Current view: Text account
Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
Formerly this area was described as “one of the last forested lowland coastal areas on Timor and preserves a rare habitat type (lowland alluvial forest and savannah)” with “moderately high biodiversity values” (FAO/UNDP 1982). The habitats in the IBA currently include a band of seasonally flooded coastal swamp forest dominated by Canarium spp., secondary dry forest and the extensive nationally significant freshwater lake (c.10 km2) of Modo Mahut, and extensive grassland converted from alluvial forest in the Modo Mahut area, and hinterland of Welaluhu and Natarbora villages (Mauro 2003). This area is known in Indonesian as ‘Hutan Metiboat’ (RTK 34) (Ora 2000).
Twenty-five restricted-range species have been recorded in this IBA, including the Endangered Timor Green-pigeon, and the Critically Endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo also occurs there (Mauro 2003).
Formerly this area was described as “one of the last forested lowland coastal areas on Timor and preserves a rare habitat type (lowland alluvial forest and savannah)” with “moderately high biodiversity values” (FAO/UNDP 1982). The habitats in the IBA currently include a band of seasonally flooded coastal swamp forest dominated by Canarium spp., secondary dry forest and the extensive nationally significant freshwater lake (c.10 km2) of Modo Mahut, and extensive grassland converted from alluvial forest in the Modo Mahut area, and hinterland of Welaluhu and Natarbora villages (Mauro 2003). This area is known in Indonesian as ‘Hutan Metiboat’ (RTK 34) (Ora 2000).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Forest conversion by local communities, fires, wood cutting and hunting were listed as threats to this site by FAO/UNDP (1982). Forest conversion has led to extensive natural forest loss and fragmentation. In the past two decades much of the lowland alluvial forest has been converted for agriculture (ricefield and dryland crops) and village expansion with the remaining natural habitats existing as small and highly fragmented patches.
Proposed as Wildlife Sanctuary by FAO/UNDP(1982), and a 3,000 ha portion was gazetted under this protected area classification in 1996 (Ora 2000). Recognised by UNTAET (2000) as a Protected Wild Area under Regulation Number 2000/19.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sungai Klere (Timor-Leste). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sungai-klere-iba-timor-leste on 22/11/2024.
