The flooded forests of Pulau Kukup

Pulau Kukup is located in the south-western part of Iskandar Malaysia.  This 647-hectare island, designated as a Ramsar site on 31 January 2003, is also a Johor State Park. Pulau Kukup is an uninhabited mangrove island located 1 km from the south-western tip of the Malaysian peninsula. It is one of the few intact sites of this type left in south-east Asia. The wetland supports such species as the Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus),

Smooth Otter (Lutra perspicillata), Bearded Pig (Sus barbatus), and Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis). All of these species are listed as threatened, vulnerable or near-threatened under the IUCN Red Book. Pulau Kukup has also been identified as one of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) for Malaysia. Globally vulnerable Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) chooses this island as a stop-over and breeding ground.

Pulau Kukup is important for flood control, physical protection (e.g. as a wind-breaker), and shoreline stabilization as it shelters the mainland town from severe storm events.  The coastal straits between Pulau Kukup and the mainland are the site for a thriving marine cage culture industry. The mudflats are rich with shellfish, a source of food and income to the locals.  Recognising the potential of Pulau Kukup as a viable tourist attraction, the government has further plans to establish and promote this island as a prime worldwide destination for ecotourism.

The southern-most tip of Continental Asia

Tanjung Piai, located to the south of Pulau Kukup, is also a State Park designated as a Ramsar site on 31 January 2003.  The site boasts of coastal mangroves and intertidal mudflats located at the southernmost tip of continental Asia - features that are especially important for protection from sea-water intrusion and coastal erosion.

Tanjung Piai supports many threatened and vulnerable wetland native species such as the Pig-tailed Macaque and Long-tailed Macaque as well as birds such as the Mangrove Pitta, Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Mangrove Whistler.

Globally vulnerable Lesser Adjutant may be observed in the vicinity of the site. Other species such as the Scaly Anteater, Common Porcupine, Smooth Otter and Bearded Pig are classified as vulnerable or near threatened in the IUCN Red Book 2000.

The waters of the four main rivers traversing Tanjung Piai are abundant with commercially valuable species.

The site enjoys the status of a State Park for eco-tourism. The facilities within the site include a visitor centre with boardwalks near the southern tip of the park to provide interpretive materials, guided walks, overnight facilities, and camping grounds above ground. At the southern-most tip of Tanjung Piai is a wide viewing platform/pier purported to be the southern-most tip of continental Asia. The Ramsar authorities have an annual programme – World Wetlands Day – in Tanjung Piai since 2003.

Walkway through Tg. Piai mangroves

Sungai Pulai is the third Ramsar site in Iskandar Malaysia, also designated on 31 January 2003.  Sungai Pulai is the largest riverine mangrove system in the state of Johor, located at the estuary of the Sungai Pulai river. With its associated seagrass beds, intertidal mudflats and inland freshwater riverine forest, the site represents one of the best examples of a lowland tropical river basin, supporting a rich biodiversity dependent on mangrove.

It is home for the rare and endemic small tree Avicennia lanata, animals such as near-threatened and vulnerable Long-tailed Macaque, Smooth Otter and rare Flat-headed Cat and threatened birds species as Mangrove Pitta and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, all included in the IUCN Red List.  

Relatively undisturbed parts including the Nipah swamps may be nesting sites of the Estuarine Crocodile. The site fringes play a significant role in shoreline stabilisation and severe flood prevention in the adjacent 38 villages.  The local population depends on the estuary as its mudflats, an ideal feeding, spawning and fattening ground, support a significant proportion of fish species.

Other mangrove uses include wood cutting, charcoal production, aquaculture activities and eco-tourism.  The current construction of a new port at the river estuary may represent a direct impact on the mangrove ecosystem, causing coastal erosion and water pollution from associated dredging and reclamation works and traffic. The site is managed in line with Integrated Management Plan for the sustainable use of mangroves in Johor state.