Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch: October 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Talk ...In the footsteps of our ancestors. An adventure that relives history, culture and the stewardship of nature.

Dear members,

You are invited to a talk by our member Kim Edwards on The Heart of Borneo Highlands Eco Challenge she attended in July 2015.

Date: Wed 11 Nov 2015
Time: 7.30 PM
Venue: UCSI University, Kuching. Lot 2498, Block 16, Kuching Central Land District, Jalan Tun Jugah, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak

Abstract on the talk:

...In the footsteps of our ancestors. An adventure that relives history, culture and the stewardship of nature. The Heart of Borneo Highlands Eco Challenge was all that it promised to be.... and more!

The adventure began in the quaint and stunning cluster of villages of Ba’Kelalan on July 24^th and ended in the picturesque and epicurean town of Bario. What transpired in between was not for the faint-hearted but certainly for those who seek adventure, untouched beauty, local knowledge, physical challenges and insights into Sarawak’s highland cultures, history and forests.

About me:

Kim is Australian and has been living in various parts of Asia and travelling the globe since she graduated from university 20 years ago. Whilst working in Tokyo, she happened upon a dashing Orang Ulu - French man in Tokyo and he beckoned her to Malaysia. After a wonderful stint in Kuala Lumpur, family and a need for the outdoors and adventure for their three boys bought them to her husband, Alexis’, hometown of Kuching. They have been residing here for just over one year and they and their family are loving every minute of it.

In Kim’s previous life she worked as a Senior Manager in Compliance for HSBC, Tokyo and HSBC, Cyberjaya. As part of HSBC’s corporate social responsibility programme, Kim was lucky enough to be chosen to take part in a grey whales conservation project in Baha California, Mexico. The challenge of consulting took her into the clutches of PricewaterhouseCoopers for a time until the world of babies called her back home.

While being a mummy she retrained as a Primary teacher and has been loving the challenge of educating the next generation. In Kuching, Kim has kept herself busy with being a mother and leading the initiative of bringing life and soft skills training to the underprivileged under the banner of PurpleLily Girls.

Admission to talk is free. So bring along some friends. Just register with

mnskuching@gmail.com :att Cynthia before 9 Nov.

See you there!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Willie Smits: How to restore a rainforest

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

The bird that's more valuable than ivory

The illegal trade in elephant tusks is well reported, but there's a type of "ivory" that's even more valuable. It comes from the helmeted hornbill - a bird that lives in the rainforests of East Asia and is now under threat, writes Mary Colwell.

It wouldn't be wise to go head to head with a helmeted hornbill. They weigh 3kg and have their own built-in battering ram - a solid lump of keratin (a fibrous protein) extends along the top of the bill and on to the skull. This "casque" can account for as much as 11% of a bird's weight.

In all other species of hornbill - there are more than 60 in Africa and Asia - the casque is hollow, but the helmeted hornbill's is solid. The males use it in head-to-head combat and both sexes use it as a weighted tool to dig out insects from rotting trees.

Helmeted hornbills live in Malaysia and Indonesia. On the islands of Sumatra and Borneo their maniacal calls and hoots resonate through the rainforest. They tend to eat fruit and nuts and are often referred to as the "farmers of the forest" as they spread seeds widely in their droppings.

They have a wingspan of up to 2m (6ft 6in), striking white and black feathers and a large patch of bare skin around the throat. They have a reputation for being secretive and wary, though, and you're more likely to hear them than see them.

They have good reason to be shy - thousands are killed each year for their casques, shot by hunters who sell the heads to China.

Between 2012 and 2014, 1,111 were confiscated from smugglers in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province alone. Hornbill researcher, Yokyok Hadiprakarsa, estimates that about 6,000 of the birds are killed each year in East Asia.

The casque, for which hunters are willing to risk arrest and imprisonment, is sometimes referred to as "ivory". It's a beautiful material to carve, smooth and silky to the touch, with a golden-yellow hue, coloured by secretions from the preen gland - most birds use their heads to rub protective oils from this gland over their feathers, legs and feet.

For hundreds of years it was highly desired by Chinese craftsmen who made artefacts for the rich and powerful, and by Japanese netsuke carvers who made intricate figures for the cords on men's kimonos. Many of these objects made their way to Victorian cabinets in the UK when netsuke collecting became fashionable in the 19th Century.

"There are some records that showed the hornbill ivory was presented to the shogun," says Noriku Tsuchiya, curator of the Japanese section at the British Museum. "Unfortunately by the early 20th Century the hornbill became very rare because of hunting and now legal trade is limited to certified antiques."

Illegal it may be, but trade continues undercover, and hornbill ivory is worth about £4,000 ($6,150) per kilogram - three times more than elephant ivory. The killing of Africa's elephants and rhinos for their tusks and horns is well reported, but the helmeted hornbill's plight often slips under the radar. "If no-one pays attention, this bird is going to become extinct," warns Hadiprakarsa.

The helmeted hornbill has been culturally significant for thousands of years - it is the mascot of West Kalimantan and the Dayak people of Borneo believe the bird ferries dead souls to the afterlife, acts as a sacred messengers of the gods and consider it a teacher of fidelity and constancy in marriage. Killing it is taboo.

But it's not just hunting that threatens this slow breeding creature - its habitat is also under pressure. As the appetite for palm oil grows in the West, developers are encroaching on Asia's rainforests. Researchers at the National University of Singapore estimate that Borneo and Sumatra are losing nearly 3% of their lowland rainforest every year.

As a result, the helmeted hornbill "is considered Near Threatened, and should be carefully monitored in case of future increases in the rate of decline," according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

So the bird faces a double whammy - losing its head to ivory carvers and its home to supermarket products. I'm not sure I fancy its chances.

Enthusiasts called to join Sarawak Bird Race ‘15

One of bird species found at the highland.

KUCHING: Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch, in collaboration with the state Ministry of Tourism, is organising the Sarawak Bird Race 2015 on Nov 1 at Borneo Highlands Resort.

Sarawak, unfortunately, is not as well known as a birding destination as Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah. Borneo Highlands Resort, an important bird area since 2010, is one the more accessible location to see Sarawak’s rare and endemic birds.

This resort borders Kalimantan, at the 1,300-metre ridge that marks the international boundary. It is located about an hour’s drive from Kuching in the Penrissen Highlands.

Four out of the eight species of hornbills found in Sarawak (10 species are found in Malaysia) have been seen here. These are the Black, Rhinoceros, White-crowned and Wreathed Hornbills.

MNS Kuching vice-chairperson Rose Au said rare birds found at BHR included Blue-banded Pitta, Pygmy White-eye and Bornean Barbet. All together, up to 201 species had been recorded.

These birds could be seen along the forest trail that skirts the cliff.

This is a great chance for experts and novice birders to be part of citizen science. The data collected will be incorporated into the world database on birds. This information is a way of measuring the health of the environment.

This is an exciting opportunity for experienced and novice birders to improve their identification skills while making positive scientific contributions.

Meanwhile, registration for the Sarawak Bird Race is open.

For more information and for those who want to join the race contact the society at mnskuching@gmail.com or call Rose Au at 016-8909468 or Eddy Wong at 014-3951415.

Enthusiasts all geared up for Sarawak Bird Race 2015 on Nov 1

A file photo of an olive-backed woodpecker.

KUCHING: The Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch (MNSKB) and the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak will be organising the Sarawak Bird Race 2015 on Nov 1 at the Borneo Highlands Resort (BHR).

The Sarawak Bird Race is a fun competition between teams of two to observe, identify and record as many species of birds as possible within a specified time frame.

Its vice chairperson Rose Au said that the race should get individuals from the Sarawak Tourist Guides Association and Sarawak Forestry Corporation Park Guides excited about birding.

“It also provides an opportunity for all bird enthusiasts to improve their bird identification skills,” she said in a press release yesterday.

BHR is in the Penrissen Highlands, which was declared an Important Bird Area in 2010 since it hosts several endemic and endangered species. It is part of the global network created by Birdlife International.

According to the society’s chairman Vincent Wong, over 200 species have been recorded at the resort located at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.

Katherine Pearce, an MNS member, said that the border was also a good place to see the iconic hornbills. The data collected from the Bird Race will be incorporated into a database for bird populations.

Au hopes that the Beginners Birding Workshop, which will be held at BHR a day before the race from Oct 29 to 31, will lead to responsible guiding of birds, thus resulting in the protection of birds and their habitats by the participating tourist guides.

For more information or to join the race, contact MNS Kuching Branch at mnskuching@gmail.com or call Rose Au at 016-8909468 or Eddy Wong 014-3951415.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

National Geographic - Wild World: Borneo (2015)

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Piasau Nature Reserve set to become world’s next eco-landmark September 27, 2015, Sunday Cecilia Sman, reporters@theborneopost.com

This photo of Faridah, a resident hornbill at PNR which was killed by poachers in 2013, was taken by Parker and is among the materials used during awareness programmes conducted by MNS Miri.

MIRI: The Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR) here will further enhance the image of this city in terms of global tourism and environmental conservation upon its completion by late next year.

The nature reserve – formerly known as Piasau Camp – is a classic example of excellent cooperation between the community and relevant authorities.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) deputy general manager (protected areas and biodiversity cooperation) Oswald Braken Tisen said PNR had created a record of a sort in Sarawak by receiving the fastest approval from the government among other projects – some of which could take years and even decades to be gazetted.

He mentioned community involvement including by expatriates here as being among the contributing factors to the speedy approval.

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Miri Chapter chairman Musa Musbah concurred with Braken, adding that the Shell personnel and their spouses in the likes of Dr Giana Minton, as well as Erwin Adam and his wife Paula Versteegen, were among the earliest proponents of the project and those still actively involved in the camp, especially on observing hornbills.

Musa told thesundaypost other strong supporters included Mairead Boland and her husband Dave Paton, Dominique Wan and Brian Graham Parker – all of whom had contributed in their own special ways.

Contributions of the expats

Musa, who is tasked with studying the wildlife in PNR, said Dr Minton was the first to monitor the hornbill’s nest here in 2007 – way before him – and continue to do so.

“But she had only been in communication with SFC. We do not know much about the data she have collected.”

“As for Erwin Adam, who is a member of MNS Miri member and one of the Shell committee members involved in the plan to relinquish Piasau Camp to the government in 2011, he is a key person linking us to the camp,” he said, adding that Adam gave him access to the camp and House 58 to monitor the hornbill’s nest.

“He helped us to link with Shell and the one financing food for my team to monitor the hornbill via Piasau Boat Club. It was his input that paved the way towards the creation of Piasau Nature Reserve Plan,” said Musa, who is also deputy chairman of Piasau Camp Miri Nature Park Society (PCMNPS).

Wan, an active MNS member and a lecturer of geology at Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia, is also water quality expert, according to Musa, adding that she used to follow MNS’ firefly expeditions along the Miri River.

“At PNR, Wan (under Curtin and MNS) is now actively conducting a quantitative survey and cataloguing on the types of rubbish dumped along the beach,” Musa said, stressing that understanding the type of rubbish was vital in finding solutions for the problem.

Then came the couple, Boland and Paton, who are also MNS members. According to Musa, Paton has sponsored the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system that links to the Internet, with Boland covering Internet charges.

“Mairead (Boland) has always been a strong supporter of MNS – she is the one connecting Shell with MNS Miri. Dave (Paton) does a lot of the ground work and monitoring in PNR.”

Boland and Musa had jointly compiled a working paper entitled ‘Hornbills – Agents of Chance’ presented during the inaugural National Hornbill Conference here in August this year.

It would be Boland’s last major contribution with Shell here as she and Paton would leave for Canada to retire there.

Adam (centre) being introduced to the crowd by Musa (second left) during the ‘Hornbill Walk’, as other PCMNPS exco members including Ting (second right) look on.

Appreciation to those involved

PCMNPS chairman Datuk Sebastian Ting on behalf of the society, Mirians and those joining the monthly ‘Hornbill Walk’ in PNR, thanked the expatriates and those involved for their contributions towards the successful establishment and registration of PCMNPS, as well as the launch of PNR on May 10 last year by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

“Most importantly, we shall always remember, value and treasure your contributions. We feel sad that you will be leaving us soon to move on to your next undertakings. We wish you well and pray for your joy and excellent health,” said Ting.

Future of PNR

Irish-born Boland is a geologist who has found data managing as her calling.

Apart from here, she and her husband have been posted by Shell elsewhere including in Brunei between 1998 and 2002.

“We’re very sad to leave Miri and our friends in MNS. We find Mirians to be warm and inclusive. We also love the cultural diversity,” said Boland.

The couple both have Canadian citizenship and they hope to spend their early retirement in North America.

“We plan to spend our summers on Saturna Island in British Columbia, and winters in Tucson, Arizona (US),” she said.

Versteegen takes turns with her son to look through a telescope during a bird-watching activity at PNR.

Views on environmental conservation

Boland believed that everybody should realise that they could change the future ; that public pressure could bring results. She regretted that in many cases, people were prepared to just do nothing, believing that it was too late.

“The development of Piasau Camp was a done deal – we proved them (those who opposed) wrong.

“The involvement of local communities in the campaign to save PNR was a great one to witness and be a part of. The ongoing effort to save Kuala Baram wetlands is also a great achievement.

“The next battle should be for cleaner beaches in Miri – the situation has been quite shocking. The amount of litter there is terrible – both natural and those caused by humans. It’s everybody’s problem – we all need to be involved,” she said.

Ways to make PNR a true success story

Boland believed that Mirians should be involved in the development of PNR.

“Seek details on it and give your feedback. Ask for the PNR to include the river and the beach.

“Most importantly, allow yourselves and your children to ‘use’ PNR every day. Learn to live with nature and teach your children this as well,” she said.

Boland also highlighted the vital role played by the media as far as the success of PNR was concerned.

“The local media – be they from print, electronic and social platforms – has and will continue to make a huge difference in promoting the campaigns related to PNR and other environmental programmes.

“We would have had no success without your uncanny knack of turning every event into a story – regardless of many of you having to suffer that ‘your birds again’ jokes incessantly.

“Still, this is the media at work in a very positive sense. We really appreciate such contribution.”

PNR – A heritage trove

The nature reserve, located very near to the city centre, is a green area used by many people for recreation – be it for walking, jogging, cycling and bird watching. It also provides access to the beach, river and all things nature within city limits.

PNR has 17 species of fauna protected under Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 45 bird species (including the hornbilld), three mammal species, five amphibian species, 12 reptile species, 10 butterfly species and 107 plant species.

Boland shows a beautiful painting of hornbills, given to her as a memento.

Hornbills: Agents of change at Piasau Nature Reserve October 4, 2015, Sunday Cecilia Sman, reporters@theborneopost.com

Jimmy (right) the hornbill with his new mate Juliet.

MIRI: The much awaited Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR) in Miri is now a reality and is expected to be ready by late 2016.

The existence of many totally protected wildlife species like the Oriental Pied Hornbill is said to be one of the agents of change for the conversion of the former Piasau Camp into a nature reserve.

The camp sports over 200 houses for Shell employees and was built in the 50’s, becoming a historical site synonymous with the oil and gas industry.

thesundaypost recently spoke to Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Miri treasurer Iqbal Abdollah, who presented a paper titled ‘Hornbills As Agents of Change: The Piasau Camp Story’ during the National Hornbill Conference held in Miri from Aug 11 to 13.

The paper, jointly compiled by Miri MNS chairman Musa Musbah and secretary Mairead Boland, was among the 25 papers presented at the inaugural conference attended by 73 foreign and local delegates working on hornbills.

The key speaker was world renowned hornbill expert Prof Emeritus Dr Pillai Poonswad from the Hornbill Research Foundation Faculty of Science Mahidol University Bangkok, Thailand.

The Piasau Hornbill family history

According to Musa, it was only in 2005 when the first written record of hornbills was completed at Piasau camp. In 2006, the Oriental Pied Hornbill and Wrinkled Hornbill were observed by the Rapid Environmental Assessment done by Shell consultants.

In 2007, camp resident Dr Giana Minton began monitoring the hornbills and in August 2012, House 58, a nesting site was shown to Musa by camp resident Erwin Adams.

Since then, MNS and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) have continued to monitor the nest.

So far, 10 nesting cycles were observed and recorded since 2007 by Dr Minton and Musa involving female hornbills Faridah and Juliet.

To date, 20 individual hornbills have been observed there and the males were named Jimmy, Anthony, Han, Ibrahim, Munyung, Robert, Kareem, Sam, Abong, Moses, Ah Kaw and Musa.

The female hornbills were named Faridah, Cathy, Alice, Julia, Ah Moi, Rosita, Juliet and Cecilia.

PNR spans some 88.5ha and also features 17 fauna species protected under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 45 bird species (including the iconic hornbills), three mammal species, five amphibian species, 12 reptile species, 10 butterfly species and 107 plant species.

(Standing, second right) Ting with PCMNPS Exco members present a commemorative t-shirt to Adenan (seated, centre) flanked by Taib (right) and Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

The urgency to safeguard the hornbills

The brutal death of Faridah at the hands of poachers on Sept 24, 2013 gave rise to a public outcry condemning the killing.

Faridah was notable for producing 56 offspring since 2005.

The people also feared that Shell’s decision to relinquish the camp to the government in September, 2013 to develop the area into a beach-side attraction with shophouses and condominiums would further endanger the hornbills.

Thus they began gazetting the camp to establish it as a conservation area for hornbills and other wildlife, turning it into a heritage and buffer zone against natural disasters.

Events leading to the establishment of PNR

The local community, non-government organisations (NGOs) like MNS and political parties aggressively lobbied the state government for the area to be declared a totally protected area.

A petition collected 15,000 signatures, while several other related activities including the Hornbill Walk, colouring and logo design contests, exhibitions and talks on hornbills at Piasau Camp were organised.

A gathering specially held in memory of Faridah saw a crowd of over 1,000 people turning up, further showcasing the people’s passion for the hornbills.

In anticipation of Juliet (Jimmy’s new mate) producing hatchlings, a 24-hour video surveillance system was set up at the nest to provide complete data for future reference and conservation purposes.

Subsequently, Piasau Camp Miri Nature Park Society (PCMNPS) was formed and registered on October, 2013 with Sarawak United People’s Party secretary general Datuk Sebastian Ting elected as the first chairman to pursue the cause at the state government level.

Shell staff and Miri International Jazz Fest performers pose at PNR.

Other supporters of PNR

Shell too gave their support to MNS, while other businesses and organisations like Boulevard Mall, MMYMall, Interhill and Pustaka helping with other public awareness campaigns.

Social media too played a key role as videos, photos and events could be easily shared and on August, 2012 a Facebook group named ‘Save Piasau Oriental Hornbill – The New Nestlings’ was set up.

Behind the scenes

Many legal aspects had to be clarified and resolved. In May, 2013 Shell commissioned a ‘Study of Flora and Fauna’ at Piasau Camp conducted by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and in January, 2014 designs for the proposed nature reserve was commissioned by Shell.

Assistant Environment Minister Datu Len Talif Salleh also obtained first hand information from Shell, MNS and PCMNPS and later announced that the government had gazetted Piasau Camp as a nature reserve on April 3, 2014.

Impact of PNR.

Head of State Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud performed the earth-breaking ceremony on May 10. 2014.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem called PNR a fine model for the setting up of other urban nature reserves planned for town centres like Sibu.

Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment’s Permanent Secretary Datuk Sudarsono Osman also said a master plan had been drafted for the development and management of PNR.

At the same function, Petronas and Shell Malaysia announced a contribution of RM5 million each for the building of a visitor’s centre and conservation facilities for the park, while House 58 was established as SFC Ranger Station.

Demolition works on other houses started in December, 2014 and is expected to be completed this month.

PNR hopes to protect the diverse flora and fauna found within, as well as educate people in the conservation of nature.

People honouring the memory of Faridah after her death resulted in a public outcry.

Sustaining the birds and animals of PNR October 11, 2015, Sunday Cecilia Sman, reporters@theborneopost.com

Hornbills feeding on the fruits at the nature reserve. — Photos contributed by Cecilia Sman, Professor Alex, Ishak Chin and Musa Musbah

Some of the fruits and seeds favoured by birds.

MIRI: The newly established Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR) famous for its hornbills is an ideal research centre and conservation area for its multiple bird species.

Studies conducted in 2013 by the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) have recorded 45 species of carnivores, omnivores and frugivores (fruit eaters) in the nature reserve.

Prof Dr Andrew Alek Tuen, a Research Fellow at the institute unveiled PNR’s secrets of supporting its diverse community of birds in a working paper at the National Hornbill Conference held here from Aug 11 to 13.

The paper titled ‘Potential Role of Fruit Trees in Sustaining Frugivorous Bird Population in Piasau Nature Reserve, Miri’ was jointly compiled with two other Research Fellows, namely Gabriel Tonga Noweg and Pang Sing Tyan. Sarawak Shell Bhd, Piasau Camp residents including staff of Sarawak Forestry Cooperation (SFC).

The paper was among the 25 papers presented at the inaugural conference attended by 73 foreign and local delegates working on hornbills.

Dr Alek also co-chaired the conference with SFC deputy general manager (protected areas and biodiversity conservation) Oswald Braken Tisen.

The ‘residents’ of PNR

Spanning 88.5 hectares, PNR has 17 fauna species protected under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 45 bird species, three mammal species, five amphibian species, 12 reptile species, 10 butterfly species and 107 plant species.

To date, 20 individual hornbills have been recorded and the males named Jimmy, Anthony, Han, Ibrahim, Munyung, Robert, Kareem, Sam, Abong, Moses, Ah Kaw and Musa. The female hornbills are Faridah, Cathy, Alice, Julia, Ah Moi, Rosita, Juliet and Cecilia.

The role of fruit trees

According to Dr Alek, the mature forest and its fruits trees are among the major factors that support PNR’s diverse community of birds and other animals.

The birds disperse seeds from trees, thereby improving survival rates of seeds and seedlings by reducing competition and predation (Howe and Smallwood 1982) while omnivores consume both animals and plants, therefore also playing a role in seed dispersal.

“65 per cent of the birds such as green pigeons, Asian glossy starlings and yellow-vented bulbuls eat fruits and seeds,” Dr Alek said.

A yellow-vented bulbul sits in its nest.

The nutritive values of fruit trees

According to Dr Alek, all potential fruit plants at the nature reserve were recorded and the samples were brought back to Unimas for nutritional analysis.

The samples were taken from 31 tree species, 16 species of shrubs and bushes, nine species of palms, 11 species of ferns and fern allies, 12 species of climbers and creepers and 22 species of grasses and herbs including three species of bamboo.

On the plant community at PNR, Dr Alek said it is quite diverse and the most abundant fruit tree is the vitex pubescens or ‘leban’ tree, followed by figs and oil palm.

These plants provide fruits, seeds and nectar in flowers, even housing insects ants, termites, bugs and other small animals like lizards for the birds to feed on.

They also function as nesting material, nest holes and perches for the birds.

During the survey, 80 ficus or fig plants were recorded in 2013, with at least two bearing fruit. The most abundant fruit plant is vitex pubescens followed by oil palms, ficus and mango.

Green pigeons, Asian glossy starlings and yellow-vented bulbuls were the most common bird seen on this plant when the fruits are ripe.

Recommendations

Future studies should consider monitoring the fruiting and flowering phenology, the type of birds that feed on them and analyse the nutrient content of fruits and flowers that are likely to be eaten by animals.

Asked on the existing works on dismantling some 200 houses at PNR, Dr Alek hoped that the work would not damage the trees and plants in the nature reserve.

He said that if fruit trees and nesting trees were cleared as part of the works, it would have a negative impact on bird diversity and abundance.

“In our report we have recommended planting native trees, especially those that birds and mammals feed on. My observation when they remove the buildings in the reserve is that the site will be quickly overgrown with weeds and shrub and this is good for wildlife. I hope all those ficus trees are still alive.

“They didn’t seem to be healthy when we were there last July; perhaps their root system was affected by development,” he said.

(From second left) Braken, Dr Alek and others take a closer look at a nesting site.

An aerial shot of the ongoing dismantling works at PNR.

The site plan for PNR.

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