25Oct

Enhanced sustainable forest management as the way forward for KTS Plantation

KOTA KINABALU: KTS Plantation Sdn Bhd constantly strives to enhance its knowledge on sustainable forest management at the Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve as the way forward. KTS Plantation Sabah area manager (Forests), Collin Goh said the company focused very much on the growth and sustainability of environmental conservation and social development. To enhance its conservation effort, Goh said a research collaboration had been established through a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Sabah Forest Department, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and KTS Plantation last year. Among the programmes of collaboration are wildlife survey, forest camp and forest rehabilitation assessment. He said KTS Plantation provided study grants for UMS students to do research, as well as transportation, manpower and accommodation at Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve. “We want to educate and impart our knowledge to young foresters (on sustainable forest management),” Goh said in an interview during the International Conference on Heart of Borneo (HoB) here yesterday. The two-day event, themed ‘A Decade of HoB Initiative: Accomplishments and the Way Forward’, began yesterday at Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort here. Through KTS Plantation’s conservation efforts, Goh said a UMS study found wildlife species still in the Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve. He said the company would have more collaborations with UMS and other higher learning institutions to conduct wildlife survey and research in the future. Earlier, Goh said KTS Plantation adopted sustainable forest practices in managing Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve, adding that the company was the first in Malaysia to attain the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). He said the forest management practice in KTS Plantation had been endorsed by various certification schemes such as Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification (Natural Forest) and EMS ISO14001. KTSP was the first private forest management unit (FMU) that voluntarily implemented Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) since 1998 in Industrial Tree Plantation (ITP) areas with the objective to reduce damage to Potential Crop Trees (PCT), preserve flora and fauna habitats, including carbon volatilisation during and after logging, he added. Despite the social and environmental certifications, Goh said KTS Plantation strived to enhance its knowledge on sustainable forest management and conservation. He said the company received guidance from the expertise at Sabah Forest Department through the collaboration. “The next step for us is to identify the high conservation value forest (HCVF) and set up a programme to manage it in a sustainable way. “With the full commitment and encouragement from KTS Plantation’s top management, the company is able to move forward to a better forest management on sustainable, economical, social and environmental aspect,” he said. KTS Plantation also handed over research grant to two UMS Master students, Lee Woon Jia and Kee Sze Lue for wildlife population research at Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve yesterday. Source : Borneo Post
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23Oct

Conference on Heart of Borneo a platform for biodiversity experts

KOTA KINABALU: The 9th International Conference on Heart of Borneo (HoB) to be held here will serve as sharing platform among biodiversity experts. In a statement, Sabah Forestry Department said this year marked 10th year of HoB’s initiatives. The initiative is a programme formed through a joint declaration between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia in 2007 to spur conservation efforts promoting a network of protected areas, sustainable management of forests and land uses. “The conference will re-assess major activities that are critical to HoB and the responsibilities of stakeholders by key sectors. “It is also to streamline and coordinate actions towards realising the HoB initiative.” During the programme, there will be a keynote address from conservation leaders and a plenary session on “The Accomplishments of a Decade-Transboundary Management”. The two-day programme, which begins tomorrow, will be launched by Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman. About 900 participants from various sectors locally and internationally, including students from higher learning institutions, had been invited for the programme. Forty-two speakers are expected to give their speeches at the conference. There will also be a signing of eight Memoranda of Understanding between the state government, represented by Sabah Forestry Department, and various parties. Source : New Straits Times
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20Oct

Borneo Bird Festival starts in KK

SANDAKAN: The Borneo Bird Festival, a celebration of the magnificent birds of Borneo, is making its return this year with more exciting programmes. The celebration aims to create public awareness of bird conservation efforts, to promote bird watching and encourage eco-tourism activities. This year marks the 9th edition of this annual festival which will be held, for the first time, in Kota Kinabalu from today, October 20 to 22, this year. Among the highlights of the three-day programmes are the Nature & Wildlife Talks, Booth Exhibits and showcase of Birding Equipment at the Imago Mall, from 10am to 10pm, today to Sunday. In addition, Photography Contests, Guided Birding Walks at Tanjung Aru Park, as well as the much-anticipated Sabah Bird Race at the Crocker Range Park will also be held over the weekend. Over the past eight years, Borneo Bird Festival has been successful at fostering greater awareness of nature and conservation efforts. It had created bonds among participants, both local and international. The festival is a great platform for the gathering of nature enthusiasts and provides a great opportunity to reach out and interact with the community. The Borneo Bird Festival was first created back in 2009 at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan. It aims not only to showcase Sabah as a premier bird destination in this region, but more importantly, it serves as a platform to create a further sense of appreciation for the birds of Borneo and ultimately, lead to the conservation of nature and preservation of its environment. The festival organisers hoped that the local community in the west coast would take full advantage of this chance to participate in this colourful festival and attend talks and presentations by various invited guest speakers, as admission to the festival at Imago is free. The Borneo Bird Festival is organised by the Sandakan Borneo Bird Club and supported by Sabah Parks, Sabah Tourism Board, Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Wildlife Department. For further information, visit http://www.borneobirdfestival.com/ or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BorneoBirdFestival/ Source : The Borneo Post
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17Oct

Spectacular sunset in Tanjung Aru

KOTA KINABALU: A visit to the state capital would not be complete if you do not walk on the iconic Tanjung Aru beach to catch a glimpse of the spectacular sunset. This appears to be the latest tagline used by tour companies to promote their packages, here, and the numbers don’t lie — judging from people who turn up everyday at the coastal stretch of the city. South Korean student Park So-yeon, 22, said she found out about the sunset walk from reviews posted on the Internet and she was not disappointed. “I came here with a friend from college at around 4pm and we have been here since then,” she said, recently, when met before the sunset, which normally takes place between 6pm and 6.30pm. Foreign tourists make up the majority of those who turn up along the two kilometre stretch of the beach but locals too can be seen with their families, playing games and water sports. Wang, from Shanghai, China, said visiting the beach was a rare treat for her. “It’s not surprising that tourists from China flock to this place for the warm weather and the beautiful scenery,” she said. Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the popularity of the beach and other coastal areas in Sabah has grown over the years. “Our sunsets are among the best in the world,” he said in explaining the main reason behind its popularity. “We, at the board have been promoting our beautiful sunsets, not just in Tanjung Aru, but all over Sabah through social media,” he said. Source : New Straits Times
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17Oct

Malaysia, Indonesia to discuss Sumatran Rhino Conservation

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia and Indonesia will hold meetings on efforts to save the Sumatran rhino. The Sabah Forestry Department said a Technical Experts Meeting would be held on Wednesday and Friday in Jakarta to provide technical recommendations on rhinoceros conservation to both governments. Malaysia, during the recently-concluded 11th Heart of Borneo (HoB) Trilateral Meeting in Tarakan, Indonesia, had proposed a high-level bilateral meeting on Sumatran rhino conservation to be held on Dec 4 and 5. In Malaysia, only two of the rhinos — a male and a female — are in captivity at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Tawau. A female Sumatran rhino died of skin cancer several months ago. Wildlife experts estimate that there were only about 20 Sumatran rhinos left in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra. The Sabah Wildlife Department had been keen to collaborate with its Indonesian counterparts on in-vitro fertilisation for the endangered species. Malaysia had tabled a proposal on the “Transboundary Conservation Project on Sumatran Rhinoceros” following the 9th HoB Trilateral Meeting. The “Visit the Heart of Borneo” campaign was launched in conjunction with the recent meeting. Natural Resources and Environment Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Azimuddin Bahari, during the launch, said the campaign would promote HoB eco-tourism areas. “It is in line with the global aspiration, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly, that 2017 would be International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.” The Sabah and Sarawak Forestry Departments had identified top eco-tourism sites to promote. They were chosen based on how well they could further the HoB initiative. The states would engage further with stakeholders on how best to implement the campaign. The HoB Trilateral Meeting is held annually on a rotation basis among Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia for each state to present reports on conservation efforts. It is a platform to discuss collaboration under the HoB initiative. Source : New Straits Times
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