Binsuluk Forest Reserve
Binsuluk Forest Reserve | |
---|---|
Binsuluk Forest Reserve Location in Borneo | |
Location | Sabah, Malaysia |
Nearest city | Beaufort, Beaufort District |
Coordinates | 5°28′43″N 115°40′52″E / 5.4786°N 115.6811°ECoordinates: 5°28′43″N 115°40′52″E / 5.4786°N 115.6811°E |
Area | 121.06 km2 (46.74 sq mi) |
Established | 1984 |
Governing body | Sabah Forestry Department[1] |
Binsuluk Forest Reserve is a protected forest reserve on the Klias Peninsula, in Beaufort District of Interior Division, Sabah, Malaysia.[2] It was designated as a Class 1 Protection Forest by the Sabah Forestry Department in 1992.[3][4] Its area is 12,106 hectares (121.06 km2).[3] The reserve is mostly flat, consisting mostly of peat swamp forest, with a small area of mangroves.[1] The peat forests within this reserve, along with those in the nearby Klias Forest Reserve, are the last peat forests in Sabah.[5]
Being mostly peat forest, the reserve faces high fire risks. Large fires occurred in 1997–98, burning most of the park.[6] In 2016 large fires in peat bogs, which were caused by fires spread to Binsuluk and other forest reserves from nearby open burning, contributed to the 2016 Malaysian haze.[7][8] Over half of the reserve were burnt during this event.[5] Open burning caused yet another forest fire in 2020, this time burning 274 hectares (2.74 km2).[9]
Flora[]
Binsuluk and Klias Forest Reserves have a combined species richness of at least identified 134 tree species. Four species of Nepenthes pitcher plants have been recorded.[10] Some tree species are Dryobalanops rappa, Shorea platycarpa, Dactylocladus stenostachys and Gonystylus bancanus. However the status of these species is uncertain given the fires and logging activities.[1] An IUCN assessment in 2019 did not include Binsuluk as part of the species habitat for Dryobalanops rappa.[11]
Fauna[]
Binsuluk Forest Reserve is home to mammals including wild boar, sambar deer and macaque monkeys.[1] There are five amphibians found between the two forest reserves, , Rana erythraea, Rana glandulosa, , and Polypedates leucomystax. Saltwater crocodiles are present on the peninsula. 66 butterfly species have been discovered within the peat forests.[10]
References[]
- ^ a b c d "Binsuluk". Sabah Forestry Department. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ Sheldon, Frederick L (January 2015). "Gazetteer and site-based history of the ornithology of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo": 7. Retrieved 7 April 2021. Cite journal requires
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(help) - ^ a b "Binsuluk Protection Forest Reserve". Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (Malaysia). Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ "FORESTS (CONSTITUTION OF FOREST RESERVES AND AMENDMENT) ENACTMENT 1984 (No. 4 of 1984)" (PDF). State of Sabah. July 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Forest fire ravages most of Binsuluk reserve". The Star. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ Henry Bernard; Nellcy Joseph; Esther Lonnie Baking; Tung Siaw Ean; Yasuyuki Tachiki; Felicity Oram; Jaya Seelan Sathiya Seelan; Faisal Ali Anwarali Khan (21 November 2019). "Animal use of rehabilitated formerly fire damaged peat-swamp forest in western Sabah, Malaysia" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 67: 660–661. doi:10.26107/RBZ-2019-0047.
- ^ Tang Ruxyn (5 April 2016). "Who And What Is Causing This Terrible Haze In Sabah?". Says. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "200ha of Binsuluk forest reserve still burning - Wan Junaidi". New Straits Times. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Authority believes open burning among causes of Binsuluk forest fire". Malay Mail. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Klias peninsula". BirdLife. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ Hamidi, A.; Robiansyah, I.; Randi, A.; Hoo, P.K.; Khoo, E.; Kusumadewi, Y.; Julia, S. & Maycock, C.R. (2019). "Dryobalanops rappa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T36431A143153322. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
External links[]
- Forest reserves of Malaysia
- Protected areas of Sabah