Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
Berbak is one of two RAMSAR sites in Indonesia (Scott 1989). This swamp area recognise as an extensive peat-swamp forest in the Pacific Realm (Mijn & Rahman 1992), although the northern and the eastern parts of this area was cleared (along of Batang Hari River and enclave at coastal area). Long drought in 1997 caused fire, mainly at the edges around 18000 to 24000 ha.Fire occured in the middle part of the area caused by jelutung collection. More than 32000 ha forest on the northwest was cleared or damage by fire at the end of 1997. Sibuea (1998) report on fire of 60 ha, still questionable.
This area is important for swamp bird species, although more research is still needed. Storm's Stork
Ciconia stormi recorded in Air Hitam Dalam (Silvius & Verheugt 1986), Jerdon's Baza
Aviceda jerdoni, Wallace's Hawk-eagle
Spizaetus nanus, Black Partridge
Melanoperdix nigra and other hornbill species also exist in this area. Follow-up research for Air Hitam Dalam by Burn & Brickle (1992), confirm the existence of Storm's Stork
Ciconia stormi, Milky Stork
Mycterea cinerea, and White-winged Duck
Cairina scutulata. White-winged Duck frequently seen feeding in Kumpeh upper course, and this area considered important for this species.Survey between 1995-1996 (Sibuea
et.al. 1997) showed the three important areas for White-winged Duck along the Batang Hari River in the vicinity of Berbak, i.e. area in Kumpeh River, Rambut River and Air Hitam Dalam, which located in the border of Berbak, and Gedung Karya, with population estimated around 11-21 adult birds (+ 15 juveniles). New data is needed, after fire happened in this area in 1997.
Non-bird biodiversity: Arctitis binturong, Dicerohinus sumatraensis, Helarctos malayanus, Hylobates agilis, Lutra sumatranus, Martes flavigula, Neofelis nebulosa and Tapirus indicus, Amyda cartilagenia, Tomistoma schlegelii (Silvus et.al 1984, Wibowo & Suyatno 1997 & 1998, Colijn 1999).There are 23 species of Palm and considered to be the richest area for palm in the world (Wibowo & Suyatno 1997).
Habitat type in Berbak are peat swamp forest (110000 ha), freshwater swamp forest (60000 ha) and mangrove (1500 ha) (Colijn 1999). Around 90% for conservation area, and 10% for agriculture (Sibuea 1998)
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Forest clearing and illegal logging in the buffer zone, irrigation system surrounding the area, and forest fire. Boundary area on the coastal is converted into coconut plantation & settlement.
Declared as National Park based on SK Menhut No. 285/Kpts-II/1992 with the total area of 162700 ha (Anon 1995, Wibowo & Suyatno 1997, Anon 1998).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Berbak (Indonesia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/berbak-iba-indonesia on 23/12/2024.
