 m.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of 3,250 mm (at Sipitang); the rainfall is lowest in February and reaches a peak in November. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures are 31°C and 25°C, respectively.
Principal vegetation:
Coastal peat swamp forest with Dacrydium pectinatum, Dactyloclados stenostachys, Gonystylus bancanus and Dryobalanops rappa; some mangrove forest with Rhizophora spp and swamps with Nypa fruticans in the south. Most of the peat swamp forest has been logged out and is now regenerating with Dactyloc!ados, Gonystylus and Dryobalanops, along with much Trissania, Fragraea and Casuarina in the more devastated area to the north. Casuarina equisetifolia beach forest lies to the north, secondary vegetation arising from shifting cultivation to the east, and more Rhizophora and Nypa forest to the south.
Land tenure:
Partly state owned (Virgin Jungle Reserve) and partly owned by Sabah Forest Industries. Surrounding areas are mostly alienated for cultivation of minor cash crops, especially rubber and cocoa.
Conservation measures taken:
Part of the peat swamp forest is included in a Virgin Jungle Reserve, re-gazetted in 1984. The Reserve has been demarcated with red paint and sign boards. Informal discussions with the project manager of Sabah Forest Industries have indicated that the area would not be greatly disturbed by forestry activities.
Conservation measures proposed:
No information.
Land use:
The Virgin Jungle Reserve is managed for conservation; the areas under the control of Sabah Forest Industries have been partially developed for housing, and wood and paper mills. There are some developments associated with the pulp mill and small-holdings of rubber, cocoa, fruit trees and pineapples in adjacent areas.
Possible Changes in Land use:
No information.
Disturbances and threats:
The development of the pulp mill within the wetland area will have great repercussions on the ecosystem. The plantations of trees grown to supply the pulp mill and associated logging practices will probably increase the suspended sediment in the Mengalong River, which may possibly also flood more frequently in the future. The possibilities of pollution should be investigated and remedies sought.
Economic and social values:
With its groves of Casuarina on white sand terraces and dense thickets of red stemmed sealing wax palms, the area has considerable potential for outdoor recreation and tourism.
Fauna:
Little information is available. The Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus was reported as recently as 1979, and the Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas is known to occur offshore.
Special floral values:
Several rare plants have been recorded, including Nepenthes albo-marginaza and N. bicalcarata. The good stands of Casuarina nobilis which once occurred in the area have now been partially destroyed. The swamp is also noted for its stands of the ornamental sealing wax palm Cyriostachys lakka.
Research and facilities:
Fomerly there were facilities for staff administering the Virgin Jungle Reserve, but these facilities have now been taken over by Sabah Forest Industries.
References:
Chua & Matthias (1978).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b. 2a, 2b.
Source:
C. Phillipps.