Central Tenasserim Coast and northern Mergul Archipelago
Location:
11°25'-12°45'N, 98°20'-98°50'E; the central Tenasserim coast from Pyaze, 40 km north of Mergui, to Pisandaungsaung, 120 km south of Mergui, and the inner islands of the northern Mergui Archipelago, Tenasserim Division.
Area:
c.1,100,000 of bays, estuaries, mudflats and mangroves.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
4.5.1.
Wetland type:
01, 02, 03, 05, 06 & 07.
Description of site:
A vast complex of shallow bays, tidal channels and creeks, intertidal mudflats and mangrove swamps between the narrow coastal plain of central Tenasserim and a chain of large islands in the northeastern part of the Mergui Archipelago. The site includes the estuaries of the Kyaukpya River, Great Tenasserim River, Lenya River and many smaller rivers rising in the forested hills of the southern Bilauktaung range to the east, and also the nearby offshore islands. The larger islands, notably Kadan Kyun, Saganthit Kyun and Kanmaw Kyun, are hilly, rising to over 750m. The extensive mangrove swamps on the eastern side of the main islands are separated from those of the mainland coast by channels up to 5 km wide. There are sandy beaches on some of the islands, and coral reefs along the west coasts of Saganthit Kyun and Kanmaw Kyun.
Climatic conditions:
Monsoonal climate, with an average annual rainfall of about 5,000 mm. The climate is somewhat transitional between the pronounced wet and dry seasons of the bulk of the country and the more even rainfall pattern of peninsular Malaysia. The prevailing winds blow from the west and southwest during the May to September monsoon, and from the north during the October to April dry season.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove forest and beach vegetation. Tropical rain forest and dry deciduous forest on the larger islands and coastal hill ranges.
Land tenure:
No information.
Conservation measures taken:
No information.
Conservation measures proposed:
No information.
Land use:
No information
Disturbances and threats:
Large areas of mangrove forest have been heavily exploited for timber and other products, or cleared for agricultural purposes. Crocodiles have long been exploited and their populations are now much reduced.
Economic and social values:
No information.
Fauna:
The region was known to be of considerable importance for a wide variety of resident and migratory waterfowl during the early part of the present century, but no recent information is available. Resident species reported by Smythies (1953) include Phalacrocorax niger, Anhinga melanogaster. Egretta sacra, Ardea sumatrana, Mycteria leucocephala, Ciconia episcopus, Leptoptilos javanicus, Dendrocygna javanica, Cairina scutulata, Nettapus coromandelianus, Heliopais personata, Rostratula benghalensis, Esacus magnirostris, Glareola maldivaru,n, Sterna aurantia and S. melanogaster. About 30 species of migratory shorebirds have been recorded, including Tringa guttifer and Eurynorhynchus pygmeus.
The Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus still occurs in the extensive tidal creeks and mangrove swamps, although now in greatly reduced numbers. Sea turtles nest on many islands in the Mergui Archipelago, and presumably occur in this area.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
Very little if any research has been carried out in the area, and almost no recent information is available.
Source:
Blower (1983); FAO (1985a); Smythies (1953).