Sungei Tenga Swamps
Location:
6°42'-6°50'N, 116°58'-117°07'E; on the east coast of Marudu Bay, 25 km southeast of Kudat, Sabah.
Area:
Over 6,500 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12.
Wetland type:
02, 07, 08 & 15.
Description of site:
A large area of tidal mangrove swamps and permanent brackish to freshwater swamps of reeds and grasses intermixed with tall mangrove forest and some transitional forest on hillocks. Two large rivers, the Sungei Tenga and Sungei Bengkoka, pass through the swamps. The western side abuts on the sea at Marudu Bay; the eastern parts are fringed with shifting cultivation and scrub forest. The water is somewhat acidic in the freshwater back-swamps. Much of the freshwater swamp is permanent, but some areas dry out during the dry season from February to September, and are flooded again by the rains in October-February. The mean tidal range at Kudat is 1.3m.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 2,870 mm; there is a distinct peak in the rainfall between mid November and mid February, and a low from February to September, the lowest rainfall occurring in April. Temperatures are probably similar to those at Kota Kinabalu, where the average maximum temperature is 30.5°C and the average minimum 23.2°C in open swamps near to the sea. Evaporation may exceed precipitation during the greater part of the year.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove swamps dominated by species of Rhizophora; other common mangroves include species of Ceriops, Lumnitzera, Bruguiera and Xylocarpus. The fresh water swamps probably hold large amounts of Baeckia frutescens, Tristania clementis, Rhodamnia sp, with many rushes such as Fimbristylis spp. Large areas of associated transitional forest may contain many Oncosperma palms mixed with relict tall forest trees such as Intsia spp and some coastal dipterocarps such as Shorea glaucescens.
Land tenure:
Unknown in detail but part of the site is a state owned Mangrove Forest Reserve. The surrounding areas are largely alienated for permanent and shifting cultivation.
Conservation measures taken:
Part of the area is a Class V Mangrove Forest Reserve.
Conservation measures proposed:
It has been suggested that more areas of freshwater swamp be included in the existing Forest Reserve.
Land use:
Some fishing.
Possible Changes in Land use:
No information.
Disturbances and threats:
There is probably some hunting of migratory waterbirds and indigenous mammals.
Economic and social values:
The area is presumably of importance as a breeding and nursery ground for fishes and prawns of commercial value.
Fauna:
Little information is available; the area is thought to be very important as a breeding and foraging area for large numbers of resident and migratory waterbirds such as herons and egrets (Ardeidae) and rails (Rallidae).
Special floral values:
None known.
Criteria for Inclusion:
0.
Source:
C. Phillipps.