Rajang Mangroves National Park

Rajang Mangroves National Park (Malay: Taman Negara Rajang Mangroves) is a designated wetland area situated along the lower reaches of the Rajang River in Sarawak. It encompasses extensive mangrove swamps that provide critical habitat for a range of species, including estuarine crocodiles, proboscis monkeys, and various migratory birds. The park plays a role in maintaining the ecological balance of the coastal and riverine environment in this part of Borneo.^[1]

Rajang Mangroves National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Rajang Mangroves
Location	Sarawak, Malaysia
Nearest city	Sarikei
Coordinates	2°05′N 111°16′E
Area	107 km2 (41 sq mi)
Established	2000
Governing body	Sarawak Forestry Corporation

History

The Rajang Mangrove National Park was gazetted on 29 May 2000 to ensure the conservation of its mangrove ecosystem and biodiversity. It subsequently became a focal point of community-based conservation, supported by schemes such as the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation and the Mangrove Forest Rewilding Project. These programmes, through which over 2,000 mangrove plants were grown with active participation from local residents, helped revive degraded habitats and created green jobs. The park also enabled biodiversity monitoring through Sarawak's e-Biodiversity system and aligned with Sarawak's Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030. Training programmes like the Honorary Wildlife Ranger Workshop improved local capacity in wildlife enforcement, positioning the park as a model for integrated conservation and community outreach.^[2]

Flora and fauna

A 1974 survey of exploited mangrove areas in Sarawak revealed that natural regeneration in the Rajang delta was notably poor, with less than 10% success. This low regeneration rate highlighted concerns about the sustainability of mangrove harvesting in the region. Inadequate seed tree retention, poor soil conditions, and competition from secondary growth species such as Acanthus ilicifolius and Acrostichum aureum were identified as contributing factors. These findings emphasised the need for improved land and resource management, including the retention of mature trees to support natural regeneration and the establishment of conservation zones within production forests to serve as seed sources and research sites.^[3]