Lamag Forest Reserve

The FR is located within the Kinabatangan District, 75 km southwest from Sandakan town. There are two accesses from the main Sandakan-Lahad Datu Highway to the FR, cutting across secondary roads of oil palm plantations (Map 1). The first access is through SAFODA area, which is about 800 m after the Kinabatangan Bridge, and the second is through the entrance gate of Tung Hup Enterprise Sdn. Bhd., 6 km after the same bridge. These two secondary roads eventually converge about 15–17 km down the road. The eastern and western borders of the reserve are located about 47 km and 65 km respectively from the main Sandakan-Lahad Datu Highway.

None.

Creation—The FR was gazetted in 1961.It was later reclassified and gazetted as Class II (Commercial) FR in 14th March 1984. Late in 1992, it was regazetted as a Class I FR.

Management responsibility—Mukim Sungai Pin, Kinabatangan District Forestry Office.

Boundary matters—The FR boundary has been demarcated and legally established. However, an area of about 250 ha at the northeast corner of the reserve has been encroached by oil palm plantation (Pic L2). It is believed that the encroached land was given to a private owner in the early ‘80s without referring to the Forestry Department. At of 2004, this overlapping claim still has not been resolved (Koyopo, pers. comm.).

Management plan—None.

Current use— Protection

About 80% of the FR is surrounded with oil palm estates. The remaining forested area is logged-over and mainly classified as secondary forest. However, west of the reserve is rapidly being converted from natural forest to oil palm plantation.

Hydrology

Owing to the hilly terrain, the area is well-drained, and is suggested to be an important water catchment area for Lamag and part of Latangan rivers (see Map 2). These two rivers are tributaries of the Kinabatangan River.

Major River: Kinabatangan River

River tributaries:

• Lamag river
• Latangan river

Soils 

Predominantly Maliau and Kretam soil associations. Others that are found near the northern boundary are Kalabakan, Lungmanis and Silabukan.

Meteorological data

The nearest met stations are at Kuamut (west) and at Danum Valley Field Centre (south).

Most of the forest has been logged, and its structure is very irregular. There are not many commercial trees left in the reserve and much of these remnants are spared due to inaccessibility of heavy machinery along the narrow ridge with sandstone outcrops, or the nature of hollowness of the tree. Approximately 18% (380 ha) of all the total area is still classified as Mixed Dipterocarp Forest formation (Map 3). Encroachment of oil palm plantation with an area of about 250 ha, 12% of the reserve, was found on the northeast corner of the reserve.

The following are some descriptions of the natural vegetation of the reserve:

1. Secondary Forest

About 70% of the reserve is classified as secondary forest where pioneer trees constitute about 80% of the basal area. The common associate species on fertile soils, such as in Kalabakan, Lungmanis and Silabukan soil associations, are Octomeles sumatrana, Neolamarckia cadamba, Nauclea orientalis, Macaranga hypoleuca, M. gigantea, M. pearsonii and Macaranga sp. (sedaman daun wangi). On marginal, sandier soils, the common tree species found are Trema orientalis, Neonauclea sp., Alphitonia incana, and others.

2. Lowland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest

Most of this forest type has been logged in the past and is in the early regeneration stage. Residual trees mainly consist of previously dominant dipterocarp species such as Parashorea tomentella, P. malaanonan, Shorea johorensis, Dryobalanops lanceolata, and other non-commercial tree species. Distribution of this forest type in the reserve is quite fragmented and restricted to low hills and ridges.

3.   Upland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest

1. Selangan Batu Forest

The forest has been logged and is also in the early regeneration stage. Remnants of large Shorea laevis trees can be found on narrow and steep secondary ridges with other Red Seraya tree species.

2.  Sandstone Ridge Dipterocarp Forest (Large-crown)

This forest is found on the main ridge system and dipterocarps dominate 50% of the total basal area, followed by Myrtaceous species of about 28%. The basal area of the dipterocarps are largely represented by Shorea multiflora and Dipterocarpus kerrii.

3. Sandstone Ridge Dipterocarp Forest (Small-crown)

This forest occurs in a narrow strip just next to the large crown Sandstone Ridge Dipterocarp Forest. The structure is similar to kerangas forest, however, the dipterocarp species are still contributing the highest percentages of basal area and stem density, i.e. 37% and 41%, respectively. The common dipterocarp species found in this forest association are Shorea multiflora, Hopea beccariana and Shorea atrinervosa. The next largest family is Myrtaceae and only represented by Syzygium sp. 

• Click here for a list of dipterocarps encountered during the field survey (numbers refer to the forest types discussed above):

  • Dipterocarpus applanatus (2)

  • Dipterocarpus kerrii (2, 3b, 3c) 

  • Dryobalanops lanceolata (2)

  • Hopea beccariana (3b, 3c)

  • Hopea ferruginea (3a, 3b)

  • Parashorea malaanonan (2)

  • Parashorea tomentella (2)

  • Shorea agami (3a)

  • Shorea argentifolia (3a)

  • Shorea atrinervosa (3a)

  • Shorea beccariana (3a, 3b)

  • Shorea gibbosa (3a)

  • Shorea johorensis (2)

  • Shorea laevis (3a)

  • Shorea leprosula (2)

  • Shorea macrophylla (3a)

  • Shorea multiflora (3a, 3b, 3c)

  • Shorea parvifolia (2, 3a)

  • Shorea pauciflora (3a, 3b)

  • Shorea rubra (3a)

  • Shorea seminis (2)

  • Shorea smithiana (2, 3a)

  • Shorea superba (2)

  • Vatica oblongifolia (2)

An electrified fence had been erected at the oil palm estate west of the FR to prevent elephants and other large mammals from encroaching into the plantation area. The ground survey team also came across fresh sun bear marks on a tree, and heard a loud cry resembling an elephant or sun bear, coming from the centre of the FR.

Thus far, there is no known research that is being conducted in the FR.

Fire—Fire will be the major threat to this logged-over forest. The logging residues are potential burning fuel and, with the steep terrain, would stimulate the advancement of fires.

Encroachment—As good network of roads to the oil palm plantation surrounds the FR, illegal encroachment will also be a threat to this FR. During our survey, there were signs of recent illegal tree felling. There were tree stumps and traces of frequently used logging trail. The easy access into the FR will also allure poachers.

Soil erosion—Land clearing at the adjacent area west of the FR proceeded right to the rim of the main ridge. It is believed that such conversion might induce greater soil erosion

This FR is an important water catchment for the Lamag and Latangan rivers. The adjacent oil palm estate depend on these two rivers for their daily water needs. Besides that, the forest is beneficial to the estate as it is home for the natural predators of numerous oil palm pests. Although mainly secondary forest, the reserve still harbour some wildlife, some of which may be legally protected species.