One such NGO, the 1StopBorneo Wildlife, said the Deramakot Forest Reserve and the Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve are two such areas that best exhibit the state government’s success in selective logging and rehabilitation of logged forests.
Its founder, Shavez Cheema, told FMT the two forests are among the best examples of selectively-logged forests, not just in Borneo but also in the Southeast Asia region.
“I have visited these places so many times with Adventure Alternative Borneo. I can tell you that these are the best places I have ever been to for mammals.
“I hope the state government can apply the same policies to other logged forests in Sabah,” he said.
Deramakot Forest Reserve is a natural reserve in Sandakan, covering 55,507ha. It is in its fifth certification period of good forestry practices, awarded by the Forest Stewardship Council, thus becoming the longest certified tropical rainforest in the world.
Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve is located in Tawau and was designated as a conservation area by the Sabah Forestry Department in 1992.
The 51,184ha forest reserve is in an area called the Tawau Highlands, which also includes Tawau Hills National Park. The forest reserve is very mountainous, especially towards the south.
The forest is also home to 183 orangutans. In addition, there are 180 species of birds, including six species of hornbills.
The reserve is also home to the Bornean pgymy elephant and the Sumatran rhino.
Cheema said it is encouraging to learn that Sabah Softwood, which owns a timber concession in the area has collaborated with local NGOs and stakeholders to set aside more than 13km of wildlife corridor connecting the two large reserves.
“This itself shows the commitment to nature, conservation and perhaps tourism. I think they need more help in restoration and I hope our NGO and other stakeholders will work together to make it a place packed with wildlife,” he said.
Such assistance includes the opening of more nurseries, especially figs, and the availability of experts and manpower to restore the degraded land.
He said the forests are rich in wildlife and thus suitable for tourism. Companies should take advantage of this by creating packages to draw tourists.
“I now see the state government is also protecting the Malua-Segama region. Perhaps, it could become like Deramakot or even the Danum Valley,” he said.
However, Cheema cautioned that it was unfair to rely solely on the state government to do all the hard work in conserving and rehabilitating forests in Sabah.
The state government’s policies, he said, have made it easier for NGOs and the private sector to help take up roles in restoring nature.
“I am happy the government is serious and very supportive of helping the environment. Compared with other places I have worked in across Borneo, there is no place like Sabah,” he said.
The 1StopBorneo Wildlife was established as an NGO in 2012 to carry out wildlife surveys and organise educational programmes, such as school workshops, nature book clubs and movie nights.
The NGO does conservation tourism by helping locals develop their services. It also provides wildlife rescue services and programmes in Brunei and Sarawak.
It has saved 81 animals, including more than 20 pangolins, slow loris and clouded leopards.
They have also led two international operations to nab those involved in illegal poaching activities.
Rare Bornean clouded leopards caught on camera in Sabah reserve
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2011/09/12/a-way-out-for-trapped-borneo-elephants/