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Monday, June 30, 2014

July 2014 newsletter

Dear Members,

Please be informed that the July 2014 newsletter is out.  You can download a copy fromhttp://www.mns.my/file_dir/55013947553b1024545503.pdf

Contents:
  • 67th Annual General Meeting
  • Tapir Conservation Programme Launch
  • Uniqueness of migratory birds could make Selangor famous
  • Outing at Lata Bomoh Ali Waterfall
  • A weekend with the turtles at Ma’Daerah Sanctuary, Kerteh
  • BYOB Green Concepts
  • Green Living – 5 Myths about Renewable Energy (RE)
  • Eco Kids – A guide to clouds
  • Branch AGM 2014
·         Calendar of Activities
Regards,
Leong Wee Chin
Membership Officer
Malaysian Nature Society
Tel: 03-22879422
Fax: 03-22878773

Sunday, June 29, 2014

1st SNF 2014 lead up activity: GUIDED GEOLOGY WALK @ SANTUBONG

Date: 12 July 2014, Saturday
Time:  8.45am (Be punctual please)

What to bring?
Magnifying glass, if you have one! (you can buy one for a few Ringgit in a "dua puluh sen” shop or in a stationery shop).
Camera, pocket-size note pad, hat, insect repellent.
Extra set of dry clothes (leave in your car)
Bottle of water & snacks (for non-Muslims)
Snacks.

AGENDA
0845: Meet at the SFC entrance of the Santubong National Park. MNS or SNF committee members will be on hand register participants & their car plate number. Participants need to sign indemnity form. You will need to provide IC numbers.  Briefing by trip leader & geologist, Hans Hazebroek.
0900: Start trekking and observing the rocks!
1000: Reach the waterfall and enjoy your snacks in the shade of the rain forest.
1100: Walk back to the parking


Introduction
Legendary Gunung (Mt.) Santubong (now a National Park) forms the core of the Santubong Peninsula, situated at the mouth of the Santubong river about 20 km north of Kuching. The slopes of the mountain are clothed in stately rain forest with numerous scenic streams. This is mainly lowland mixed dipterocarp forest with, in places, huge trees. Locally there are pockets of kerangas forest with sandy soil, which is usually covered in a thick layer of humus that feels soft underfoot. Transitional mixed dipterocarp–kerangas forest is often found in between these main forest types. There are several interconnecting trails on the flanks of the mountain. Conspicuous trees along streams in kerangas forest include selunsor (Tristaniopsis sp.), with characteristic whitish-orange bark, peeling off spontaneously in long ribbons. The waterfall is set amidst beautiful forest scenery.

Our geological field trip
The starting point for our trip is the SFC Park Entance located about 1 km south of the entrance to the Sarawak Cultural Village. From here the scenic walk to the main waterfall takes about 45 minutes. Even not-so-fit people can join our walk, because we walk slowly to see the rocks. Although the walk the waterfall is only about 45 min., we will take much longer because this is a fun geological field trip! We will make some small detours, search for interesting rocks and discuss what we see. 

This is an introduction to some of the rocks (stones) that can be seen along the waterfall trail and on the river banks nearby. This is for people who would like to know some of what geologists can tell about these rocks. Our trip is open also for parents with children from 8 years onwards. It is NOT a serious geological investigation. We will try to answer questions like the following: What kind of rocks can you see? How were these rocks formed? Can geologists tell how old these rocks are?

We plan to reach the waterfall before 10.00 am. Then we walk back to the entrance. Anyone who joins our trip does so at his or her own risk and has to sign an indemnity form. MNS is not responsible for accidents or for anyone who leaves our party and continues by himself or herself. Please be careful when we search for certain rocks in the stream. The rocks may be slippery! Please keep an eye on young children, don't let them go off by themselves. The forest of Santubong is very large: people have lost their way here and had to be rescued.

Do not litter during the walk and make sure you bring back your rubbish such as food/sweet wrappers and water bottles to your car.

Participation for this geology walk is free and you may bring your friends who are not MNS members. MNSKB and the organising committee of SNF 2014 welcome donation to fund the running of the festival. A donation box will be passed around after the walk.  

For more information and registration (full name, IC number, contact number) for the walk, email tomns.santubong@gmail.com, or call SNF organising chairman Vincent Wong at 013-8020005 or event secretary Lim Sin Shin at 014-9903335 by July 6. Participation is limited on first come, first serve basis.


NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1.       We are pleased to inform you that the 19th Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the Malaysian Nature Society – Kuching Branch will be held
at:
Venue:        Sarawak Cultural Village’s meeting room, Santubong.
Date:           12 July 2014 (Saturday)
Time:           1pm to 3pm  (lunch to be served at 12.30pm)


2.      Agenda for the 19th Annual General Meeting
i.      Chairman’s welcome address
ii.     Review of the minutes of the 18th Annual General Meeting and
matters arising
iii.    Report from the Chairman & proposed five-year plan
iv.     Report from the Secretary
v.      Report from the Treasurer
vi.     Any other matters which have been brought to the attention of the
Secretary of the Kuching Branch, in writing, at least one week before
the Annual General Meeting
vii.    Election of the Office Bearers for the year 2014/2015
viii.   Election of the Internal Auditor

NOTE: Only fully paid-members are eligible to stand for Office and to vote. Please remember to renew your subscriptions. You may choose to do so immediately before the start of the AGM.
The AGM documents will be sent out to all members by email no later than one week before the AGM. In order to reduce the amount of paper used, we request that you bring these copies with you for the AGM.

Lunch will be served at the AGM at 12.30pm (apologies to our Muslim members who are fasting) and after the AGM, a kayaking activity will be held at Permai Rainforest Resort if the weather & sea condition permit. Those interested to kayak, are to email to the branch secretary by June 30. 

Thank you.


Zora Chan
Secretary, MNSKB 2013/2014
27 June 2014

News bites from the natural world by Tom MacLaughlin.



Friday, June 27, 2014

Make a date with MNS! Activity: Public talk featuring local wildlife ecologist John Mathai on small carnivore research in Sarawak.


Photo courtesy of HOSCAP Borneo

Dear members, 

You are invited to a talk featuring local wildlife ecologist John Mathai on  small carnivore research in Sarawak.

Date: 18 July 2014 (Friday)
Time:  7.30pm
Venue: UCSI University, Kuching. 

The talk will cover the work of the Hose’s Civet and Small Carnivore Project, Borneo (HOSCAP Borneo), a research-based conservation project studying small mammalian carnivores (such as civets, mongooses, wild cats, and others) in a logging concession in the Upper Baram. 

The project has a particular interest in the rare and elusive Bornean endemic, the Hose’s Civet, a species often described as ‘one of the world’s least known carnivores’.

John is the lead researcher of HOSCAP Borneo and is affiliated as a Research Fellow with the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). He holds Masters degrees in both Environmental Engineering and Conservation Biology and has spent the last 10 years working on conservation-related issues in Sarawak. 

John works closely with the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), serving as a member of the IUCN Small Carnivore Specialist Group, as a reviewer and Associate Editor for the IUCN scientific journal Small Carnivore Conservation and as an assessor for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

His research interests include developing predictive models to understand the ecology and habitat use of small carnivores in response to logging and logging-related pressures.

Admission to talk is free. So bring along some friends. Just register with mnskuching@gmail.com See you there!

Regards, 
Zora 

Monday, June 23, 2014

Soft launching this Wednesday 25 June at 4.00 pm

To kick start Santubong Nature Festival 2014, DBKU Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Wahap Abang Julai is expected to officiate at the festival’s soft launching at Taman Budaya (Reservoir Park) on 25 June at 4.00 pm. ** Members are invited to attend this event, and encouraged to wear your MNS or SNF T-shirts to show our presence. MNS members are advised to enter Reservoir Park through the lane near Fata Hotel. See u there!!

古晋讯)山都望自然节将再次举行,民众敬请期待!
马来西亚自然协会古晋分会将于今年十一月主办第二届山都望自然节。目前节庆地点已经锁定为柏迈雨林度假村,日期为8-9日,所有活动都将开放给公众参与。
此节庆将有马来西亚自然协会古晋分会主办,柏迈雨林度假村则同意成为主场联手推动,并获得北市市政局与砂拉越博物院单位协办。
北市市政阿邦瓦哈阿邦朱莱将于本月25日下午4时正假蓄水池公园主持一场推荐礼,让第二届山都望节正式开跑。
这一次的山都望自然节将着重于介绍山都望所含有的丰富文化遗产及自然资源,除了优美的风景,甚至还有属于稀有品种的云豹及犀鸟在这儿生活,除了天上飞,地上走的,山都望还有水里游的动物 – 海豚,都是不容错过的。
因此,山都望整个区域的发展与规划都必须是谨慎小心,以保护此地区独特的自然景观,丰富的生物多元及宝贵的历史遗产。这个地区若获得良好的规划将能成为热门的旅游及休闲景点。
今年的节庆也将延续去年为期两天的山都望节,把焦点聚集于山都望的自然、历史与文化遗产。
主办当局已经策划了一系列精彩的活动让大家参与,包括多能运动寻宝赛、历史之旅、地质考察解说、自然之旅、植树活动、游船河以及清洁沙滩运动等,都将在这两天的山都望节中上演。
此外,主办当局也将邀请专家前来主讲关于山都望的地理、考古、海豚及生物多元化等各种相关课题的讲座。
马来西亚自然协会古晋分会一直都在举办许多与自然相关的活动,尤其是观鸟,于1996年开始,该协会就经常在山都望一带进行观鸟活动。最终,属于山都望区内的巴哥文丹海湾于去年被列入了东亚-澳大利亚迁飞区(East Asian - Australasian Flyway Site Network (EAAF))。巴哥文丹海湾也是马来西亚境内第一个被列为迁飞区鸟区网络(flyway network site) 的区域,也是国内其中之一个世界级的重点鸟区(Important Bird Areas)。
于2002年,马来西亚自然协会也召集了许多志工发起山都望山情节运动,从山脚到山顶,共收集了超过1.2吨的垃圾。
马来西亚自然协会古晋分会是个道地的非政府组织,该组织非常关注山都望的整体发展及规划。该组织赞同山都望是理应获得发展,不过所谓的发展必须谨慎规划及进行,不可因发展而让该区的独有特色降级。
急速及无规划的发展例如过度的房屋发展及土地开发计划、高楼的建立,甚至缆车计划都等同在美丽的山都望山刻下无法复原的伤痕。此外,发展若没有顾及该地区历史及考古价值,将带来无法弥补的伤害。
主办当局希望山都望自然节的存在能


Persatuan Pencinta Alam Malaysia Cawangan Kuching (MNSKB) mengumumkan bahawa ia akan menganjurkan acara Santubong Nature Festival (SNF), buat kali kedua, November ini.

Acara yang dijadualkan berlangsung di Permai Rainforest Resort di Santubong pada 8 dan 9 November adalah terbuka kepada orang ramai.


Permai Rainforest Resort akan menjadi tuan rumah kepada acara tersebut yang turut disokong oleh Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU) dan Jabatan Muzium Sarawak.

SNF bertujuan menonjolkan warisan alam sekitar yang terdapat di kawasan semenanjung Santubong, yang termasuk visual yang menakjubkan, harimau dahan, burung enggang serta ikan lumba-lumba yang berenang di sekitar pantai Santubong.

Acara SNF menggalakkan pendekatan menyeluruh dan bersepadu dalam usaha pembangunan dan pengurusan kawasan Santubong melalui pemuliharaan landskap yang unik, biodiversiti dan warisan bersejarah; serta mempamerkan potensi pelancongan dan rekreasi di sekitar semenanjung Santubong

Berikutan kejayaan acara SNF pertama yang dianjurkan dalam tahun 2013, acara yang akan berlansung untuk dua hari tahun ini, terus mengetengahkan warisan semula jadi, sejarah dan budaya di kawasan Santubong.

Pihak penganjur telah mengatur pelbagai aktiviti yang menarik seperti pencarian harta karun (treasure hunt), “nature walks” yang berasaskan geologi dan alam sekitar, acara penanaman pokok, “boat cruise” dan juga aktiviti pembersihan pantai akan diadakan antara sekarang dan bulan November nanti.

Satu siri ceramah-ceramah mengenai geologi, arkeologi, ikan lumba-lumba dan biodiversiti yang terdapat disekitar semenanjung Santubong juga akan diadakan di bandar Kuching dan Permai Rainforest Resort. 

The Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch (MNSKB) is pleased to announce that it will be organising its signature nature event, the Santubong Nature Festival, for the second time this November. 

Scheduled to be held at Permai Rainforest Resort in Santubong on 8thand 9th November, the event is open to the public.

The festival is hosted by the Permai Rainforest Resort and supported by Kuching City North Hall (DBKU) and the Sarawak Museum Department.

The Santubong Nature Festival (SNF) aims at highlighting the rich heritage of the entire Santubong peninsula, from its visually stunning appearance, to its rare clouded leopards and hornbills that call it home, right down to the dolphins that swim its shores.

It also advocates for a holistic and integrated approach to development and management of the area safeguarding its unique landscape, biodiversity and historical assets; and showcases the tourism and recreational potential of the Santubong Peninsula.

Following last year’s festival success, the two-day event will continue to highlight Santubong peninsula’s natural, historical and cultural heritage.

The organisers have lined up exciting activities such as multi-sport treasure hunt, guided heritage, geology and nature walks, tree planting, guided boat cruises and beach clean-up activity will be held between now and festival day.

A series of talks on geology, archaeology, dolphins and biodiversity of Santubong will also be held in the city and Permai Rainforest Resort. Watch out for this page for updates on activities and festival.

More of the ‘latest’ in the natural world by Tom MacLaughlin



Sunday, June 15, 2014

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING





Dear Member,



NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1.       We are pleased to inform you that the 19th Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the Malaysian Nature Society – Kuching Branch will be held
at:
Venue:        Sarawak Cultural Village’s meeting room, Santubong.
Date:           12 July 2014 (Saturday)
Time:           1pm to 3pm  (lunch to be served at 12.30pm)


2.      Agenda for the 19th Annual General Meeting
i.      Chairman’s welcome address
ii.     Review of the minutes of the 18th Annual General Meeting and
matters arising
iii.    Report from the Chairman & proposed five-year plan
iv.     Report from the Secretary
v.      Report from the Treasurer
vi.     Any other matters which have been brought to the attention of the
Secretary of the Kuching Branch, in writing, at least one week before
the Annual General Meeting
vii.    Election of the Office Bearers for the year 2014/2015
viii.   Election of the Internal Auditor

NOTE: Only fully paid-members are eligible to stand for Office and to
vote. Please remember to renew your subscriptions. You may choose to
do so immediately before the start of the AGM.
The AGM documents will be sent out to all members by email no later
than one week before the AGM. In order to reduce the amount of paper
used, we request that you bring these copies with you for the AGM.

Lunch will be served at the AGM at 12.30pm (apologies to our Muslim members who are fasting) and after the AGM, a kayaking activity will be held at Permai Rainforest Resort if the weather & sea condition permit. Those interested to kayak, are to email to the branch secretary by June 30. 
Thank you.


Zora Chan
Secretary, MNSKB 2013/2014
11 June 2014

A round up of the ‘new’ in the natural world by Tom MacLaughlin. Posted on June 15, 2014,



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Pencinta alam June 2014 newsletter

Dear Members,

Please be informed that the June 2014 newsletter is out.  You can download a copy from http://www.mns.my/file_dir/111101603953844d9d748bd.pdf

Contents:
  • 67th Annual General Meeting
  • Eco Kids Column – A clever reuse: birthday in a can
  • My Garden Birdwatch – My bird story
  • Green Living Column – The free tree society of Kuala Lumpur
  • Caving in Merapoh
  • Membership Matters
  • MNS Photography Contest 2014 “ LANDSCAPE”
  • Nature Photography Competition – “MNS Natural History Photographer of the Year 2014”
  • MNS Branch AGM
  • Hornbill Volunteer Programme 2014
  • The Imagination of Man
·         Calendar of Activities
Regards,
Leong Wee Chin
Membership Officer
Malaysian Nature Society
Tel: 03-22879422
Fax: 03-22878773

New sp of Rafflesia found in Naha Jaley, Belaga


FYI