13.2.5 Fauna Diversity
KMP is documented as a Key Biodiversity Area, home of five Critically Endangered
species, 11 Endangered, and 36 species listed as Vulnerable according to the IUCN
classification (PT RMU 2018). These include three key primate species: Bornean
orangutans, Bornean gibbons, and proboscis monkeys, as well as other endangered
peat species specialists such as hairy-nosed otter and Malayan/false gharial. The
presence of orangutans and other ape species (accounting for 5% of the global
population of these species) was supported by the fact that dominant large tree
species found within KMP are their source of foods (Harrison et al. 2011).
A baseline biodiversity assessment has been conducted in 2010, recording that
159 bird, 44 reptile, 7 amphibian, 68 mammal, and 110 fish species are mostly
present within KMP-PA (Harrison et al. 2010). To confirm this initial assessment as
well as for monitoring purposes, direct assessments on species population and spatial
distribution have been continuously conducted by KMP, mostly using camera traps
(two camera traps distributed per 2 Â 2 km grid) and line transect surveys. As per
2018, the total number of species was considerably higher compared to the baseline
assessment in 2010 as more species (especially birds) were recorded, resulting in
192 bird, 57 reptile, 68 mammal, and 111 fish species being present (PT RMU 2018).
Using these camera traps, notable species that were anticipated being present but yet
unrecorded were eventually encountered, such as Bornean clouded leopard, flatheaded cat, storm stork, and hairy-nosed otter (one of the rarest otter species in the
world), confirming their occurrence within KMP-PA (internal record, unpublished).
13.3 History of Development and Degradation in KMP
The utilization of peat swamp forest as livelihood resources in the KMP area has
been reported since late 1890 and continued to early 1900. These were indicated by
the development of rubber, coconut, and gambier plantations in the Mentaya watershed area. The establishment of the plantations had attracted people to move to
Sampit, either voluntarily or under the transmigration program, and consequently,
triggered other economic activities in Sampit to emerge (Darmadi et al. 2017). Up to
now, the rubber plantation is still one of the main livelihoods for the local community in the Mentaya watershed. One of the evidence is the operation of PT Sampit,
which was founded in 1950, buying and selling rubber, jelutong, and copra from the
Mentaya and Katingan area. Around 1910–1920, a transportation channel (currently
well known as the Hantipan canal) was built connecting the Mentaya River
(Hantipan River) and the Katingan River (Parigi River) in the southern part of
KMP-PA, crossing the center of peat swamp forest area. The channel was built to
transport these commodities (rubber, jelutong, rattan, fishes, and other non-timber
products) from Katingan to Sampit or vice versa.
13 Management Practice and Restoration of the Peat Swamp Forest in. . .
391
KMP is documented as a Key Biodiversity Area, home of five Critically Endangered
species, 11 Endangered, and 36 species listed as Vulnerable according to the IUCN
classification (PT RMU 2018). These include three key primate species: Bornean
orangutans, Bornean gibbons, and proboscis monkeys, as well as other endangered
peat species specialists such as hairy-nosed otter and Malayan/false gharial. The
presence of orangutans and other ape species (accounting for 5% of the global
population of these species) was supported by the fact that dominant large tree
species found within KMP are their source of foods (Harrison et al. 2011).
A baseline biodiversity assessment has been conducted in 2010, recording that
159 bird, 44 reptile, 7 amphibian, 68 mammal, and 110 fish species are mostly
present within KMP-PA (Harrison et al. 2010). To confirm this initial assessment as
well as for monitoring purposes, direct assessments on species population and spatial
distribution have been continuously conducted by KMP, mostly using camera traps
(two camera traps distributed per 2 Â 2 km grid) and line transect surveys. As per
2018, the total number of species was considerably higher compared to the baseline
assessment in 2010 as more species (especially birds) were recorded, resulting in
192 bird, 57 reptile, 68 mammal, and 111 fish species being present (PT RMU 2018).
Using these camera traps, notable species that were anticipated being present but yet
unrecorded were eventually encountered, such as Bornean clouded leopard, flatheaded cat, storm stork, and hairy-nosed otter (one of the rarest otter species in the
world), confirming their occurrence within KMP-PA (internal record, unpublished).
13.3 History of Development and Degradation in KMP
The utilization of peat swamp forest as livelihood resources in the KMP area has
been reported since late 1890 and continued to early 1900. These were indicated by
the development of rubber, coconut, and gambier plantations in the Mentaya watershed area. The establishment of the plantations had attracted people to move to
Sampit, either voluntarily or under the transmigration program, and consequently,
triggered other economic activities in Sampit to emerge (Darmadi et al. 2017). Up to
now, the rubber plantation is still one of the main livelihoods for the local community in the Mentaya watershed. One of the evidence is the operation of PT Sampit,
which was founded in 1950, buying and selling rubber, jelutong, and copra from the
Mentaya and Katingan area. Around 1910–1920, a transportation channel (currently
well known as the Hantipan canal) was built connecting the Mentaya River
(Hantipan River) and the Katingan River (Parigi River) in the southern part of
KMP-PA, crossing the center of peat swamp forest area. The channel was built to
transport these commodities (rubber, jelutong, rattan, fishes, and other non-timber
products) from Katingan to Sampit or vice versa.
13 Management Practice and Restoration of the Peat Swamp Forest in. . .
391