Kinabatangan Wetland Habitat Restoration Initiative by KOPEL-MESCOT Forest Restoration Work |
| FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT tinjau@tm.net.my |
Fragmented and degraded forests throughout
the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain remains
one of the most critical threats to the survival of
Borneo’s 10 primate species, and many other
wildlife species, found in the area. The Forests
of the Lower Kinabatangan have been degraded
in the past by two major factors; (a) forest fires;
and (b) uncontrolled poaching of timber -
particularly during the late 1980s and early
1990s. The MESCOT Initiative began more than
10 years ago (in 1997) with the aim of alleviating
rural poverty and the threat of unsustainable
activities, such as timber poaching, by creating
alternative sources of income for local
indigenous communities - namely through the
development of ecotourism activities.
After getting involved in fighting forest fires in
1998, the MESCOT Initiative began working in
earnest on the ground to link-up, and restore,
forest habitat for critically endangered wildlife
such as the orang-utan. This forest habitat
restoration program has since grown to be one
of the core activities of the MESCOT Initiative.
the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain remains
one of the most critical threats to the survival of
Borneo’s 10 primate species, and many other
wildlife species, found in the area. The Forests
of the Lower Kinabatangan have been degraded
in the past by two major factors; (a) forest fires;
and (b) uncontrolled poaching of timber -
particularly during the late 1980s and early
1990s. The MESCOT Initiative began more than
10 years ago (in 1997) with the aim of alleviating
rural poverty and the threat of unsustainable
activities, such as timber poaching, by creating
alternative sources of income for local
indigenous communities - namely through the
development of ecotourism activities.
After getting involved in fighting forest fires in
1998, the MESCOT Initiative began working in
earnest on the ground to link-up, and restore,
forest habitat for critically endangered wildlife
such as the orang-utan. This forest habitat
restoration program has since grown to be one
of the core activities of the MESCOT Initiative.
Links:
| Background & Introduction |
The restoration work has been ongoing now for
more than nine years beginning in 1999. These
efforts have been concentrated in three main
sites within the Pin-Supu Forest Reserve. This
reserve is a protected area, and is an important
part of the natural forest corridor along the
Kinabatangan River. This forest corridor is
critical for the survival of many rare and
threatened birds and mammals. This reserve
totally surrounds the four villages of the Batu
Puteh Community (where MESCOT is located).
The MESCOT forest restoration initiative, to date,
has resulted in the planting of over 56,000 trees
in more than 60ha of degraded floodplain
rainforest. The restoration has focused on
critically degraded sites that are essential
wildlife habitat and provide links, or corridors, for
the movement of wildlife. The sites are also
chosen based on their known history with
attention focused on sites with a history of
problems associated with their natural
regeneration. As there are no roads in this forest,
all forest areas are accessed on foot.
Accessibility and logistics are also a
consideration in choosing the sites to focus
restoration efforts.
more than nine years beginning in 1999. These
efforts have been concentrated in three main
sites within the Pin-Supu Forest Reserve. This
reserve is a protected area, and is an important
part of the natural forest corridor along the
Kinabatangan River. This forest corridor is
critical for the survival of many rare and
threatened birds and mammals. This reserve
totally surrounds the four villages of the Batu
Puteh Community (where MESCOT is located).
The MESCOT forest restoration initiative, to date,
has resulted in the planting of over 56,000 trees
in more than 60ha of degraded floodplain
rainforest. The restoration has focused on
critically degraded sites that are essential
wildlife habitat and provide links, or corridors, for
the movement of wildlife. The sites are also
chosen based on their known history with
attention focused on sites with a history of
problems associated with their natural
regeneration. As there are no roads in this forest,
all forest areas are accessed on foot.
Accessibility and logistics are also a
consideration in choosing the sites to focus
restoration efforts.
Interestingly, prior to the forest restoration efforts
by MESCOT, which began in 1999, no one had
ever attempted to rehabilitate degraded
floodplain forests in Borneo. In fact, before this
date there was very little scientific information
available regarding the numerous different types
of rainforest across the Kinabatangan Floodplain.
The lack of information regarding these forests
has meant that much of MESCOT's work has
been experimental in nature. For example, in
determining the specific species to plant in the
different soil and hydrological zones across the
floodplain. Other ecological information such as
the flowering and fruiting cycles, germination
techniques, and the suitable conditions and
method of planting trees in the field, has also
had to be found out through trial and error.
A major problem faced by this initiative has been
that the most severely degraded forests of the
area are most often found in the lowest lying and
subsequently most waterlogged areas of the
floodplain. Frequent flooding, throughout the
year, in these swampy areas has severely
complicated planting efforts, especially in terms
of the tree species chosen, but more so in terms
of the size and age of the planting material used,
and the techniques involved in their planting.
To date, MESCOT’s best results towards large
scale forest restoration appear to have been
achieved by "cutting-back" the ever-present
infestation of vines and weeds in the degraded
forest areas. Cutting back the infestation of vines
and weeds has enabled the natural penetration
of seed into these sites, the germination of seed
that reaches these sites, and the successful
growth of young trees without encumbrance.
This "liberation treatment" is still a big part of the
MESCOT restoration efforts.
In addition to this, however, tree planting and the
enrichment of the degraded sites with both
pioneer and climax tree species is still seen as
essential, especially to ensure an immediate
and consistent coverage and mix of new trees in
degraded sites. MESCOT's tree planting
program, is still seen as a critical element of the
forest restoration program in these forests.
Interesting spin-offs of the tree planting program
include a greater understanding of forest ecology
(especially native tree phenology) and site
suitability. This work has ultimately helped build
a better understanding of the forest types across
the floodplain.
by MESCOT, which began in 1999, no one had
ever attempted to rehabilitate degraded
floodplain forests in Borneo. In fact, before this
date there was very little scientific information
available regarding the numerous different types
of rainforest across the Kinabatangan Floodplain.
The lack of information regarding these forests
has meant that much of MESCOT's work has
been experimental in nature. For example, in
determining the specific species to plant in the
different soil and hydrological zones across the
floodplain. Other ecological information such as
the flowering and fruiting cycles, germination
techniques, and the suitable conditions and
method of planting trees in the field, has also
had to be found out through trial and error.
A major problem faced by this initiative has been
that the most severely degraded forests of the
area are most often found in the lowest lying and
subsequently most waterlogged areas of the
floodplain. Frequent flooding, throughout the
year, in these swampy areas has severely
complicated planting efforts, especially in terms
of the tree species chosen, but more so in terms
of the size and age of the planting material used,
and the techniques involved in their planting.
To date, MESCOT’s best results towards large
scale forest restoration appear to have been
achieved by "cutting-back" the ever-present
infestation of vines and weeds in the degraded
forest areas. Cutting back the infestation of vines
and weeds has enabled the natural penetration
of seed into these sites, the germination of seed
that reaches these sites, and the successful
growth of young trees without encumbrance.
This "liberation treatment" is still a big part of the
MESCOT restoration efforts.
In addition to this, however, tree planting and the
enrichment of the degraded sites with both
pioneer and climax tree species is still seen as
essential, especially to ensure an immediate
and consistent coverage and mix of new trees in
degraded sites. MESCOT's tree planting
program, is still seen as a critical element of the
forest restoration program in these forests.
Interesting spin-offs of the tree planting program
include a greater understanding of forest ecology
(especially native tree phenology) and site
suitability. This work has ultimately helped build
a better understanding of the forest types across
the floodplain.
| Restoration Techniques |
| Restoration Results to Date |
Present rehabilitation efforts are kindly funded by
the Alexander Abraham Foundation and
American Forests Global Releaf. This comes as
a continuation of previous efforts sponsored by
Discovery Channel and Ricoh Corporation
(Japan), and on the back of more than eight
years of previous work by the local community
through the MESCOT Initiative.
Present efforts are aimed at both stimulating the
natural regeneration process and expanding the
restoration coverage to new critically degraded
forest areas.
the Alexander Abraham Foundation and
American Forests Global Releaf. This comes as
a continuation of previous efforts sponsored by
Discovery Channel and Ricoh Corporation
(Japan), and on the back of more than eight
years of previous work by the local community
through the MESCOT Initiative.
Present efforts are aimed at both stimulating the
natural regeneration process and expanding the
restoration coverage to new critically degraded
forest areas.
| Sponsors |
