Sungei Karap
Location:
3°52'-4°13'N, 114°10'E; in the Baram River System at the confluence of the Sungei Karap and Sungei Bakong, 15 km west of Marudi, Fourth Division, Sarawak.
Area:
60 km of river.
Altitude:
Less than 50m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12.
Wetland type:
11 & 13.
Description of site:
A sluggish isolated tributary of the Bakong River in the Baram River System, uniquely overgrown with floating mats of Eichhornia crassipes.
Climatic conditions:
The river is overgrown with Eichhornia crassipes, and fringed with tall grasses and sedges. There are peat swamp forests and freshwater swamp forests in surrounding areas.
Principal vegetation:
The river is overgrown with Eichhornia crassipes, and fringed with tall grasses and sedges. There are peat swamp forests and freshwater swamp forests in surrounding areas.
Land tenure:
State owned.
Conservation measures taken:
The river is included within the Beluru Forest Reserve.
Conservation measures proposed:
The area should be gazetted as a Wildlife Sanctuary, as it is probably the best refuge for Crocodylus porosus in Sarawak (Cox & Gombek, 1985). A helicopter survey would be required to assess the area adequately; the best time for such a survey would be in October and November when a complementary nest search could be included.
Land use:
Fishing, crocodile hunting and logging. The river is not intensively used by the local human population because it is clogged with floating vegetation. With the exception of the riparian strips along the river banks, the area has no agricultural value (Yong, 1971; Department of Agriculture, 1982c).
Possible Changes in Land use:
No information.
Disturbances and threats:
Crocodile hunting.
Economic and social values:
The river supports a small local fishery.
Fauna:
The river is said to support a healthy breeding population of the Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus, and could be the best long-term refuge for the species in Sarawak.
Special floral values:
The river is unique in Sarawak in being completely overgrown with floating vegetation.
Research and facilities:
Forest inventories were carried out in 1955, 1956 and 1965 (Yong, 1971), and a soil survey has been made (Department of Agriculture, 1982c). A preliminary crocodile survey was conducted in 1985.
References:
Cox & Gombek (1985); Department of Agriculture (1982c); Yong (1971).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a.
Source:
See references.