MESCOT Initiative Model Ecologically Sustainable Community Based Conservation & Tourism |
KOPEL (Batu Puteh Community Ecotourism Co-operative) Koperasi Pelancongan Mukim Batu Puteh, Kinabatangan Bhd S-4-685 |
For a millennia the indigenous ”Sungai” people of
the Lower Kinabatangan have been living off the
rainforest for food, medicine, household
commodities and products of trade. This world
changed dramatically from the 1960's onwards,
with the advent of mechanised extraction of the
forests timber resources. The ensuing rapid
reduction of traditional forest resources forced
many local people into a spiralling trap of
dependence on timber as the only remaining
viable source of trade. With the final conversion of
large tracts of lowland forests of the Lower
Kinabatangan throughout the 1980s into
permanent agricultural crops, many local people
were then forced to poach timber and other forest
products to eek out an existence.
The MESCOT Initiative was started in 1996 be a
group of about 30 visionary and dedicated
individuals from the different villages of Batu
Puteh to create an alternative medium of income
generation for the people of the area, while in the
process of protecting the last remaining vestige of
rainforest and traditional indigenous cultural
heritage.
The key objectives of the MESCOT Initiative was
to develop an alternative path of co-existence with
the remaining rainforest resources and generate a
sustainable long-term economic path for income
generation for the indigenous local people of the
area. The core and catalyst activity chosen by the
MESCOT group was Eco-Tourism. It was hoped
that this activity would be the key to raising income
in this poor and remote rural community, increase
the economic value of a depleted forest resource,
and, in the process, raise funds to support the
protection and restoration of the last remaining
wetland forests and wildlife of the area.
MESCOT’s scope was broadened in 1998 when
drought induced forest fires ravaged parts of the
remaining natural forests surrounding the village.
The MESCOT group voluntarily engaged to fight
these fires and in the aftermath decided it critical
to rehabilitate the degraded wetland forests and
critical wildlife habitats and corridors. At the time,
these steps were ground-breaking, as previously
little was known about the complex floodplain
forest tapestry and the different rainforest types of
the area. With the support of kind global citizens
the forest restoration work has since developed to
be a core activity of MESCOT driving the future of
the village run co-operative set up to manage
these activities.
The Key Outcomes of the MESCOT Initiative to
date include:
Interventions of:
All of the MESCOT Initiatives now fall under the
umbrella of the Batu Puteh Community Eco-
Tourism Co-operative (KOPEL), and MESCOT
Continues its ten year long struggle now under the
name:
KOPEL-MESCOT.
MESCOT in many respects has evolved into a
larger entity called KOPEL. Even so, the spirit of
MESCOT is so very much alive that many
members of the Batu Puteh community prefer to
go by the name MESCOT, because of the impact
and empowerment that MESCOT has embodied.
The spirit of empowerment, opportunity, and future
hope has already inspired a generation of youth
within the four villages of Batu Puteh and hopes to
continue to be a guide to the long-term
conservation and economic development of the
Lower Kinabatangan.
the Lower Kinabatangan have been living off the
rainforest for food, medicine, household
commodities and products of trade. This world
changed dramatically from the 1960's onwards,
with the advent of mechanised extraction of the
forests timber resources. The ensuing rapid
reduction of traditional forest resources forced
many local people into a spiralling trap of
dependence on timber as the only remaining
viable source of trade. With the final conversion of
large tracts of lowland forests of the Lower
Kinabatangan throughout the 1980s into
permanent agricultural crops, many local people
were then forced to poach timber and other forest
products to eek out an existence.
The MESCOT Initiative was started in 1996 be a
group of about 30 visionary and dedicated
individuals from the different villages of Batu
Puteh to create an alternative medium of income
generation for the people of the area, while in the
process of protecting the last remaining vestige of
rainforest and traditional indigenous cultural
heritage.
The key objectives of the MESCOT Initiative was
to develop an alternative path of co-existence with
the remaining rainforest resources and generate a
sustainable long-term economic path for income
generation for the indigenous local people of the
area. The core and catalyst activity chosen by the
MESCOT group was Eco-Tourism. It was hoped
that this activity would be the key to raising income
in this poor and remote rural community, increase
the economic value of a depleted forest resource,
and, in the process, raise funds to support the
protection and restoration of the last remaining
wetland forests and wildlife of the area.
MESCOT’s scope was broadened in 1998 when
drought induced forest fires ravaged parts of the
remaining natural forests surrounding the village.
The MESCOT group voluntarily engaged to fight
these fires and in the aftermath decided it critical
to rehabilitate the degraded wetland forests and
critical wildlife habitats and corridors. At the time,
these steps were ground-breaking, as previously
little was known about the complex floodplain
forest tapestry and the different rainforest types of
the area. With the support of kind global citizens
the forest restoration work has since developed to
be a core activity of MESCOT driving the future of
the village run co-operative set up to manage
these activities.
The Key Outcomes of the MESCOT Initiative to
date include:
- The Batu Puteh Community Eco-Tourism
Cooperative (KOPEL Bhd.) which
combines the village ecotourism
associations such as:
- The Miso Walai Homestay
Program - The Wayon Tokou Nature Guide
Association - The Mayo do Talud Boat Service
- Tulun Tokou Handicrafts
- The MESCOT Culture Group
Interventions of:
- Wetland Forest Rehabilitation, and
- Wetland Lake Rehabilitation.
All of the MESCOT Initiatives now fall under the
umbrella of the Batu Puteh Community Eco-
Tourism Co-operative (KOPEL), and MESCOT
Continues its ten year long struggle now under the
name:
KOPEL-MESCOT.
MESCOT in many respects has evolved into a
larger entity called KOPEL. Even so, the spirit of
MESCOT is so very much alive that many
members of the Batu Puteh community prefer to
go by the name MESCOT, because of the impact
and empowerment that MESCOT has embodied.
The spirit of empowerment, opportunity, and future
hope has already inspired a generation of youth
within the four villages of Batu Puteh and hopes to
continue to be a guide to the long-term
conservation and economic development of the
Lower Kinabatangan.
| MESCOT INITIATIVES |
Before & After Lake Restoration Work |
| FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT kopel@tm.net.my |
| Established March 1997 |
| Rainforest and Wildlife Habitat Restoration |
| Wetlands and Lake Habitat Restoration |
| Student - Volunteer Programs: Basic Information |
Contact Us for more Information at: Email : kopel@tm.net.my Phone : + 61 89 551064 Mobile: + 61 12 8897845 Address : PPM 538 Elopura Sandakan, 90000, Sabah, Malaysia |
| Established July 2003 |
| Started in 2000 this village Homestay Program was the first eco-tourism venture of the MESCOT Initiative and was so successful that the community decided to establish a cooperative (KOPEL Ltd.) to consolidate and strengthen these activities and their benefits to the local community & MESCOT's conservation work. |
Introduction to MESCOT:
| The Batu Puteh Community Ecotourism Co- operative (KOPEL) is set up to promote and build upon the full ethos and scope of Agenda 21 of the Earth Summit in Rio 1991, towards Ecologically Sustainable Development. The Community of Batu Puteh, is like many poor, isolated, indigenous rural communities in Sabah, Borneo Malaysia, where a millennia of traditional reliance on the rainforest for food, medicines, everyday commodities, as well trade with the outside world has been displaced by a rapidly developing world, the loss of forests and cultural heritage, and a cash driven lifestyle. Established now for almost ten years, KOPEL was set up to reverse the losses, to capitalise on ancient indigenous and traditional knowledge and culture, to save and create economic value and appreciation of the mega-diverse rich rainforests of the area, and in the process create a sense of hope for a sustainable future for the people of the Lower Kinabatangan Sabah. KOPEL’s aims are threefold:
within the community in a way that supports and enhances the future survival of the areas core cultural and biological diversity. In this way bringing positive and knowledge-based development and advancements and to further equip the people of the area for the future. • Finally, KOPEL aims to protect and enhance the natural environment through research and rehabilitation, undoing the wrongs of the past, and channelling attention, energy and funds into maintaining the areas diverse bird and wildlife and rainforest diversity. KOPEL has proudly already channelled ten years of sweat, tears, energy and resources into wetland forest restoration and recently lake restoration and holds this as the bowsprit of this program, giving inspiration, hope and direction to the entire community. |
KOPEL's MISSION & PURPOSE
| QUICK FACTS |
| KOPEL Ltd. is the Community Ecotourism Co- operative of the Batu Puteh Community, Lower Kinabatangan River. KOPEL is an acronym for KOPERASI PELANCONGAN which is Malaysian for Tourism Co-operative. KOPEL was registered in July 2003 under Subsection 7(1) of the Malaysian Co- operative Act 1993. KOPEL's Registration No. is: S-4-685 KOPEL is located in the centre of the Lower Kinabatangan, Eastern Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. KOPEL encompasses the community of Batu Puteh, which comprises four (4) villages:
Mengaris Village Perpaduan Village Singgah Mata Village. KOPEL has 209 members from all of the four above mentioned villages. KOPEL was formed to amalgamate (join) a number of separate village ecotourism associations such as MESCOT, Miso Walai Homestay, Mayo do Talud Boat Service, Wayon Tokou Nature Guide Service, MESCOT Culture Group, and the Tulun Tokou Handicrafts Associations. These associations now form separate management units within the organisational structure of KOPEL. KOPEL proudly encompasses the management objectives of these separate associations under the umbrella of the co- operative. KOPEL proudly encompasses the objectives of the MESCOT Initiative, which apart from creating sustainable alternative livelihoods for local people has a key interest in conservation of forests and biodiversity as well as supporting the skills development and training in the local community. |
| Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp Project TREC Update |
| Miso Walai Homestays offer a unique platform to experience the bird & wildlife wonders of the Lower Kinabatangan while getting a taste of local "Sungai" culture. Your support not only contributes to the inclusion of local indigenous population in ecotourism development within the area, but ALSO supports directly local Conservation Initiatives. |
