FIREFLY SURVEY AND MONITORING WORKSHOP IN SARAWAK

Dear MNS-Kuching Branch members,

FIREFLY SURVEY AND MONITORING WORKSHOP IN SARAWAK

MNS, with funding from the MBZ Species Conservation Fund, is currently compiling a directory on congregating firefly zones (CFZs) along the mangrove-lined rivers of Malaysia. A preliminary CFZ directory will be compiled in January using data already available, and this will be updated periodically as new data becomes available from field surveys.

The MNS Secretariat has requested the assistance of the East Malaysian branches to gather and update, as necessary, information on CFZs in Sabah and Sarawak. Both Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Universiti Sabah Malaysia (UMS) have indicated their interest to assist with the compilation of the CFZ for Sarawak and Sabah, respectively.

Once completed, the directory will be made available to decision-makers in both these states, to aid in the conservation and management of CFZs in both states.

To this end, the MNS Secretariat and MNS Kuching Branch, in collaboration with UNIMAS, will organize a 2-day workshop (indoor, with some outdoor field work) which aims to introduce participants to the methodology and techniques used to undertake firefly surveys (including the design of monitoring forms), and define ways to involve local communities in firefly survey and monitoring.

The details of the workshop are as follows:

Dates: 5 & 6 December 2009
Venue: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan

Programme
5 December (Saturday)
2:30 p.m. Indoor workshop: Introduction to firefly survey and monitoring
5:00 p.m. Departure for field survey (weather permitting)
8:00 p.m. End

6 December (Sunday)
2:30 p.m. Indoor session: Review of the findings of the field survey, and drafting of the monitoring form
5:00 p.m. Outdoor session: (provisional, if field survey was not possible before)
8:00 p.m. End

Note: The field survey is subject to weather and sea conditions and can only be confirmed on the day of the field trip. In the event that we are unable to conduct the field survey on the 5th evening, we will try again for the evening of the 6th.

The workshop will involve participants from MNS Secretariat, MNS Kuching Branch, MNS Miri Branch, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Universiti Sabah Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

Participation in the workshop and field survey is free-of-charge. However, spaces in the boats for the field surveys are limited so these will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants will need to arrange their own transport to and from the workshop venue and to Kampung Buntal for the field surveys. Car-pooling is encouraged. Final details about the venue and instructions for the field trip will be provided to all registered participants.

The workshop and field surveys are open to all interested MNS-Kuching Branch members. Please register by sending an email to the mnskuching@gmail.com address with the following details:

Name:
I.C. Number:
Mobile contact number:
Daytime telephone number:
Email address:

Registration closes on Tuesday, 2nd December 2009.

Please call or text Rebecca at 019 857 9110 for further information.

Thank you.

Regards
Rebecca D’Cruz
Chairman
MNS-Kuching Branch 2009/2010