The Sunda Shelf mangroves ecoregion, in the mangrove biome, are on the coasts of the islands of Borneo and eastern Sumatra in Malaysia and Indonesia. They are home to the proboscis monkey.

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Sunda Shelf mangroves
Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia
Ecoregion territory (in purple, sections along the coasts for four countries)
Ecology
Realm	Indomalayan
Biome	Mangroves
Geography
Area	37,529 km2 (14,490 sq mi)
Countries	Malaysia and Indonesia
Conservation
Protected	13.16%[1]

As well as being an important habitat for terrestrial and marine wildlife, mangroves preserve the shape of the coastline.

Flora

There are more plant species here than in most mangrove forests in the world, with five different types of mangrove dominating parts of the region as follows: Avicennia and Sonneratia species on the coast where water is saltiest and the tidal wash strongest; Rhizophoras and Bruguieras in the swampy areas just behind them; and Nypa fruticans palms in the freshwater streams further inland still.

Fauna

Mammals of the mangroves include the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), which solely inhabits these swampy coastal habitats. There are also many species of birds.

Threats and preservation

Mangroves are vulnerable ecosystems as trees are cut for timber, firewood and to clear land for agriculture and urban development such as shrimp farming. This loss of habitat persists despite the mangroves being part of a large number of protected areas including: on Borneo Bako National Park in Malaysia and Tanjung Puting and Gunung Palung National Parks in Indonesia, and on Sumatra Berbak and Sembilang National Parks.[2]

References