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Figs and hornbills December 4, 2016, Sunday Mary Margaret

The state’s first Fig Garden was established as part of the Western Sarawak Hornbill Project.

Figs are a ‘keystone species’ that produce fruit year round and can support entire ecosystems.

WHAT would bring back hornbills and other birds? Why have they disappeared? Why are figs important?

Food. Hornbills in general are fruit eaters and these iconic and culturally significant birds have a passion for figs. Figs (Ficus) are members of the mulberry (Moraceae) family. Of the over 160 species found in Borneo, 25 have been documented as key food sources not only for birds, but also monkeys (gibbons), bats, squirrels, sun bears and bearded pigs.

These ‘keystone species’ (species on which whole ecosystems depend) produce fruit year round and can support entire ecosystems. This fruit production strategy is the opposite of that of many other tropical species, including Dipterocarps, which fruit simultaneously (mast fruiting). This ensures that some seeds survive predation by birds, mammals and insects.

Figs, ancient plants with about 800 species worldwide, are mainly found in the tropics. All are fast growing softwood trees or shrubs. In Sarawak, figs fall into three broad groups.

The most dramatic are the strangling figs. The seeds of these upper-storey species are dropped into the canopy of a host tree. If they land in spot that can support growth and has moisture, the seed will sprout. The strangling fig sends down a support branch, then long rope-like roots extend to the ground, and these eventually completely enclose the host tree. Over time, as both grow and exert pressure, the stronger fig roots dominate and kill the host.

Figs can also be free standing trees, and these are often found along rivers. They produce fruit on bare twigs or stems.

The third group is the earth figs that fruit are on runners partly buried in the soil. Most figs are either found in the high canopy or on low bushes.

In recognition of the importance of figs in the natural ecosystems the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has established the first 7.2ha Fig Garden in a degraded patch of forest in Matang Wildlife Centre, which is part of Kubah National Park. This park is approximately one hour from Kuching.

During the opening of Sarawak’s first Fig Garden last May, Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment permanent secretary Datu Sudarsono Osman said it was established as part of the Western Sarawak Hornbill Project, which aims to conserve the range and habitat of these birds. This project encompasses 306,000 ha and has incorporated national parks, including Kubah, nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries located in western Sarawak.

Sudarsono noted that the Western Sarawak Hornbill Project is one of several initiatives of the state government to protect and conserve the environment, including habitat enrichment.

SFC deputy general manager Oswald Braken Tisen said that although hornbills are the targeted species, all birds would reap the benefits associated with the enhancement and rehabilitation of this forest plot.

Figs, as mentioned, are important sources of food, but birds need shelter and nesting sites. Three hundred saplings, including six species of figs, and eight other indigenous forest tree species Jambu Laut (Eugenia sp), Ubah (Eugenia sp), Kubal (Willughbeia sp), Dabai (Canarium odontophyllum), two species of Bintangor (Calophyllum), Selangan Batu (Shorea sp,) and Engkabang Melapi (Shorea macrobalanos), were planted during the opening of the garden.

This 2,230ha national park is home to over 150 species of birds, including the White-crowned Hornbill (Berenicornis comatus), a rare bird that prefers dense shrubby vegetation next to rivers.

Sarawak, although frequently referred to as the ‘Land of the Hornbills’, has only eight of Malaysia’s nine species (there are 45 worldwide). These include the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), which has come to prominence as it can adapt to city environments and a pair has raised chicks in the urban Piasau Nature Reserve in Miri. Oriental Pied Hornbills are common in coastal and secondary forests. The Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), Sarawak’s state bird, is also widely recognised.

The other species of hornbills are the Bushy-crested Hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus), Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus), Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus), Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) and Asian Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus). The presence of these iconic birds, which everyone wants to see, indicates that the general ecological health of a forest is good and that it provides food, shelter and nesting sites.

As mentioned, figs provide food for many species of birds, including the iconic hornbill as well as mammals. In turn the animals spread the tiny seeds, which either pass through their digestive tracts unharmed or better able to germinate, far and wide. Figs and animals benefit in this complicated web that becomes even more intricate when seed and fruit production are considered.

Seed dispersal is but part of the story and the webs that encircle figs. Fig species and the tiny fig wasps from the Agraonidae family have coevolved since the time of the dinosaurs, approximately 65 million years ago, with mutually dependent life cycles of approximately the same length. The fig wasps pollinate the figs, which in return provide a safe environment for the wasps to reproduce.

A green bottled-shaped fig looks like a regular fruit but is a pseudo or false fruit, called a syconium. Each encloses hundreds or thousands of flowers, that, if pollinated produce seeds. The flowers of the different fig species are structurally quite variable and this has led to one or two species of fig wasps adapting to pollinate a single species of fig.

The cycle starts when a tiny two-millimetre long female wasp enters a mature syconium through an equally small opening at the apex called an ostiole. The wasp has been attracted by the scent of the flowers.

Once a female wasp enters a syconium it cannot leave as its wings have been scraped off while squeezing in. Several female wasps can enter a single syconium and a clump of wings can be seen at the entrance. The female wasp lives for one or two more days after laying her eggs and pollinating the flowers.

At this point you might ask do we eat wasps when we eat figs. No, the crunchiness in figs is seeds from the hundreds or thousands of flowers, not wasps. The fig excretes an enzyme that enables the fig to absorb the wasp.

The sightless and wingless males, which spend their entire lives within the syconium, have two functions. The first is to mate with the females and the second is to bite a hole through the syconium to enable the female wasps to escape and find another fig syconium to enter, pollinate and deposit eggs.

About 34 million years ago, some figs evolved to produce a syconium with either male or female flowers and to be dioecious (to have male flowers and female flowers on separate plants). This was a point of evolutionary conflict since the fig was less cooperative with the wasp. The female flowers emit a scent that is similar to the male flowers, to entice the female wasp. This is a dead end for the wasp, because the flowers have evolved so that wasps cannot lay eggs. However, the fig gets pollen and then can produce seeds. If the female wasp enters a male flower, it can lay its eggs and form gall flowers, resulting in the continuation of the fig’s lifecycle.

The fig fruiting cycle and the fig wasp life cycle are approximately two months, leading to year round availability of fruit. This is why figs are called keystone species. All fig species are protected under Sarawak’s Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 because of their importance as a food source.

The interdependency of figs, frugivores (animals that eat fruit) and fig wasps demonstrates how complicated natural ecosystems are. However, this becomes even more so when the intricately interwoven webs of life of other creatures are also considered. Take for example nematodes or parasites that prey on wasps; consider the epiphytes that are attached to the boles of trees, including figs, and the micro ecosystems contained within one; or the predators (including hunters) that prey upon the birds and animals that consume the fruit.

In my view this illustrates a natural tapestry. If one component is removed, then other threads begin to unravel. What are the consequences if the seed dispersers, for example hornbills, disappear or become fewer? What are the consequences if the figs become less common?

Talk on highland salt at IIC next week September 1, 2016, Thursday

Langub, seen here taking a photo while conducting research, has been involved in various research projects including a study of the past and present salt trade in the Kelabit-Krayan Highlands.

Salt from the Kelabit-Krayan Highlands which has been processed using traditional methods.

KUCHING: The Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch (MNSKB) and Friends of Sarawak Museum (FoSM) will be presenting a talk on ‘Highland Salt’ at the Islamic Information Centre (IIC) here on Sept 7 at 7.30pm.

According to a press statement, the talk will be conducted by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Institute of Borneo Studies associate research fellow Jayl Langub who undertook a study of the past and present salt trade in the Kelabit-Krayan Highlands of Central Borneo.

The study was supported by a grant from the Dayak Chair of the Institute of East Asian Studies.

Langub, who has been involved in various research projects including joint ones with foreign scholars, said the talk would discuss the value of salt as a natural resource as well as its historical, cultural and present links to the people of the area.

“Salt, a precious natural resource, has been used as currency and a trade item in various parts of the world including the Highlands.

“The presence of salt water springs, in the Kelabit-Krayan Highlands may come as a surprise but there are over 40 known active salt springs in the area with each producing a unique salt with respect to flavour, colour and use. This necessity has been and continues to be a trade item for the Lun Bawang and Kelabit of Sarawak and the Lundayeh of East Kalimantan,” he explained.

He pointed out that salt was historically valued and continues to be an important trade item.

“It is of great cultural significance to the people of the area as well as provides health benefits. Salt was used to clean wounds and to heal skin infections as well as a beauty product. One salt spring is also believed to bring good luck to individuals who bathe in it.

“Most salt springs are in marshy areas that have vegetation similar to that found in coastal areas. The story of the creation of a great inland sea which is suddenly released and allowed to flow to the sea is supported by geological evidence,” he said.

Langub, who is also a WWF-Malaysia trustee, holds a degree in anthropology from McGill University and a Master’s degree in community development from the University of Alberta in Canada.

For more information or to register for the talk, please email MNSKB at mnskuching@gmail.com.

What do you think of this story?

http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/09/01/talk-on-highland-salt-at-iic-next-week/

A palm hotspot February 28, 2016, Sunday Mary Margaret

THE celebrated botanist Odoardo Beccari in ‘Wandering in the Great Forests of Borneo’ created vivid images of his 1865 travels throughout Sarawak. His extended collecting trips to Matang, near present day Kubah National Park, took days of tramping over hills, wading through swamps and rivers, crawling through thick underbrush and cutting short-lived trails.

He also opted, as advised by residents, to travel by boat when bringing supplies for an extended stay at Vallombrosa, the Malay-style home he had built on Matang. However, even this journey was lengthy and tough.

This formerly remote region is now a mere 35km or 45 minutes from Kuching.

Although the area surrounding Kubah National Park has undergone dramatic changes from forest to shopping areas to agriculture, the park remains clad in dramatically sky-touching mixed dipterocarp forests.

Frogs and palms are, as in Beccari’s day, synonymous with forests in and around Kubah National Park.

Not so long ago, I had the opportunity to get in touch with Mother Nature during a visit to this pocket of wild and the palms.

Beccari described several palms and Dr Katherine Pearce in her 1992 study, ‘The Palms of Kubah National Park’, identified 86 species within the park alone, plus an additional nine species found outside its boundary.

Of these, 16 species are only found in Borneo. This park is without a doubt a palm hotspot as almost half of all species found in Sarawak are here.

The Palmetum, a few steps from the park headquarters, celebrates the park’s palm diversity. Signboards regaling visitors with scientific and local information about uses and beliefs add depth to the visit.

The striking parasol palm (Licuala orbicularis) looks like an umbrella. Not surprisingly the undivided frond can be and was used as one.

This spectacular stemless palm, a member of the palm Arecaceae family, with large fan-shaped leaves is endemic to Sarawak and grows only in a few locations including Kubah National Park.

Biru bulat, Biru ruai or berupat, as it is known in Iban, is adapted to rainy weather and is an understorey species in the mixed dipterocarp forests requiring indirect light.

It is found at altitudes from 30 to 330 metres on well-drained slightly acidic soils.

The leaves are used for wrapping, making umbrellas and for atap roofs. Pearce in her 1992 report indicated that this palm is endangered due to habitat destruction as the forest is logged or the land use is changed. Another threat is the collection of seeds for plant nurseries.

Eventually the many attractions of Kubah National Park drew us away from the Palmetum. Palms were always on our mind though, as they dotted the landscape as we hiked along the shady, undulating trail towards the waterfall.

The towering dipterocarp trees, which enveloped the lower slopes of Gunung Serapi are awe-inspiring.

The mixed dipterocarp forest, which covers much of Kubah National Park, used to cover a vast area of Sarawak.

However, changing land use patterns for urban and agriculture expansion as well harvesting the trees for their timber has led to a reduction in the area under this forest.

The name is from the dominant family, Dipterocarpaceae, meaning two-winged fruit, and it reaches 30 to 50 metres in height.

However, an emergent could stand at an astounding 60 metres. Gigantic trees dominate the upper canopy, but there are an estimated 2,000 species making up this forest type.

You don’t need to be a botanist to identify the diversity of this forest type.

The vast array of leaf shapes, bark and plant types tell all visitors, at almost a single glance, that there is no doubt this forest type is varied.

Gunung Serapi, a highly visible landform when approached from land and sea, stands at 911 metres.

However, only the lower slopes of this predominantly sandstone-mountain were, in 1995, incorporated into this approximate 22 square km park.

To reach the Rayu Waterfalls, we picked up the aptly named Waterfalls Trail.

This trail crosses a swampy area before a slow incline to the falls.

The refreshingly cool spray of the water droplets on our faces and merry stream tumbling down the mountain renewed us spiritually and physically.

The striking parasol palm looks like an umbrella

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/02/28/a-palm-hotspot/#ixzz41RoufQeS

Slow lorises are not pets January 17, 2016, Sunday Mary Margaret

As slow lorises are venomous with a potentially deadly bite, their sharp pointed teeth are often
clipped with nail cutters without anaesthesia for the pet trade. — Photo by International Animal Rescue

“OH they are so cute – we should get one for a pet!” Well no, we shouldn’t!

Endangered slow lorises are supremely adapted to life in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. It was only after 2009, however, when YouTube videos showed owners tickling this endangered primate that they shot into the limelight.

Suddenly they were sought after as pets around the globe. They are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.

The 10 species of slow lorises, Nycticebus sp, which are members of the Lorisidae family, inhabit low to medium height forests from Northeastern India to China, the Indonesian provinces of Sumatra and Java, as well as the island of Borneo and into Southern Philippines.

In Indonesia, they are called malu-malu or shy animals. In Malaysia they are known as kongkang or kera duku. Kera is Malay for monkey, while duku is the fruit-bearing tree Lansium parasiticum. Both names are apt descriptions for this shy animal does eat that fruit.

Slow lorises are adapted to life in the trees as their hands and feet easily grasp branches.

All digits have nails except the second one of the foot. They move slowly and deliberately; unlike other primates they never jump.

These small primates range in colour from pale greyish-brown to reddish brown with a dark brown stripe down their backs and a white one between their large luminous eyes. Although adorable, these nocturnal creatures are one of the few venomous mammals in the world.

In 2009, YouTube videos of a ‘pet’ slow loris being tickled received thousands of views and likes. Many viewers thought that the slow loris was enjoying this experience. However, its arms were raised because it was likely trying to get to the venom producing glands on either side of its elbow – so it was a defensive pose rather than one of enjoyment.

The venom is brushed over its fur and teeth. The poison is believed to inhibit the presence of pests for example leeches and protects them from being eaten. Females also bathe their young with this poison to protect them. Its bite can cause humans to go into shock and possibly even death.

Slow lorises generally sleep the day away and are able to blend in with the forest. This along with the venom are the ways in which they escape their two common natural predators – snakes and orang-utans. They have very large eyes so they can see their prey when they are active at night. Bright lights would cause a great deal of pain. These eyes add to the cuteness factor of this creature, but intensify their unsuitability as pets.

Several organisations are tackling the pet trade through social media and graphic descriptions, as well as appeals to our better nature, to save this animal from one of the greatest threats to its survival – the pet trade.

International Animal Rescue (IAR) launched its ‘Tickling is Torture’ online campaign that asks viewers to pledge not to like videos of pet slow lorises. The devastating effect of the pet trade on individual and wild populations were clearly presented via gut-wrenching still photographs and videos by IAR at the Asia for Animals (AFA) conference organised by the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) recently.

Other threats include habitat loss due to changing land use patterns and fragmentation of the remaining forests. Fragmentation refers to small patches of forest that are not connected. However, the pet trade remains the biggest threat.

Most slow pet lorises were captured from the wild and this could include young, adults or entire families. As they are venomous with a potentially deadly bite, their sharp pointed teeth are clipped with nail cutters without anaesthesia.

This is an excruciating painful process.

During the AFA conference, one of the participants showed a video clip of a slow loris undergoing this process. Its terror and cries of agony, which filled the conference room, continue to reverberate through illegal animal trade markets.

Imagine an extremely bad toothache and a broken tooth. Think about the pain and the rush to the dentist. Perhaps now you can imagine the agony a slow loris goes through when its teeth are cut.

Slow lorises are next transported in tightly packed crates and the death rate ranges from 30 to 90 per cent. Even bright light causes pain as their large round eyes are adapted to see in the dim night-time forest. They can be smelly as they use urine to mark their territory. They are neither cats nor dogs and are truly not meant to be pets.

Videos published in 2011 and 2013 by SlowLorisChannel of a slow loris, which were supposedly bred domestically in Japan, show overweight animals clasping a fork or eating a banana with flexible hands. This diet is not what the animals would eat in the wild. Their natural food consist of small animals, insects, pulpy fruits and the sap or gum from trees. Their acute sense of smell even enables them to identify fruit.

One argument for keeping these animals as pets is that they are endangered, but outside the ones in Japan, which are claimed to be domestically bred, most come from the wild – an illogical argument.

There are however, problems returning confiscated slow lorises to the wild because their teeth have been clipped. To overcome this, IAR is working closely with universities and scientists to develop successful rehabilitation programmes for confiscated animals. Some, which have

intact teeth, have been released into the wild. IAR are working with dentists to determine if the cut teeth can be repaired or replaced. The aim is to return as many slow lorises as possible to the wild.

To this end IAR released six confiscated but healthy slow lorises into the wild in Java, Indonesia last year. The animals, upon arrival at the site, were released into an inhabitation cage containing natural vegetation. Once the team decides they are able to fend for themselves, they will be released into the wild giving them a chance to live out their lives.

This is where the slow lorises belong. So say no to the pet trade.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/01/17/slow-lorises-are-not-pets/#ixzz3xTjvvre0

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.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/10/18/enthusiasts-called-to-join-sarawak-bird-race-15/#ixzz3p5FVBCKc

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.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/10/03/enthusiasts-all-geared-up-for-sarawak-bird-race-2015-on-nov-1/#ixzz3p5FESNTh

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.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/09/27/piasau-nature-reserve-set-to-become-worlds-next-eco-landmark/#ixzz3oFg6lXZB

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.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/10/04/hornbills-agents-of-change-at-piasau-nature-reserve/#ixzz3oFfYgL2Q