The coastal forests of Brunei are a highly degraded mixture of white sand/poor soil kerangas forest originally dominated by Agathis borneensis and Cratoxylum glaucum Geronggang putih.
Also included are small areas of brackish swamp forest (dominated by Ficus microcarpa) and a large area of once magnificent peat swamp dominated by giant Shorea albida (Alan bunga) dipterocarps. These forests have been damaged by fire following human development including housing, roads and pipelines but nevertheless are often still rich in wildlife including hornbills and primates due to the continuing presence of figs and other fruiting trees. Common fruit trees include Mezzetia parviflora (Annonceae) and wild rambutans (Sapindacea), Garcinia hombrioniana (wild mangosteen) which provide food for primates and Myristica guatterifolia a swamp nutmeg which provides food for hornbills.
We illustrate below the most common figs of the Panaga (Seria) coastal forest which includes the fire damaged fringes of the Badas peat swamp dome.
Many thanks to Nick Hoggerzin who provided the information and most of the photographs.
Ficus kochummeniana. A small strangler locally common in poor soil Kerangas forest throughout Borneo.
Ficus kochummeniana. A small strangler locally common in poor soil Kerangas forest throughout Borneo.
Ficus acamptophylla locally common in peat swamp forest and kerangas forest throughout Borneo.
Ficus acamptophylla a liana locally common in peat swamp forest and kerangas forest throughout Borneo.
Ficus spathuliifolia. A locally common small strangler of poor soil kerangas forest throughout Borneo.
Ficus spathuliifolia. A locally common small strangler of poor soil kerangas forest throughout Borneo.
Ficus sundaica. A medium sized strangler of forest fringes including river banks throughout Borneo.
Ficus sundaica. A medium sized strangler of forest fringes including river banks throughout Borneo.
Ficus xylophylla. A locally common small strangler of poor soil kerangas forest throughout Borneo with large leaves and figs.
Ficus microcarpa a very common large banyan which produces numerous stilt roots growing in a brackish coastal swamp at Panaga in Brunei. This fig is very important for wildlife in coastal areas of Borneo.
Ficus crassiramea. This is the most common large strangler of coastal Brunei, capable of growing into a giant tree. The figs are popular with hornbills and fruit pigeons.
This white sand kerangas forest is being restored by planting with Agathis borneensis (Tulong) and Dryoblanops rappa (Kerapa).
This swamp of sedges and Acrostichum ferns was once tall dipterocarp peat swamp forest dominated by Shorea albida Alan Bunga trees. Nick Hoggerzin shows the scale.
Borneo Bulletin: Tree Planting to revitalise Badas forest
