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Coastal and Marine - Biodiversity Kalimantan - Indonesia

Major habitats around Kalimantan include the island’s rocky coastlines, mangrove/Nipa palm associations, mudflats and estuaries. Few studies have been published to describe the west and south of Kalimantan. In these areas mangroves are well-developed and many large rivers flow into the sea. Almost all of the eastern side of the island is covered with pristine mangrove swamps, followed by sea grass beds, and then fringing reefs. The fringing reefs are well developed along the offshore islands at a distance of about 20-40 km (Suharsono 1998). Because of the island’s mountains and morphology, much of the coastline is influenced by the environment of large bays and estuaries at the base of the watersheds. Some of the small islets have important colonies of nesting terns (Sterna sumatrana, S. anaetheta), Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), Bulwers Petrel (Bulweria bulweri), boobies (Sula dactylatra and S. leucogaster) and the Lesser Frigate Bird (Fregata ariel) (Salm and Halim 1984).

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Megapods (Megapodius freycineti), a medium sized bird that buries it eggs in mounds, were formerly common on the coastal islands, but are now rare due to the excessive collection of their eggs (MacKinnon and Phillips 1993). Major Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookeries are found on the beaches of the Anambas, South Natuna and Tambelan islands (Schulz 1987). Green Turtles, Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricate) and occasional Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) nest on the beaches and islands at Paloh, West Kalimantan. Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) nest occasionally on Pulau Lemukutan (Salm and Halim 1984). One of the most important Green Turtle breeding grounds in Indonesia is on the Berau islands off East Kalimantan, especially Sangalaki, Bilang-Bilang, Belambangan, Sambit and Mataha. Some 12,000 female Green Turtles nest in the Berau Island each year. Schulz (1984) estimates that 2-3 million turtle eggs are collected from the Berau islands each year. These eggs are still commonly sold in the streets of Samarinda, the capital of the province of East Kaliamantan, and other smaller towns throughout the province. The collection of turtle eggs threatens the populations of turtles throughout Kalimantan and elsewhere in Indonesia.

Mineral extraction in Kalimantan is impacting the coastal areas. Since the 1970’s, Samarinda, on the east coast, has grown as an industrial city due to oil and gas extraction in the area. Fifteen percent of Indonesia’s oil and gas reserves are concentrated in this coastal area with another 30% located nearby inland. Everyday, approximately half a million barrels of oil water are discharged untreated into the Makasar Strait which separates the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi. In addition, a large fertilizer plant near Samarinda dumps untreated ammonia wastes into the sea, and massive fish kills have been reported periodically since the 1980s. Gold mining and logging are choking the bays and estuaries with toxins, such as mercury and sediments that destroy the corals at the mouths of the bays (Wenno pers. comm.).

Apar and Adang Bays located in central East Kalimantan are major national wetland reserves (Cagar Alam), primarily to protect the mangrove areas and the species that inhabit them. The areas of Sangalaki and the Derawan Islands in the Berau district are scheduled to become a district level marine park that protects turtle nesting sites and dugong habitats. Mauatua Island is an area for the protection of the molluscs, Giant Clams, and Trochus and Green Turtles.

In the 1980s, Kalimantan, with one million ha of mangroves, was second only to Papua/Maluku in its area of mangroves (four million ha). However, recent surveys indicate that only about 350,000 ha remain of the original mangrove in Kalimantan, a reduction of more than 60%. This moves Kalimantan to third place behind Papua and Sumatra for extent of remaining mangroves (Wetlands International 1998 in BAPPENAS 2003). The primary causes of mangrove loss are conversion to fish and shrimp ponds, sediment dumping from the rivers due to erosion from over-logged areas, and loss to other development causes, such as urban pollution and reclamation.

All major types of Mangrove Forest are found in Kalimantan; these are most extensive at the mouths of the Kapuas, Mahakam and Sembuku Rivers. Mangroves play a vital role in consolidating coastlines and offer habitats that are used for a rich assemblage of plants and animals and are used exclusively by certain species of birds, including the Mangrove Pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) and the Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra), bats, Proboscis Monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) and Silver Langurs (Presbytis cristata). They also provide nutrients that are important to sustain pelagic fish and prawn nurseries. These mangroves are dwindling at a rapid rate, particularly in the last five years. This is a direct result of their conversion to tambak fish and shrimp ponds and removal for wood, building material and conversion to charcoal. It appears that one of the best remaining areas of mangrove in Kalimantan is in the Sembuku River delta (Momberg et al. 1998).

Nutrients flowing downstream and falling from Mangrove Forests produce a rich environment for estuarine fauna. Hardenberg (1937 in MacKinnon et al. 1986) reported 80 species of fish from Kumai estuary in Central Kalimantan and 222 species from the estuary and lower reaches of the Kapuas River. Coastlines throughout Kalimantan are being degraded and eroded by the removal of fragile coastal vegetation, especially mangrove and freshwater forests. This has a large impact on the populations of fish and invertebrates that rely on these nutrients. Increased sedimentation and diminished nutrient loads also impact and reduce the sea grass beds along the coasts. These beds are important for dugongs (Dugon dugon), sea turtles, and some fish and sea urchins. Kalimantan also has several important fringing reefs, especially those around Karimata Island off West Kalimantan and the Berau islands off East Kalimantan. Barrier reefs and atolls are also found off East Kalimantan (Salm and Halim 1984). Shorelines and mudflats along major rivers and lakes are important feeding grounds for a number of northern Asian migratory birds.
For example, Pulau Bruit off Sarawak, northwestern Borneo, had 10% of the known population of Asian Dowitchers (Limnodromus semipalmatus) during November 1984 (NPWO/ Interwader 1985).

Biodiversity and Tropical
Forests in Indonesia
Biodiversity and Tropical Forests in Indonesia
Indonesian Biodiversity Patterns
Indonesia’s Marine Environment and
Region Specific Biodiversity
Legislative and Institutional Structure
Affecting Biological Resources
Legislative Basis for Protection and Management of Biodiversity and Forest Resources
Biodiversity Sumatra and Associated Islands
Biodiversity Kalimantan
Biodiversity Java and Associated Islands
Biodiversity Sulawesi
Biodiversity Nusa Tenggara and Maluku
Biodiversity Papua

Eve and Guigue (1989) recorded 146 species of birds in the Mahakam River delta, East Kalimantan. Shorelines and mudflats along major rivers and lakes are important feeding grounds for a number of northern Asian migratory birds. For example, Pulau Bruit off Sarawak, northwestern Borneo, had 10% of the known population of Asian Dowitchers (Limnodromus semipalmatus) during November 1984 (NPWO/ Interwader 1985). Eve and Guigue (1989) recorded 146 species of birds in the Mahakam River delta, East Kalimantan.
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Source : Report on Biodiversity and Tropical Forests in Indonesia, USAID/Indonesia, 2004. Prepared by : (1) Steve Rhee, M.E.Sc. (2) Darrell Kitchener, Ph.D. (3) Tim Brown, Ph.D. (4) Reed Merrill, M.Sc. (5) Russ Dilts, Ph.D. (6) Stacey Tighe, Ph.D.

 

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