The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Annotated Ramsar List: Indonesia

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

INDONESIA / INDONESIE

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Indonesia on 8 August 1992. Indonesia presently has 3 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 656,510 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Berbak. 08/04/92; Jambi; 162,700 ha; 01º24’S 104º16’E. National Park. A vast area of undisturbed peat swamp forest (115,000ha) and freshwater swamp forest (45,000ha), dissected by a large river and inhabited by a small group of native people. The forests are inundated for most of the year. In the dry season, brackish water penetrates up to 10km upstream. The site supports more than 150 tree species and over 34 species of fish, and is an important area for staging shorebirds. Three endangered species of birds (Storm’s Stork, White-winged Wood Duck, and Hornbill), eight species of notable mammals (including the Sumatran Rhino, Tapir, Tiger and Malayan Sun Bear) and two species of notable reptiles (Estuarine Crocodile and False Gharial) are found here. Coastal mudflats located outside the reserve are important feeding grounds for waterbirds. Ramsar site no. 554. Most recent RIS information: 1991.

Danau Sentarum. 30/08/94; Kalimantan Barat; 80,000 ha; 00º51’N 112º06’E. National Park. A series of seasonal freshwater lakes, connecting rivers, peat and freshwater swamp forest. The last vast area of primary freshwater swamp forest remaining in Kalimantan, and possibly the last major representative example of this habitat in the Sunda Islands. Over 185 species of fish and 200 species of birds are present. The reserve is home to the largest known inland population of Proboscis monkey. A seasonally fluctuating population lives on the site depending on fisheries, which provide 3,000 wet tonnes annually, for their livelihood. A field management and research centre are located in the reserve. Other human activities include cultivation and traditional harvest of forest products. Ramsar site no. 667. Most recent RIS information: 1997.

Wasur National Park. 16/03/06; Irian Jaya; 413,810 hectares; 08°38'S 140°23'E. National Park. A low-lying wetland in the monsoon climate zone of southern New Guinea, with intertidal mudflats and coastal mangroves with extensive seasonally inundated grasslands, reed swamps, savannahs, and monsoon forest. The site is the habitat for a number of rare and endemic species, including the Fly River Grassbird (Megalurus albolimbatus) and Grey-crowned Munia (Lonchura nevermanni).Tens of thousands of waterbirds visit the region during migration between eastern Siberia and northern Australia. The topography is exceptionally flat, with little natural drainage in large parts of the reserve. Land use is chiefly subsistence farming by small local communities of four groups of autochthonous peoples, and the area contains many sites of spiritual significance and archaeological importance. Poaching and alien invasive species like water hyacinth and mimosa pigra, as well as population pressures from the nearby town of Merauke, are seen as the greatest threats. Ecotourism infrastructure is being developed to accommodate international as well as local tourists, to benefit local communities. The site is contiguous with the Tonda Wildlife Management Area Ramsar site in Papua New Guinea. Ramsar site no. 1624. Most recent RIS information: 2006.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 26 January 2000, updated 6 June 2006, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.