15 times the size of Penang Island That’s how big Sabah’s single largest conservation area is

 KOTA KINABALU: Sabah now has one of the single largest conservation areas in the country. 

It is nearly 15 times the size of Penang Island.

The area of more than 400,000ha encompasses the three crown jewels of Sabah’s environmental conservation efforts – Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon.

Over the past several years, the Sabah Government has been linking tracts of the forests in the three conservation areas by re-classifying those designated for logging and other commercial activities into protected zones.

Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Sam Mannan said that the last piece of the puzzle fell into place when the State Assembly passed the amendments to the Forestry Enactment 1984 on Thursday under which 23,135ha of forests were re-classified as protected areas.

“We now have this huge conservation area that is totally protected and cannot be taken away,” he said yesterday.

He said that work was under way to restore the degraded areas of the newly protected areas. 

He said that these were once commercial forest reserves.

Management plans for places like Gunung Rara, Ulu Segama and the Malua Forest Reserve were now being drawn up, Mannan added.

He said that the restoration work involved re-planting native tree species in the affected areas.

The forest link between Danum Valley, Imbak Canyon and Maliau Basin was also crucial as some of these areas were habitats for wildlife such as the orang utan, he added.

He said that portions of the protected areas such the Malua Forest Reserve also served as gene banks for the native plant species.

Source: The Star

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Malaysian Actress tours Imbak Canyon Conservation Area

Photo: imbakcanyon-borneo.com.my

IMBAK (Sandakan): Malaysian actress Maya Karin toured the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA) in the heart of Sabah recently, trekking deep into the rainforest, and came out impressed by the experience.

“It is simply a treasure of Malaysia,” she said of the ICCA, a 30,000-hectare area of virgin dipterocarp forest that houses the iconic Imbak Waterfall.

“It’s a beautiful forest, a beautiful part of the world,” she said.

Maya arrived at the Tampoi Research Station, the focal point for exploring the ICCA, on Feb. 21 after more than seven hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu.

She trekked to the Imbak Waterfall the next day, traversing through the pristine rainforest, accompanied by ICCA rangers as well as Yayasan Sabah Group officials.

Maya, who was there at the invitation of the Yayasan Sabah-Petronas Imbak Canyon Conservation Collaboration, later hiked to Kuli Waterfalls where she explored the surrounding forest before making her way out on Feb 25.

She also spoke of her experience with nature which involved among others, trekking in Peru and Nepal, and vowed to help create awareness on the importance of safeguarding the environment.

“I’m fascinated by nature. I love nature whether they are forests or beaches or mountains or animals; I love the whole range of things,” the actress, television host and singer said.

“As much as I can, since I am a person who now has a voice, I try and do what I can to highlight and create awareness that Malaysia is so very blessed with.

“I would not want to be in a situation, say, in 30 years from now where I would say ‘We used to have great things 20, 30 years ago when I was young. Sorry kids, we have nothing left for you.’ I would not want that to happen,” said Maya.

The ICCA is located within the Yayasan Sabah Group’s conservation areas.

Petronas is Yayasan Sabah Group’s partner for the Imbak Canyon Conservation Collaboration – a joint effort to conserve, promote and manage the ICCA as a protected area, train the local community in biodiversity conservation as well as provide relevant facilities for the community.

On the collaboration to conserve the ICCA, Maya said: “It’s great. I applaud everybody who is involved … all parties, private and government agencies, individuals, volunteers, rangers. God bless all of them for the effort.”

Source: New Sabah Times

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Plan to train tropical rainforest expertise

Imbak Canyon is home to more than 317 species of plants, out of which 32 species are found only in Borneo, and six species only present in Sabah.

WORLD-CLASS FACILITY: Imbak Canyon in Sabah to be strategic research centre

PLANS are afoot to make the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA) in Sabah a strategic research centre for biodiversity to empower Malaysian researchers of tropical rainforest ecosystems.  

  

The 17,000ha of unspoilt rainforest in the heart of Sabah will also become a showcase for the local community's participation in the preservation of traditional knowledge on medicinal plants abundant in the area.

These were among the key issues being discussed during a brainstorming meeting on research programme strategy for ICCA, here, attended by senior lecturers of various departments from University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Yayasan Sabah and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM).

Present were Yayasan Sabah Conservation and Environmental Division group manager Dr Waidi Sinun and Professor Mohamad Abdul Majid from the University of Brunei Darussalam.

ASM fellow Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Mohamad, who chaired the meeting, said it was high time to build up and empower Malaysians researchers on tropical rainforest ecosystems.

"We need to build up the number of our local researchers and scientists on tropical rainforests. Right now, we (Malaysia) are not in a position to compete in the global market as far as tropical rainforest expertise is concerned.

"Once our local scientists and researchers have the capacity to understand our rainforests, they could perhaps go elsewhere and become consultants."

Participants of the one-day meeting also concurred that the development of ICCA as a full-fledged research facility for diversity studies should come with "national pride".

For the same reason, the funding for the ICCA research facilities and programmes should come from local sponsors because allowing foreign donors would mean the country would lose out in terms of producing home-bred researchers and scientists on tropical rainforests.

ASM has agreed to be appointed secretariat for the operational centre of a working committee. Memberships will be done by ASM.

Recognised as a genetic seed bank, Imbak Canyon is home to more than 317 species of plants, out of which 32 species are found only in Borneo, and six species only present in Sabah.

Efforts to develop the ICCA into a world-class education centre were intensified after the launch of the Yayasan Sabah-Petronas Imbak Canyon Partnership in 2011.

Petronas contributed RM6 million to create a master plan for Imbak Canyon, a priceless heritage site surrounded by sandstone cliffs more than 1,127 metres tall.

Facilities for the proposed Imbak Canyon master plan include a laboratory, research centre and staff quarters, an observation tower, conference room, galleries and a nursery.

Currently, the Tampoi Base Camp in Imbak Canyon has a hostel-type accommodation with washrooms, a camping site and a dining area.

"Although we want to develop Imbak Canyon into a world-class research centre, we will ensure that this area is environmentally friendly so that animals and trees are protected.

"We also want to preserve the traditional knowledge on medicinal plants of the Dusun Sungai and Murut living near the ICCA, for future generations," Waidi said. Bernama

Source: New Straits Times

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Sabah’s Imbak Canyon contains a wealth of information

Imbak Canyon (example)

KINABATANGAN: The early morning mist envelopes the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA). The chirping of birds, the call of gibbons and the sound of rushing water from a river are beautiful and unforgettable.

This writer recently went to the Gunung Kuli Research Station, located at the ICCA, the remaining part of unspoilt lowland rainforest in the heart of Sabah.

A trip to this pristine forest is incomplete without understanding the beauty of wildlife and trees.

The water in the Imbak River is crystal clear. In addition, a number of freshwater fish live in the river and other streams.

In 2010, a 10-day research expedition was organised at the Gunung Kuli Research Station. More than 100 researchers took part in the research expedition.

IMBAK CANYON

During their expedition, researchers found 50 species of medicinal plants and 28 species of orchids in the conversation area, which spans 30,000 hectares.

The Imbak Canyon is a priceless heritage site, which had been transformed into a Forest Conservation Area in 2010.

According to Dr Waidi Sinun, Yayasan Sabah’s group manager (conservation and environmental division) at the ICCA, the ICCA had been developed into a conservation area by Yayasan, Sabah Foundation, in 2003, for research purposes.

Today, the area is managed by the foundation.

FOREST

Imbak Canyon is a 25km long valley in central Sabah. It is surrounded by sandstone cliffs that are more than 3,700 feet tall.

The Imbak Canyon forest consists of shrub communities as well as low forest communities.

Recognised as a genetic seed bank, Imbak Canyon is home to more than 317 species of plants, out of which 32 species are found in Borneo, with only six species present in Sabah.

According to Waidi, there are six different species of primates in Imbak.

They are the Borneo gibbon, the long-tailed Macaque, the Silvered Langur, the Red leaf monkey, the Proboscis monkey and the Pig-tailed monkey.

Waidi said the ICCA will combine Maliau Basin and Danum Valley so that a full-fledged research facility can be developed for biodiversity studies.

PARTNERSHIP

Efforts to develop the ICCA into a world class education centre were intensified after the launch of the Yayasan Sabah-Petronas Imbak Canyon Partnership last year.

Petronas contributed RM6 million to create a master plan for Imbak Canyon.

At the proposed Imbak Canyon Studies Centre (ICSC), there will be a laboratory, research and staff quarters, an observation tower, conference rooms, galleries and a nursery.

The facilities available at the Tampoi Base Camp in Imbak Canyon are not sophisticated. Currently, the base camp has hostel-type accommodation with washrooms, a camping ground and a dining area.

Petronas’ contribution is indicative of the organisation’s desire to conserve Imbak Canyon’s unique biodiversity, and to make it a central research hub for studies on environment and biodiversity.

SUPPORT

“It is important to get the support of various organisations so that the Imbak Canyon can be developed into a conservation area to protect wildlife in Maliau Basin and Danum Valley.

“Equatorial rainforests, including the Imbak Canyon, play an important role in reducing the amount of carbon in the environment,” said Mohammad Medan Abdullah, Senior General Manager at the Petronas Group’s Corporate Affairs Division, at the launch of the YS-Petronas Imbak Canyon Conservation Partnership.

Medan had visited the Gunung Kuli Research Station.

“Although we want to develop Imbak Canyon into a world class research centre, we will ensure that the area is environmentally friendly so that animals and trees are protected,” Waidi told Bernama.

“To make sure that ICCA, Danum Valley and Maliau Basin, remain true to its equatorial rainforest nature, every effort must be done to protect its rich biodiversity and ecological heritage

ANIMALS

“The ICCA, Danum Valley and Maliau Basin are some of the places where visitors can see animals wandering freely. The animals will not harm human beings,” he said.

Unlike Maliau Basin and Danum Valley, the Dusun Sungai and Murut communities have been living near Imbak Canyon for generations. They have been living near the main river and its tributaries.

“We hope that we can create public awareness through educational programmes.

“People should know the importance of protecting wildlife and trees. This is what we want to share with the public,” he said.

“We want to preserve the knowledge of the Dusun Sungai and Murut communities for the younger generations,” said Waidi, adding that people should understand the importance of conserving flora and fauna.

Meanwhile, the Imbak Information Gallery Centre, funded by Petronas, will showcase the development of the ICCA, particularly in the area of eco-tourism.

“The locals will be provided an office space in the gallery. They can be tour guides too. They can enlighten the public on the importance of nature conservation,” he said.

Source: New Sabah Times

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Red tape blow to three potential heritage sites

 

Kota Kinabalu: Red tape is hampering efforts to get World Heritage Site status for Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon and Danum Valley, said State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

"We are facing slight procedural challenges (in this effort) É please cut the red tape," he said at the Magellan Sutera, Wednesday.

According to him, this was among the 11 resolutions reached during the high-level meeting in conjunction with the International Conference Heart of Borneo (HoB) + 5: Shaping and Nurturing Sabah's Future Together.

However, he did not specify which government agency was responsible for the red tape.

Masidi said the meeting also agreed that the Federal Government must be seen to be more proactive in the HoB since it is a national initiative.

"I've personally suggested that the (Federal) Tourism Minister make herself available for the initiative," he said.

It was also felt that the HoB initiative that was formalised five years ago had yet to be amply promoted to the rest of the world resulting in not many who are willing to help or coming forward to do so, he said.

The high-level meeting also agreed that the bottom-up approach be adopted and that there must be a sense of ownership of the project with the NGOs, corporations working hand-in-hand with the Government and the people to make the plan a success, he said.

"We need to look into the bigger picture if we want to move forward in order to continue the initiative," he said.

Masidi said Sabah would not dictate what the other parties to the initiative such as Kalimantan (Indonesia), Brunei Darussalam and Sarawak as to what to do.

"It doesn't matter whether you want to ride a bicycle, bus or car but what is important is we reach the same destination," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said as long as Barisan Nasional (BN) remains as Federal Government, the HoB Initiative will get full support from the Federal Government.

He said the Ministry viewed the HoB as a significant initiative that would directly contribute towards betterment in forest management and conservation.

"As such Malaysia reiterates the importance that this initiative be continued to be placed well within the government's sustainable development framework and policy," he said.

Kurup said the governments of the three countries involved in the HoB Initiative had recognised and are committed to a set of measures and actions to ensure the sustainability of effort in managing and conserving a large tract of area straddling the three countries.

"It signifies a practical and real effort by the HoB countries for the benefit of our future generation," he said.

He said the conservation of these forests is a matter of major local, national, regional and international concern for the diversity of their unique array of plants and animals.

"Equally important, they are of critical value to the people and countries of Borneo as prized natural heritage and for the goods and services that they provide.

"Hence, the HoB areas must be effectively managed on the basis of sustainable land use planning and implementation with regard to the balance of ecosystem, socio-cultural, economic and political aspects within the respective nations."

Some 600 participants of different backgrounds representing various agencies, both local and international, took part in the two-day conference.

He believed the many papers presented by experts from various parts of the world have enriched and provided them with a comprehensive understanding of the HoB initiative in shaping Sabah's future together.

Moreover, information provided during the conference would serve as guidance to move on and would be useful in realising the implementation of the HoB Initiative in Sabah. He assured the Government would ensure the close cooperation among all the relevant agencies prevails in achieving its objectives through sustainable forest management in Sabah. 

Source: Daily Express

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Imbak Canyon Wildlife Conservation Research Centre, next year says Waidi

Yayasan Sabah Conservation and Environmental Management Division Group Manager Waidi Sinun said the Imbak Canyon Wildlife Conservation will have its own research centre such as the ones in Danum Valley and Maliau Basin next year.

During the Forum of the Findings of Imbak Canyon 2012 Wildlife Survey, Sinun said the expedition is part of the request made by the stakeholders. Part of the survey includes to find out the access roads used by villagers to get to the area, to determine if their roads will be affected by the conservation and what kind of effect it would bring to the villagers. Yayasan Sabah will conduct a workshop to validate what the team had done in relation to the stakeholders' requests hence to see if the requests have been fully satisfied. They hope to launch it in Nov 2013, whilst Petronas will be the one who is making arrangements through its public awareness programme.

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TRAVERSING THROUGH SABAH’S IMBAK CANYON

KINABATANGAN : ‘A valuable piece of natural heritage’ – this epithet best describes the Imbak Canyon conservation area located in Ulu Kinabatangan, right in the heart of Sabah.

The 30,000-hectare virgin dipterocarp forest lies between two other conservation areas – the Danum Valley and the Maliau Basin.

One may wonder, however, whether the landscape here resembles the Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States. Not exactly, but the word ‘canyon’ in the name refers to the 750-metre deep and 3-kilometre wide ravine carved out of the rock cliffs by the Imbak River, which makes part of the landscape look like a canyon.

The Imbak Canyon is surrounded by sandstone cliffs reaching a height of 3,700 feet, and the numerous flora and fauna thriving in this rain forest represent a rich biodiversity.

The Imbak Canyon, located at a five-hour drive away from Kota Kinabalu, is managed by Yayasan Sabah (YS), which is involved in the conservation, research, training, education and nature recreation activities conducted there.

The Beauty Of The Canyon

The Imbak Canyon is a catchment area for two important rivers in the state – the Imbak and the Kinabatangan Rivers – which not only provide water but also serve as a mode of transport and livelihood source for those living in the area.

Nestled between the Maliau Basin and the Danum Valley, the Imbak Canyon is regarded as an important buffer zone for wildlife, according to Yayasan Sabah’s head of Conservation and Environmental Management Dr Waidi Sinun.

Three expeditions conducted in 2000, 2004 and 2010, respectively, explored the natural treasures of the area, identifying 312 plant species in the region, of which 32 were endemic to Borneo, including six species which are found only in Sabah.

With regard to the fauna, Dr Waidi remarked that more than 200 species of birds live in Imbak Canyon, five of which are endemic to Borneo and found only in the conservation area.

These expeditions have also recorded the presence of pygmy elephants, leopards, bears, mouse deer and the Sumatran rhinoceros in this region.

“The Class 1 Forest Reserve also boasts of a unique landscape, with the ravine – which appears like a canyon – being the most striking feature,” Dr Waidi told Bernama at the recent inaugural ceremony of the Ulu Kinabatangan Information Centre and Jetty project at Kampung Imbak.

The Imbak Canyon is also home to two panoramic waterfalls – the Imbak Waterfalls and the 8-tier Waterfall.

Conservation Efforts With Petronas

In its efforts to conserve Imbak Canyon, Yayasan Sabah has collaborated with the national petroleum giant Petronas to gather information about the area, undertake biodiversity conservation efforts, preserve the genetic pool and explore the pharmaceutical and biotechnological potential of the flora there.

“The Information Centre and Jetty project will open new economic opportunities for local communities to improve their livelihood without affecting the environment,” Dr Waidi explained.

The information centre will display informative posters on Ulu Kinabatangan and exhibit a 3D model of the canyon.

The information centre will also be of use to the Imbak Canyon Porter and Tourists Guide Association, and the locals would be able to sell their handicrafts at the centre.

Dr Waidi noted that the establishment of the information centre and the association for porters and guides was a step in the right direction towards involving the local communities in the conservation efforts. (Bernama)

Source: http://sabahkinimirror.blogspot.com/2012/05/traversing-through-sabahs-imbak-canyon.html

Photo Source: http://borneo2010photolog.blogspot.com/2010/06/return-from-imbak-canyon.html

Green Sabah says: Imbank Canyon is one of the areas along with Maliau Basin and Danum Valley where the government has roped off as forest reserves. The logging and mining activities are also stopped. Its a good job from the state government, the three areas of forestry reserve add up is the 3 times the size of Singapore.

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