Faunal Surveys in unlogged forest of the INHUTANI II Malinau timber concession, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

O’Brien, T.G and R. A. Fimbel (eds), 2001. WCS, New York

Abstract:

The lowland forest surrounding Kayan Mentarang National Park (KMNP) in East Kalimantan contains high global and faunal diversity. This forest region is important to conservation because: (1) it is relatively intact; (2) it appears to contain a near full complement of species; (3) it provides a buffer between human settlements and the Park; and, (4) it serves as a lowland extension to the mid- and high elevation habitats characterizing KMNP. This forest is currently threatened by human exploitation, notably timber harvesting and conversion to agriculture.

The development of measures to conserve the biodiversity of production forests near to KMNP requires a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating silviculture, economics, issues important to local residents, and biodiversity conservation. To this end, the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry designated 321,00 ha of hill-dipterocarp / lowland production rain forest to the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in December 1995 for forestry research. One study being undertaken in the area seeks to assess the effects of reduced impact logging (RIL) on biodiversity conservation. This report presents findings from a pre-harvest faunal survey conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in 1998, as a preliminary phase of the RIL study.

The purpose of the study is to assess the impacts of timber harvesting practices on select native fauna within the production forest landscape of the Inhutani II Malinau timber concession, BRF, East Kalimantan (Figure 1). Specifically, this study aims to provide pre-harvest baseline data on mammal, bird, and invertebrate communities in production forest slated for harvesting using conventional logging (CL) and RIL practices.

A total of 239 bird species were recorded in the survey area and surrounding landscapes. Of these, 178 represent lowland-dependent forest birds (c. 73% of the lowland forest birds in Borneo). Families with the most recorded species included Timaliidae (18 species), Pycnonotidae (12 species), and Picidae (12 species). Twenty-nine bird species belong to an IUCN class. One is 'endangered' (Ciconia stormi); six 'vulnerable' (Argusianus argus, Carpococcyx radiceus, Lophura ignita, Rhyticeros corrugatus, Rollulus rouloul, Spizaetus nanus); one 'data deficient' (Batrachostomus auritus); and 21 'near-threatened'. Nine species are Borneo endemics.

A total of 31 mammal species from 10 families were identified. This included nine types of squirrel. An additional five mammal species were observed but could not be positively identified. Two species of specific conservation significance, Macaca nemestrina and Lutrogale perspicillata listed as vulnerable in the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, were recorded in the survey area.

Various invertebrate and forest structure studies were also completed. The data are summarized in tables and appendices.

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