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Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
Maliau Basin is one of the most pristine natural features in Malaysia. The region is rugged, remote and forested and is distinguished by its circular perimeter. The Basin is sharply delimited on all sides by cliffs or very steep slopes up to 1,500 m in height. The highest point is Gunung Lutong (1,900 m asl) on the north rim. The shape had been moulded by faults and earth movements resulting in the Tanjung Formation during the early to middle Miocene age. The Tanjung Formation consists of rocks which are mudstones intercalated with thin and thicker layers of siltstone to medium-grained sandstone (Maryati Mohamed, 1998).The area is drained by radiating tributaries of the Sungai Maliau, forming a unique and important catchment for the south-central zone of Sabah. The drainage system comprises mainly of tea-coloured rivers caused by brown, humic compounds, which leach from the heath forest vegetation. Sungai Maliau gorges out of the south-eastern corner of the basin into Sungai Kuamut which in turns feeds Sungai Kinabatangan, the longest and largest river in Sabah (Maryati Mohamed, 1998; Anton and Alexander, 1998; Waidi Sinun
et al., 1998). Maliau Basin also has an exceptionally high number of waterfalls.
Maliau Basin's avifaunal diversity is reflected by its habitat type, which is unique in Malaysia. Over 280 species of birds have been recorded in Maliau Basin which include several rare and endemic species (Anon., 2001, 2002; Lim-Hasegawa, 2002; Yong
et al., 1989, 1998). The area also supports a diverse hornbill population (5 species) and pheasants. Other Near Threatened species found in basin includes the Oriental Darter
Anhinga melanogaster and Grey-headed Fish-eagle
Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus.
Non-bird biodiversity: The scientific surveys of Maliau Basin have documented several interesting findings, some which is unique to the area. 181 commercial tree species from 11 families, dominated by Araucariaceae, Dipterocarpaceae and Casuarinaceae (Barnabas Gait et al., 1998).34 species from 14 families and 26 genera of fern and fern allies (Susup Akin, 1998).The rare Rafflesia tengku-adlini has also been discovered in the area, one of only two known localities in Sabah (Marsh, 1989).35 species of freshwater algae (Anton et al., 1998).16 genera representing 10 families of bryophytes (Susup Akin and Suleiman, 1998).23 species of aquatic and semi-aquatic bugs from 7 families (Yang et al., 1998).29 species of dung beetles (Davis, 1998).37 species of butterflies from 5 families dominated by Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae (Maryati Mohamed et al., 1998).36 species of termites (Isoptera) (Jones et al., 1998).Presence of Weaver Ants Oecophylla smaragdina in the heath forest (Widodo and Maryati Mohamed, 1998).Three species of freshwater fishes namely Puntius sealei (Cyprinidae), Betta cf. unimaculata (Belontiidae) and Hemibagrus nemurus (Bagridae) and three species of crustaceans: Parathelphusa valida (Parathelphusidae), Thelphusula sp. nov. (Gecarcinucidae) and Macrobrachiun sabanus (Palaemonidae) (Martin-Smith et al., 1998).25 species of amphibians from 5 families (Abdul-Hamid Ahmad and Wong, 1998).Four species of small mammals dominated by Whitehead's Rat Maxomys whiteheadi (Joseph Gasis et al., 1998. The presence of large and rare mammals (Marsh, 1989; Joseph Gasis et al., 1998). The area has been earmarked as an important refuge for Sumatran Rhinoceroses (WWF, 2002a).(I) Globally threatened mammals (IUCN, 2002): CRITICAL: Sumatran Rhinoceros Dicerorhinnus sumatrensis; ENDANGERED: Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Tembadau Bos javanicus, Proboscis Monkey Nasalis larvatus, Bay Cat Catopuma badia, Orang-Utan Pongo pygmaeus; VULNERABLE: Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina; NEAR THREATENED: Bornean Gibbon Hylobates muelleri, Long-tailed Macaque M. fascicularis; DATA DEFICIENT: Hose's Langur Presbytis hosei, Malayan Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus(II) Globally threatened reptiles (IUCN, 2002): No information.(III) Globally threatened plants (IUCN, 2002): CRITICAL: Shorea platycarpa, S. johorensis, S. acuminatissima, S. almon, S. asahii, S. flemmichii, S. foxworthyi, S. platycarpa, S. smithiana, S. superba, S. waltoni, Hopea nervosa, H. beccariana, H. sangal, Parashorea malaanonan, Dipterocarpus gracilis; ENDANGERED: Shorea andulensis, S. argentifolia, S. faguetiana, S. leprosula, S. bracteolata, S. obscura, S. pauciflora, Dryobalanops lanceolata, Dipterocarpus crinitus; VULNERABLE: Durio acutifolius, D. kutejensis, Agathis dammara; NEAR THREATENED: Nepenthes veitchii, Aglaia oligophylla; LOWER RISK/conservation dependent: Nepenthes hirsuta, Koompassia excelsa, K. malaccensis; DATA DEFICIENT: Mangifera bullata
The vegetation of Maliau Basin can be divided into five broad types (Marsh, 1989; Maryati Mohamed, 1998):lowland (hill) dipterocarp forest is confined mainly along the slope draining the Sungai Maliau, comprised of multi-layered and dense forest with emergents exceeding 30 m; riverine forest is conditioned by more exposed light conditions and rocky soils;the lower montane forest is comprised of two types: upper dipterocarp forest and
Agathis-Shorea platyclados oak-laurel forest. The upper dipterocarp forest is generally found up to altitudinal limits of 830m. Between 1,000-2,000 m asl, the forest is dominated by oak/laurel or by
Agathis and
Shorea platyclados. The lower montane forest is the dominant forest type, making up 62% of the Basin.upper montane forest; andedaphic climax forest comprised of heath forest, which is the second most abundant forest type covering 20.5% of the basin. Most of the heath forest of the Basin is at upper montane elevation, but there is a 10 km
2 of well-developed heath forest on flattish land near the southern rim (Southern Plateau) at 1,100 m asl. It comprises of trees with small crown and short stature and a relatively open canopy to about 12 m in height dominated by
Tristania spp. and
Dacrydium beccarii (Marsh, 1989). The ground vegetation is comprised of a dense, mossy mixture of low species diversity including
Ternstroemia spp.,
Calophyllum spp.,
Syzigium spp. as well as pitcher plants (Nepentaceae), rhododendrons (Ericaceae) and orchids (Orchidaceae) (Marsh, 1989).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Maliau Basin may be vulnerable to future resource exploration as the area has been found to be mineral-rich. The threats come in the form of timber and of more concern, coal extraction (S.S. Yoga, 2001). Despite having the potential of coal mining, the State Government has no intentions to entertain applications for coal mining (Anon., 2000). The area also has the potential as a hydroelectric dam site (Marsh, 1989). Poaching is considered under control (Tan Cheng Li, 2001).
Maliau Basin was designated as a Conservation Area for the purposes of research, education and Training in 1981 with an area of 39,000 ha within the Yayasan Sabah's (Sabah Foundation) timber concession. Yayasan Sabah is an organization formed in 1966 through an Enactment by the Sabah State Legislative Assembly. In 1997, the Conservation Area was upgraded by the Sabah State Government to a Protection (Class I) Forest Reserve under the Sabah Forest Enactment and extended to its present size. With the publication of the Government Gazette, The Maliau Basin Conservation Area Forest Rules (1998), the legal status and
modus operandi of the area was established. The Sabah State Government through the State Heritage Council has also designated the Maliau Basin as a cultural heritage area and was consequently gazetted under the Cultural Heritage (Conservation) Enactment 1997 to give it additional protection (Anon., 2000; Regis, 2001).Daily management of the Conservation Area is carried out by the Yayasan Sabah on behalf of an inter-agency Maliau Basin Management Committee comprising of Federal and Sabah State government agencies and local universities. Currently, the Yayasan Sabah is working in collaboration with DANCED (Danish Cooperation for Environment and Development) in a three year project (1999-2001) to prepare a management plan for the area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Maliau Basin Conservation Area (Malaysia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/maliau-basin-conservation-area-iba-malaysia on 22/12/2024.
