Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands, Malaysia

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Wetlands (main)


November 1, 2013, 10:38 am
Content Cover Image

Aerial photograph of the Lower Kinabatangan River wetlands.

This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to improve this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion.

Introduction The Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands was added to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of Internation Importance onOctober28, 2008 (Ramsar Site # 1849). The Lower Kinagatangan-Segama Wetlands are one of six Wetlands of International Importance in Malaysia (Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands, Malaysia) . These wetlands are threatened by the expansion of oil palm plantations, especially in the upriver portion of the wetlands and tributary catchmentCatchment is the entire area of a hydrological drainage basin..

Location

This78.803 ha site is situated in Sabah (05°38’N 118°35’E) in Sarawak, East Malaysia on the island of Borneo.

Ecology and Species

This reserve contains coastal mangroves, including the largest area of mangroves in the Southern Sulu Sea, and peat swamp forest ecosystems. This reserve is fed by the Kingabatanga River, the Segama River, as well as several smaller rivers. Notable species include the Sumatran Rhinoceros(Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrisoni), the Proboscis Monkey(Nasalis larvatus) , the tembadau (Bos javanicus) , the orang utan (Pongo abelli), and the Borneo pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis).

Importance

Thetropical forestsprovide ecosystem services including carbon sequestration anddealing with the sediment loads and organic loads of the rivers that flow through the reserve.

Conservation

At the present time of 2013, there are private conservation efforts underway to preserve wetland habitat and riverine biotic corridors, with an emphasis upon deterring excessive development of alien species oil palm plantations. These private groups include conservation entities, lodge owners and other private businesses and farms.

References and Further Reading

Annotated Ramsar List: Malaysia

Citation

McGinley, M. (2013). Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands, Malaysia. Retrieved from http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Lower_Kinabatangan-Segama_Wetlands,_Malaysia