International Conference on 'Sabah Heart of Borneo (Hob) Green

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

COMPILATION OF PRESENTATIONS

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

COMPILATION OF PRESENTATIONS

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Published 2018 © Sabah Forestry Department Locked Bag No. 68, 90009 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

http://www.forest.sabah.gov.my/

COMPILATION OF PRESENTATIONS - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE HEART OF BORNEO 2017 24th-25th October 2017, The Magellan Sutera Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Sabah Forestry Department.

Printed in Malaysia

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International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

FOREWORD

The International Conference on the Heart of Borneo (HoB), with the theme ‘A Decade of Heart of Borneo Initiative: Accomplishments and the Way Forward’ is indeed timely and appropriate. It has been 10 years since the Declaration on the Heart of Borneo Initiative among the three countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia in 2007.

After a decade of implementation, the HoB Initiative is now the epitome of Sabah’s exemplary achievements in the management and conservation of its old world tropical rainforests, with much effort and contribution from the Sabah Forestry Department. As the custodian of Sabah’s rainforests, the Department ensures that the state’s rich biodiversity is duly safeguarded for the benefit of current and generations to come.

Under the HoB Initiative, five major programmes are given due attention, namely: (1) creation of a network of protected areas that is ecologically connected; (2) sustainable management of natural resources; (3) transboundary management initiatives; (4) ecotourism development and (5) capacity building. They are the pillars of the HoB Initiative, and hence, they formed the five sessions of presentations in the 2017 HoB Conference.

I believe that it is important to have wide stakeholder participation that adopts an open and broad partnership programme at the local and international level as part of the efforts to institutionalize the conservation and management of our natural ecosystems. This is the 9th HoB International Conference, and all the past conferences have been successfully organized to disseminate and showcase the importance of conservation through the HoB Initiative.

My sincere appreciation to the Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Sector Planning), Mr Frederick Kugan and the Organizing Committee (as listed on page 6 to 9) for the excellent team work in the planning and execution of the conference. I also thank the Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests (Research & Development), Dr Lee Ying Fah and the rapporteuring team, as well as Nurul Aqidah Ibrahim, Noor Azmizah Andaman and Dr Arthur Y.C. Chung, in preparing this compilation.

Thank you!

Datuk Sam Mannan Chief Conservator of Forests

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword iv 1.0 Conference Programme 1 2.0 Organizing Committee 6 3.0 Speeches 3.1 Welcoming Address by YBhg. Datuk Sam Mannan, 10 Chief Conservator of Forests, Sabah Forestry Department Address by the Right Honourable Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hj Aman, 13 3.2 Chief Minister of Sabah

4.0 THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A DECADE - TRANSBOUNDARY MANAGEMENT Keynote Address by Dato’ Dr. Mikaail Kavanagh [Renewables Plus Sdn. Bhd.] 17 Title: HoB: An Idea that Grew Plenary 1 by Mr. Haji Muhammad Safwan bin Abdullah Bibi [HoB Brunei] 26 Title: Heart of Borneo Corridor Project Plenary 2 by Dr. Prabianto Mukti Wibowo [HoB Indonesia] 30 Title: Heart of Borneo: Transboundary Ecotourism and Nature Protection: Promoting Conditions For Long-Term Sustainability and Prosperity in The Heart of Borneo Plenary 3 by by Ms. Wilhelmina Cluny [Forest Department Sarawak] 34 Title: Transboundary Management within the HoB Landscapes Plenary 4 by Mr. Frederick Kugan [Sabah Forestry Department] 39 Title: HoB Sabah - Providing Platform for Innovative Conservation Initiatives Rapporteur’s Notes 55

5.0 Paper Presentations

5.1 PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT

Paper 1 by Dr. Roberta Martin [Carnegie Institution for Science, USA] 58 Title: CAO-Sabah Science Paper 2 by Dr. Jedediah Brodie [University of Montana, USA] 63 Title: Landscape Connectivity, Wildlife Persistence, and Mega-dams in Malaysian Borneo Paper 3 by Dr. Benoit Goossens [Danau Girang Field Centre, Sabah] 68 Title: Conservation and Management of the Endangered Bornean Banteng (Bos javanicus lowi) – A Brief Overview of Findings from the State-wide Survey of Sabah Paper 4 by Dr. David Burslem [University of Aberdeen, UK] 72 Title: Changes in the Expression of Plant Functional Traits in Response to Logging in Tropical Forests Paper 5 by Eleanor Slade & Mr. Miklin Ationg [University of Oxford, UK & Department 76 of Irrigation and Drainage, Sabah] Title: Assessing the Benefits of Riparian Reserves: Developing the Science to Inform Environmental Policy Paper 6 by Dr. Luke Evans [Carnegie Institution for Science, USA] 83 Title: LiDAR and its Utilization in the Maintenance of Bornean Elephant Populations

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Paper 7 by Mdm. Anne Lasimbang [PACOS Trust, Sabah] 88 Title: Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas in Sabah Paper 8 by Dr. Sarah Scriven [University of York, UK] 92 Title: Forest Connectivity Benefits of High Conservation Value (HCV) Areas in RSPO Member-held Oil Palm Plantations Paper 9 by Dr. Yeong Kok Loong [SEARRP & University of Sheffield, UK] 97 Title: Impacts of Forest Fragmentation on Dipterocarp Recruitment in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo Rapporteur’s Notes 100 5.2 ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT Paper 10 by Mr. Albert Teo [Borneo Eco Tours] 104 Title: Ecotourism Development: Community Based Tourism in the Heart of Borneo Paper 11 by Mdm. Lynette Ramsay Silver [TYK Adventure Tours] Title: Following the Historic Death March Track: Eco Tourism in the Tawai and Taviu 111 Forest Reserves Paper 12 by Mr. Lee Kian Foh [Green Spider] 123 Title: Importance of Ecosystem Conservation in Ecotourism Development Paper 13 by Prof. Dr. Mohd. Shahwahid Haji Othman [Department of Natural 128 Resources Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)] Title: Willingness of Visitors to Pay for Ecosystem Conservation Paper 14 by Dr. Waidi Sinun [Borneo Refugia Sdn. Bhd.] 133 Title: Selling the Forest through Tourism, the Story of the Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge Paper 15 by Mr. Neville Yap [Forever Sabah/LEAP] 139 Title: Community Based Ecologically Sustainable Tourism (CBEST) Programme in Sabah Paper 16 by Mr. Djuanis Mogirong - Sabah Homestay Association 143 Title: Homestay Programme – Benefits to the Local Community in Sabah Paper 17 by Mr. Mohd Abu Bakar [Sabah Forestry Department] 151 Title: The Potential of Ecotourism Activities within the Telupid Forest Reserve Complex (TFRC) and its Surrounding Areas Paper 18 by Mr. Mark Louis Benedict [APE Malaysia] 158 Title: A Habitat Restoration Model in the Lower Kinabatangan through Volunteer Management Rapporteur’s Notes 164

5.3 SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Paper 19 by Dr. Robert Ong [Sabah Forestry Department] 168 Title: Forest Landscape Ecosystem Restoration in Sabah Paper 20 by Ms. Cynthia Ong [Forever Sabah] 175 Title: Sabah RSPO Jurisdiction Certification: the Smallholder Challenge Paper 21 by Prof. William F. Laurance [James Cook University, Australia] 183 Title: Roads To Ruin? Optimising Human Needs, Infrastructure and Forest Conservation in Sabah Paper 22 by Ms. Kertijah Abdul Kadir [Nestle Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.] 189 Title: RILEAF Project – Supporting K-COL Riparian Reforestation Paper 23 by Dr. Petra Kretzschmar [Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research 194 /Rhino and Forest Fund] Title: Securing, Restoring and Connecting Habitat for Large Mammals in Sabah, M’sia vi

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Paper 24 by Dr. Jephte Sompud & Mr. Collin Goh [UMS & KTS Plantation Sdn. Bhd.] 200 Title: Wildlife as a Natural Resource in Natural Forest Managed FMU: A Case Study in KTSP Sdn. Bhd., Segaliud Lokan, Sabah Paper 25 by Dr. Dzaeman Dzulkifli [Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research 204 Centre (TRCRC)] Title: Ex-situ Solutions for Conservation and Sustainable Land Use Strategies Paper 26 by Ms. Rosila Anthony & Ms. Norlina Mohd. Din [EU-REDD+ Project] 210 Title: The Status of the Establishment of Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) under the EU Programme – Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development Paper 27 by Mr. Jaime Gampawi [Sabah Forestry Department] 223 Title: Watershed Management in Ulu Kalumpang-Wullersdorf Sustainable Forest Management Project Paper 28 by Mr. Christopher A. Matunjau [Sabah Forestry Department] 232 Title: Restoration of Peatland in Sabah – Challenges and the Way Forward Paper 29 by Dr. Joseph Tangah [Sabah Forestry Department] 237 Title: A Decade of Restoration and Rehabilitation of Degraded Mangroves in Sabah Rapporteur’s Notes 245 5.4 CAPACITY BUILDING Paper 30 by Mr. Mahali Yusin [Sabah Forestry Department] 250 Title: Forest Laws and Enforcement in Sabah: Progress and Achievements Paper 31 by Mr. Bernard Valentine [Sabah Forestry Department] 255 Title: The Training at the Sabah Forestry Institute: Achievements and the Way Forward Paper 32 by Dr. Sara H. Williams [University of Montana, USA] 263 Title: Using Animal Movement Models to Assess Connectivity for Integration in

Optimized Reserve Network Design Paper 33 by Dr. Rosie Trevalyan [Tropical Biology Association, UK] 269 Title: Building Capacity for Ecosystem Services Valuation and Management Paper 34 by Ms. Amrei von Hase [Forest Trends, USA] 274 Title: Building Capacity for a Net Gain Policy

Paper 35 by Dr. Reza Azmi [Wild Asia, Malaysia] 278 Title: Approaches to Capacity Building in Palm Oil Paper 36 by Ms. Bernadette D. Joeman [Sabah Forestry Department] 284 Title: Capacity Building through the EErace

290 Rapporteur’s Notes

6.0 Plenary Session II – Synthesis of Conference 292

7.0 Chairman’s Reports 298 Closing Speech by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), 8.0 304 Malaysia 9.0 Photo Gallery 307

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International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

1.0 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Day 0 - (23rd October 2017) - Monday am - pm Arrival of Guests to Kota Kinabalu 2:00 – 6:00 pm Registration of Participants 7:00 pm Working Dinner – by invitation only Day One (24th October 2017) – Tuesday 7:30 am Registration of Participants 8:30 am Arrival of VVIPs and Invited Guests

8:55 am Arrival of YAB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, Chief Minister of Sabah

Welcoming Performance Heart of Borneo Song

Welcome Address by YBhg Datuk Sam Mannan, Chief Conservator of Forests 9:00 am Opening Speech by YAB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, Chief Minister of Sabah

Launching of the Conference by YAB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, Chief Minister of Sabah Signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) 9:45 am on Certificate Presentation Tour of Exhibition 10:00 am Refreshments / Press Conference Plenary Session I: The Accomplishments of a Decade – Transboundary Management (Venue: Ballroom II, The Magellan Sutera) Keynote Address by Dato’ Dr. Mikaail Kavanagh 11:00 am HoB: An Idea that Grew Mr. Haji Muhammad Safwan bin Abdullah Bibi - HoB Brunei 11:30 am Heart of Borneo Corridor Project Dr. Prabianto Mukti Wibowo - HoB Indonesia 11:45 am Heart of Borneo: Transboundary Ecotourism and Nature Protection: Promoting Conditions For Long-Term Sustainability and Prosperity in The Heart of Borneo Ms. Wilhelmina Cluny - Forest Department Sarawak 12:00 pm Transboundary Management within the HoB Landscapes Mr. Frederick Kugan - Sabah Forestry Department 12:15 pm HoB Sabah - Providing Platform for Innovative Conservation Initiatives 12:30 pm Luncheon

Concurrent Sessions*

1:30 – 3:00 pm Protected Areas Management Eco-Tourism Development

3:00 pm Refreshments

3:30 – 5:30 pm Protected Areas Management Eco-Tourism Development Welcoming Dinner, 24th October 2017, 7:30 – 10:00 pm Grand Ballroom, The Pacific Sutera, Kota Kinabalu *Note: please refer to separate programme on respective sessions

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Concurrent Session I: Protected Areas Management (Venue: Ballroom I) Day One (24th October 2017) – Tuesday Chairperson: Datuk Dr. Glen Reynolds, SEARRP 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm 2:00 pm Introduction by Session Chair Dr. Roberta Martin on behalf of Carnegie Institution for Science, USA 2:05 pm CAO-Sabah Science Dr. Jedediah Brodie – University of Montana, USA 2:20 pm Landscape Connectivity, Wildlife Persistence, and Mega-dams in Malaysian Borneo Dr. Benoit Goossens - Danau Girang Field Centre, Sabah 2:35 pm Conservation and Management of the Endangered Bornean Banteng (Bos javanicus lowi) – A Brief Overview of Findings from the State-wide Survey of Sabah Dr. David Burslem – University of Aberdeen, UK 2:50 pm Changes in the Expression of Plant Functional Traits in Response to Logging in Tropical Forests Dr. Eleanor Slade & Mr. Miklin Ationg – University of Oxford, UK & Department of Irrigation and 3:05 pm Drainage, Sabah. Assessing the Benefits of Riparian Reserves: Developing the Science to Inform Environmental Policy 3.30 pm Refreshments Chairperson: Dr. Agnes Agama, SEARRP 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

4:00 p.m. Introduction by Session Chair Dr. Luke Evans – Carnegie Institution for Science, USA 4.05 pm LiDAR and its Utilization in the Maintenance of Bornean Elephant Populations Mdm. Anne Lasimbang – PACOS Trust, Sabah 4:20 pm Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas in Sabah Dr. Sarah Scriven – University of York, UK 4:35 pm Forest Connectivity Benefits of High Conservation Value (HCV) Areas in RSPO Member-held Oil Palm Plantations Dr. Yeong Kok Loong – SEARRP & University of Sheffield, UK 4:50 pm Impacts of Forest Fragmentation on Dipterocarp Recruitment in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

5.05 pm - End of programme for Day 1

Day Two - (25th October 2017) – Wednesday

Concurrent Sessions*

Sustainable Natural Resources 9:00 am -10:30 am Capacity Building Management 10:30 am Refreshments Sustainable Natural Resources 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Capacity Building Management 1:00 pm Luncheon 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Plenary Session II – Synthesis of Conference Closing Session, Ballroom II

3:00 pm Arrival of the Guest of Honour

3:05 am Heart of Borneo Song and Video Show

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

3:30 pm Summary by Session Chairs

3:45 pm Closing Speech by Guest of Honour Tour of the Exhibition / Press Conference 4:00 pm Refreshments 5:00 pm Conference ends Day Three (26th October 2017) – Thursday Post Conference Tour

Concurrent Session II: Eco-Tourism Development (Venue: Ballroom II) Day One (24th October 2017) – Tuesday Chairperson: Dr. Jamili Nais, Director of Sabah Parks 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm 1:30 pm Introduction by Session Chair

Mr. Albert Teo - Borneo Eco Tours 1:35 pm Ecotourism Development: Community Based Tourism in the Heart of Borneo

Mdm. Lynette Ramsay Silver – TYK Adventure Tours 1:50 pm Following the Historic Death March Track: Eco Tourism in the Tawai and Taviu Forest Reserves

Mr. Lee Kian Foh - Green Spider 2:05 pm Importance of Ecosystem Conservation in Ecotourism Development

Prof. Dr. Mohd. Shahwahid Haji Othman – Department of Natural Resources Economics, 2:20 pm Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Willingness of Visitors to Pay for Ecosystem Conservation

Dr. Waidi Sinun - Borneo Refugia Sdn. Bhd. 2:35 pm Selling the Forest through Tourism, the Story of the Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge

2:50 pm Q&A Session 3:05 pm - Refreshments

Mr. Neville Yap - Forever Sabah/LEAP 3:30 pm Community Based Ecologically Sustainable Tourism (CBEST) Programme in Sabah

Mr. Djuanis Mogirong - Sabah Homestay Association 3:45 pm Homestay Programme – Benefits to the Local Community in Sabah

Mr. Mohd Abu Bakar - Sabah Forestry Department 4:00 pm The Potential of Ecotourism Activities within the Telupid Forest Reserve Complex (TFRC) and its Surrounding Areas Mr. Mark Louis Benedict - APE Malaysia 4:15 pm A Habitat Restoration Model in the Lower Kinabatangan through Volunteer Management 4:30 pm Q&A Session

5.00 pm - End of programme for Day 1

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Concurrent Session III: Sustainable Natural Resources Management (Venue: Ballroom II )

Day Two (25th October 2017) – Wednesday Chairperson: Dr. Rahimatsah Amat, Sabah Environmental Trust (SET) 9:00 am – 12:30 pm 9:00 am Introduction by Session Chair Dr. Robert Ong - Sabah Forestry Department 9:05 am Forest Landscape Ecosystem Restoration in Sabah Ms. Cynthia Ong - Forever Sabah 9:20 am Sabah RSPO Jurisdiction Certification: the Smallholder Challenge

Prof. William F. Laurance - James Cook University, Australia 9:35 am Roads To Ruin? Optimising Human Needs, Infrastructure and Forest Conservation in Sabah

Ms. Kertijah Abdul Kadir - Nestle Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. 9:50 am RILEAF Project – Supporting K-COL Riparian Reforestation Dr. Petra Kretzschmar - Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research /Rhino and Forest Fund 10:05 am Securing, Restoring and Connecting Habitat for Large Mammals in Sabah, Malaysia 10:20 am Q&A session 10:30 am - Refreshments Dr. Jephte Sompud & Mr. Collin Goh – UMS & KTS Plantation Sdn. Bhd. 10:45 am Wildlife as a Natural Resource in Natural Forest Managed FMU: A Case Study in KTSP Sdn. Bhd., Segaliud Lokan, Sabah

Dr. Dzaeman Dzulkifli - Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC) 11:00 am Ex-situ Solutions for Conservation and Sustainable Land Use Strategies Ms. Rosila Anthony & Ms. Norlina Mohd. Din- EU-REDD+ Project 11:15 am The Status of the Establishment of Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) under the EU Programme – Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development Mr. Jaime Gampawi - Sabah Forestry Department 11:30 am Watershed Management in Ulu Kalumpang-Wullersdorf Sustainable Forest Management Project Mr. Christopher A. Matunjau - Sabah Forestry Department 11:45 am Restoration of Peatland in Sabah – Challenges and the Way Forward Dr. Joseph Tangah - Sabah Forestry Department 12:00 pm A Decade of Restoration and Rehabilitation of Degraded Mangroves in Sabah

12:15 pm Q&A session 12:30 pm - Luncheon

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Concurrent Session IV: Capacity Building (Venue: Ballroom I ) Day Two (25th October 2017) – Wednesday Chairperson: Mdm. Ivy Wong, Hasanah Foundation, Malaysia 9:00 am – 12:30 pm 9:00 am Introduction by Session Chair Mr. Mahali Yusin - Sabah Forestry Department 9:05 am Forest Laws and Enforcement in Sabah: Progress and Achievements Mr. Bernard Valentine - Sabah Forestry Department 9:20 am The Training at the Sabah Forestry Institute: Achievements and the Way Forward Dr. Sara H. Williams - University of Montana, USA 9:35 am Using Animal Movement Models to Assess Connectivity for Integration in Optimized Reserve Network Design Dr. Rosie Trevalyan – Tropical Biology Association, UK 9:50 am Building Capacity for Ecosystem Services Valuation and Management Ms. Amrei von Hase - Forest Trends, USA 10:05 am Building Capacity for a Net Gain Policy 10:30 am - Refreshments Chairperson: Dr. Rosie Trevalyan, Tropical Biology Association, UK 11:00 am Introduction by Session Chair Dr. Reza Azmi - Wild Asia, Malaysia 11:05 am Approaches to Capacity Building in Palm Oil Ms. Bernadette D. Joeman - Sabah Forestry Department 11.20 Capacity Building through the EErace Discussion: Priorities and Measures for Capacity Building in the Heart of Borneo. 11.35 Co-chairs: Mdm. Ivy Wong & Dr. Rosie Trevalyan 12:30 pm - Luncheon

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

2.0 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

MAIN COMMITTEE

\ Front from left: Mohd Azman Othman, Indra P. Sunjoto, Mashor Hj. Mohd. Jaini, Hj. Mohd Salleh Hj. Abbas, Frederick Kugan, Datuk Sam Mannan (Chairman), Dr. Lee Ying Fah, Roslan Lalete, Samit Abd. Sani, Kinus Mais, Tn. Hj. Mohd Nasir Hj. Ag. Suman Back from left: Veronica Martin, Siti Zubaidah S. Abdullah, Yong Szu Cherng, Harith Ali, Rosalia Sipaun, Magdelina Maikas Not in the picture: Norsidi Kamdi, Noorhaneem Binti Shahrain, Zulkifli Suara

SECRETARIAT

Front from left: Danil Samir, Siti Zubaidah S. Abdullah, Musa Salleh, Rita Garcia, Frederick Kugan (Head), Monica Chang, Osman Bangkong, Shani Hj. Yusof, Shim Yee Fong, Hon Wai Kong Back from left: Mohammad Asma, Elne Betrece Johnlee, Samanja Salasim, Veronica Martin, Kristo Henry William, Dg Nurzaza Hj. Ag. Hamzah, Yong Szu Cherng, Norlisah Saiman, Sitiana Kunching, Cecilia Garcia, Malina Kulenting Not in the picture: Michelle Yap Sue Sem, Mohd. Amzari Mohd. Yusof, Amelia Cynthia Bosi, Marianne Luin, Hjh. Mariam Hj. Dino, Hamjah Sumo, Aliff Sumino, Nurzaili Ali, Muhammad Nasrul Omar, Angeline Karolus, Abdul Hakim Hassan, Sudiknoh Maksut 6

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

EXHIBITION

Front from left: Fong Pek Yee, Yong Szu Cherng, Musa Salleh, Indra P. Sunjoto (Head), Marianah Othman, Veronica Martin, Afendy Suraip Back from left: George Hubert Petol, Nigel Edward Datu Balanjiu, Helton Anthony Armebi, Alviana Damit Not in the picture: Alexander Hastie, John B. Sugau, Dr. Joan T. Pereira, Dr. Reuben Nilus, Eyen Khoo, Ricky A. Martin, Mohd Azman Othman, Paul Leo Lohuji, Daim Balingi, Hamra Hj. Liwangsa, Helda Parut, Suzana Sabran, Asiah Rasiman, Mohammad Abu Bakar, Johnny Kissing, Elne Betrece Johnlee, Mohd. Aminur Faiz Suis, Nur Syafikah Shamsul Kamal, Richard Majapun, Viviannye Paul, Loraiti Lolin, Sudirman Zainal, Ahmad Harun, Ezli Kuang Yu Hj. Tujoh, Fridah Ramli, Joanna Yandaman, Mohd. Freezailah Hj. Tarmiji, Sarina Omar, Abd. Aziz Abd. Rasid, Fadzil Abd. Rasid, Muharam Mahadi, Noralina Galing, Susan Lo, Makran Normin, Ag. Junidih Ag. Ali, Daud Sahdan, Johnny Insu, Mohd. Nazri Abd. Rahman, Simeon Linus

RAPPORTEURING & PROGRAMME BOOK

Front from left: Eyen Khoo, Maria Ajik, Dr. Arthur Y. C. Chung, Dr. Lee Ying Fah (Head), Dr. Reuben Nilus, Dr. Joan T. Pereira, Kuina Kimjus Back from left: Suzana Sabran, Noor Azmizah Andaman, Julsun @ Joseph Bin Sikui, Mohd. Aminur Faiz Suis, Kelvin Pang, Alviana Damit, Viviannye Paul, Nurul Aqidah Ibrahim, Elne Betrece Johnlee Not in the picture: Andurus Abi, Lee Kah Han, Monica Chang, Alexander Hastie, Nur Shafiqah Shamsul Kamal, Afendy Suraip 7

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

PUBLICITY, PROTOCOL, WELCOMING DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT

Front from left: Harith Ali, Marianah Othman, Hj. Mohd Salleh Hj. Abbas (Head), Azizah Landa, Magdelina Maikas Back from left: Salbiah Mohammad, Normah Osman, Monica Chang, Nur Fazeela Abdul Rahman, Osman Saibul, Noorsiah Hj. Ali, Afendy Suraip, Ezli Kuang Yu Hj. Tujoh, Nasir M Muin Not in the picture: Nigel Edward Datu Balanjiu, Ngan Bun Kun @ Rizuan

USHERETTES

Front from left: Nanidah Raman, Florence Abel Paulus, Jennifer Amora, Ereana Tuarah, Aileen Nichol Back from left: Salbiah Mohammed, Magdelina Maikas, Harbayah Mohammad, Shauna Joane Silveo, Judy Ha, Mary Kulenting, Noraini Kassim, Shim Vun Yee Not in the Picture: Marie Christine Robert

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

EXCURSION LOGISTICS

Front from left: Front from left: Jannet Hilarius, Samit Abd. Sani, Mashor Mohd. Jaini (Head), Easter H. Francis Jubilee, Idris Md Jair, Kinus Mais Head), Nelly Undih, Sitti Khadizah Abd Kadir Zubaidah Kaffle Back from left: Back from left: Shafie Abu, Idris Md. Jair, Kasmawati Laonggo, Daphne Robert, Jumaiyah Hj Abdullah, Mazlan Dullah, Bilma Ismail, Azam Shah Harris, Juhari Bair Awang Yusof Not in the picture: Not in the picture: Aloh Ayus, Hamidah Bujing, Sarah Chong Awang Jaya Jabail

SAFETY & SECURITY

Front from left: Abdullah Arsjad, Mohd Fazlee Awang, Jefry Lundu, Isgau Abdullah, Tn. Hj. Mohd Nasir Hj. Ag. Suman, Suhaidi Karim, Jerry Husrin Not in the Picture: Zulkifli Suara (Head)

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

3.1 WELCOMING ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, SABAH, YBHG DATUK SAM MANNAN

Deanna, (5) beautiful dancing girls, ushering me, bidding at my feet?

Bismillahirrahman Nirahim. Thank you Madam MC, Deanna, always charming and delightful, the personification of the Heart of Borneo and the envy of many other hearts.

The Right Hon. CM, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, first of all, Sir, our congratulations, for your recent award, most deserving and a pride for Sabah. May your reign be long and successful. The outcomes of the HoB in Sabah, over all these years, have ridden on your indulgence to support the cause and vision of sustainable livelihoods. Thank you.

Honorable Speaker of the State Assembly, Honorable Deputy CM, Honorable Ministers, Your Excellency the Ambassador of Germany, Honorable State Secretary, Honorable Members of Parliament and the State Assembly, YABHG Tun Jean Abdullah of the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Center, Deputy State Secretaries, The Secretary General, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Malaysia, The Timber Industry, NGOS, distinguished guests, speakers, the media, ladies and gentlemen.

We welcome you to the 9th Sabah HoB Conference, and 2017 is also the 10th anniversary of the HoB initiative, since its launching in 2007 in Bali.

The Rt Hon CM has been our guest of honor continuously, without fail, 9 times in a row, always on time and no slackness, not missing in action, not absconding, but loyally and energetically with us, to show his commitment to the ideals of the HoB. That is commitment of the highest order. The HoB fraternity acknowledges and appreciates it very much.

Now to the business at hand. Ladies and Gentlemen, I will not elaborate on the progress made in the 3 countries, since these will be explained by the speakers, the exhibitions etc. Instead, I want to be the Devil’s advocate today, if not the devil himself – Little Lucifer, Not Big Lucifer.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the HoB Initiative is one long road of many challenges, that have to be overcome, if the HoB is to truly succeed, in achieving sustainable livelihoods, which is the ultimate aim. Let me explain.

(1) Take the transboundary issue to start with. In the case of Sabah, transboundary actually means: dead elephants, dead Rhinos, dead hornbills, dead pangolins etc. There is also an old legend that says, raiding parties used to have a ritual ceremony in some parts of Borneo, before they came to visit us once a year (visit Sabah Year 1881), - i.e. a visit to plunder wildlife, a visit to harvest human heads, confiscate rice etc. When there is an opportunity, they also harvest our womenfolk. Not bad. I like to do that too. Not as drastic today, ladies and gentlemen, but it still occurs.

Admittedly, our people are also equally responsible as peddlers, or collaborators. But this serious issue needs to be addressed at the highest policy level of the HoB. Otherwise, the transboundary reserves are a threat and not an opportunity to us and a corridor of death. Our forests become green deserts, devoid of animals.

Then there is the issue of Sustainable Financing for SFM, conservation and other requirements for work on the ground. Apart from the generous contributions of our partners such as WWF, The Royal Society and now the

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP), NGOS such as LEAP, philanthropists, and others, the big money promised to make a difference by those who are most concerned and rich enough to pay, is lost, lost in verbal diarrhea. If you believe in REDD (+ or - ) for instance and all those other grand schemes, supposed to make a difference to Sustainable Financing, then, you are in a state of denial. Those bureaucrats and bean counters (one bean, two beans) who thought of all these ideas, cannot even catch a bull, because, instead of grabbing the bull by the horns, they try to catch the bull by the Balls. This won’t work. Penny Wise, Pound Foolish.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I said in so many words to HRH Prince Charles in 2011, when I was invited to give a speech at St James’s Palace, London and I described REDD like these, I said “Sir, REDD is an idea created by Al Capone’s descendants to use fear, intimidation, blackmail and threats to extract and extort money”. The bigger the threat, the bigger the returns. Burn the forest down, cut trees down and you are a hero. Do things well, try to conserve, good governance, get certified and you are of no value. Ladies and Gentlemen, REDD is therefore one big con job unless serious people like us are rewarded. Be careful if this is to be the major sort of financing in the HoB. Finding money to finance conservation in a rich island like Borneo, is actually not all that difficult. Just use your brains.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Sabah spends about RM150m on forest management – RM100m for running the department, including the support of my life style and another RM50m from both the Federal and State Governments for development – about USD$35m a year, in total. This is USD$350m in the last (10) years. It reflects the country’s seriousness in reversing the doomsday projection to oblivion. Even more so, now that forest, is only 3% or less of government revenue from 70%. The evil oil palm is in fact, financing much of conservation today – including donations from the oil palm industry itself. Our jurisdictional CSPO endeavor – the pillar of our quest to address governance, is critical for Sabah’s HoB. The timber industry is also taxed a conservation fee to support SFM. The thrust of all these is, be financially independent to support conservation – and do not depend on other people and get your neck strangled.

Certification – another buzzword and ideal, relevant to the HoB. But there is hardly any flexibility in its implementation. Economics is ignored. Arbitrary time lines on acceptance are imposed. I did argue once in Bonn in a FSC forum that, they will end up as elites of no use to places that need some flexibility and critical help. They have the power to take us to heaven. I said – by ignoring our pleadings, you are pushing us to hell instead. What satisfaction do you get out of that? Someone once told me, that certification is not a democratic endeavor – but some kind of dictatorship – the Tyranny of the minority.

And the most persuasive danger? Populism and the promise of Nirvana and the happy hunting grounds. I promise you Ulu Segama, I promise you Kinabalu, I promise you Deana, Aaah you cannot have her, we already have her, sorry. Populism will dismantle the whole concept of the HoB. The strongest defense, is the institutionalization of conservation: good governance, world class performance, certified and with lots of stakeholders and friends. Conservation must also eventually become the culture of our society – that is the goal.

The quality of your human resources, Ladies and Gentlemen, in my opinion, is the most critical requirement of the final results. Lethargy, malaise, inconsistent performance, hot and cold reactions, being timid, ‘takut- takut’, poor reasoning capacity, slow, plain laziness, apathy, dopiness and goofs in our institutions, shall ensure failure. You cannot maintain your Mojo or your Mana if the HoB is to be managed and driven by Bums. Believe me. Let Meritocracy Prevail For Maximum Benefits.

Do not end up opening a Play School Centre for Decision Makers. (This sentence, I borrowed).

Chief Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, enough from me – I can go on and on, forever, and a day. Lest to say, if I may summarize our strategies to ensure the success of our HoB, they are as follows:

Improvements in livelihoods in a real manner addressing the quality of life and socio-economic development, must come first before conservation can work. That is the Sabah way.

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Malaysia and Sabah, have many clever people. But we also have noisy idiots. Discern and evaluate what you hear. Work on the ground is the real equalizer.

If certification schemes become elitists and dictatorial – they will do more harm than good. People will create their own schemes. What serves your society and is accepted becomes the norm. If the world does not buy your timber, too bad. Use it yourself.

Rewarding rogues must stop no matter how big they maybe. Instead, reward us. We have made enormous sacrifices and suffer the opportunity costs of abstinence – almost total abstinence.

Political stability and good policy continuity are vital. The running of a government is not by musical chairs or a chance event. Be careful what you wish for. (I wish for Brexit).

Ladies and Gentlemen, just one last point to go if I may, i.e. on the issue of communities. The Forestry Department is sometimes portrayed as the Great Satan. The torturer of communities. But, The Great Satan shall now present you a show. (Video Clip).

CM Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I thank my dedicated team, headed by the one and only Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr Frederick Kugan, for planning and executing this event, par excellence. Well done.

With that, our heartfelt thank you to the Rt Hon CM and his cabinet, and everybody here, who have come from far and near, to grace this opening and honor us.

Thank you and good morning.

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3.2 OPENING SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF SABAH, YAB DATUK SERI PANGLIMA MUSA HAJI AMAN

I am honoured to join you here to officiate the International Conference on the Heart of Borneo (HoB):“A Decade of Heart of Borneo (HoB) Initiative: Accomplishments and the Way Forward”. It has been 10 years since the Declaration on the Heart of Borneo Initiative among the three countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Borneo's complex soil and terrain is home to a wide range of habitats for plants and animals. Overall, the Borneo flora is estimated to harbour some 15,000 sepcies of vascular plants, which is close to six per cent of the world total. Of these, 40 to 50 per cent are endemic or confined to this island. The conservation of these forests is significant and equally important, these forests are of critical value to the people as a natural heritage and for the goods and services that they provide.

After a decade of implementation since 2007, I am proud to say that the HoB Initiative is now the epitome of Sabah's exemplary achivements in the management and conservation of its old world tropical rainforests, with much effort and contribution from the Sabah Forestry Department and her partners. As the custodian of Sabah's rainforests, the Department ensures that the state's rich biodiversity is duly safeguarded for the benefit of current and many more generations to come.

The Federal Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has allocated approximately RM65 million under the Ninth to Eleventh Malaysia Plans to support the HoB implementation in Sabah. This is used to support capacity building, security enhancement in forest reserves through the establishment of field outposts and wildlife patrol units, re-establishment of forest corridors through forest restoration, identification of high conservation value forests through scientific expeditions and other crucial activities including education programmes.

A significant achievement that is in line with the HoB initiative is the State Government's policy in conserving its natural ecosystems through protected areas. For the terrestial ecosystem, about 26 per cent of the state's land area is now gazetted as Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), and this figure represents the largest network of TPAs in the country. I understand that we are on track to expand the size of TPAs to 30 per cent of Sabah's land mass by 2025. This must progress beyond mere paper protection and must be managed to protect biological areas especially wildlife species from threats, such as poaching and illegal felling.

The Heart of Borneo is not only for forest biodiversity and wildlife, but also crucial for the well being of communities. The ongoing rationalisation of land use for socio-economic well-being of local communities especially those living within or adjacent to protected areas should be in tandem with increase of TPAs. To address this, the government has excised up to about 21,400 hectares of forest reserves for community purposes since 2010. We also add new forest reserve land, from time to time.

HoB also includes engagement with local community through various initiatives such as ecotourism, and most importantly they must be consulted in order to ensure that any programme introduced will benefit the community. One such example is the ongoing collaboration between Koperasi Pelancongan Mukim Batu Puteh Kinabatangan Berhad, or KOPEL Berhad, with the SFD on ecotourism as well as the management and protection of forest reserves. This is the sort of engagement that the State Government is looking for and is keen to expand to other local communities with similar interests.

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To date, over 30 scientific expeditions have been organized under HoB Initiative, providing us with valuable information to enhance biodiversity conservation as well as to investigate threats and issues. The data procured is also used in the formulation of Forest Management Plans which are crucial to effectively manage forests, and necessity in having forest reserves certified under internationally recogniized certification schemes. Over 700,000 hectares of Sabah's forests have been certified either under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or the MTCS system, which is affiliated to the European Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Today, Sabah has one of the largest areas of certified forests in South East Asia. Besides good forest management and governance, emphasis is also given to forest restoration, in terms of its productive and functional capacity.

The collaboration between the Sabah Forestry Department and Carnegie Institute of Science in deploying the Carnegie Airbone Observatory (CAO) to map the structure and quality of Sabah's forests, carbon stocks and biodiversity patterns, has yielded interesting results that contribute significantly to enhance forest conservation in Sabah. Among the findings is the discovery of the world's tallest tropical tree measuring 94.1 metres in the Danum Valley Conservation Area.

Another on-going international project within HoB area is the UNDP-GEF Project on “Biodiversity Conservation in Multiple-Use Forest Landscape in Sabah, Malaysia”. Work is undertaken to support the state to further mainstream biodiversity conservation from land use planning policy and financing. I was made to understand this includes the pioneering tasks to design a system for Sabah to deliver Net Gain of biodiversity in the context of sustainable economic development and the establishment of state wide Conservation Trust Fund, including Payment for Ecosystem Services and Conservation Financing. This will provide a crucial income stream to sustain the management and protection of totally protected areas in the State.

In Sabah, much emphasis has been given to best practices in the agricultural sector. One such initiative is the Sabah Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, a 10-year programme launched in late 2015 to have all Crude Palm Oil produced from Sabah to be Certified Sustainable Palm Oil or CSPO. It is my hope that by 2025, all oil palm plantations both large and smallholders are fully certified. I am grateful for the support of stakeholders such as Forever Sabah and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) as technical advisors to guide the CSPO process, which is crucial given its complexity and the limited timeline.

Under the HoB initiative, the department has been proactive, looking into innovative financing of the HoB area through potential eco-tourism activities, REDD+ programme and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). It is envisaged that in future, these could be developed under the HoB branding. We have also gazetted carbon in trees as a forest produce and therefore taxable.

It is important to have wide stakeholder participant that adopts a broad partnership programme at the local and international levels as part of efforts to intitutionalise conservation and management of natural ecosystems. This is the 9th Heart of Borneo International Conference, and all the past conferences have been successfully organized to disseminate and showcase the importance of conservation through the HoB Initiative.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the Sabah Forestry Department, under the leadership of Datuk Sam Mannan, and his capable team for organizing this event. I strongly believe that the department will continue to excel for the betterment of good forest governance in line with its vision and mission. I hope that the HoB conference this year, together with the exhibitions will

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achieve the objectives of showcasing a decade of HoB initiative achievements in Sabah and bringing the state to greater heights in conservation.

With these remarks, I hereby declare this conference open and I wish you all a pleasant and productive conference.

Thank you very much.

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THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A DECADE - TRANSBOUNDARY MANAGEMENT

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KEYNOTE ADDRESS

HOB: AN IDEA THAT GREW

Mikaail @ Mike Kavanagh Renewables Plus Sdn. Bhd.

Dato’ Dr. Mikaail @ Mike Kavanagh arrived in Malaysia in 1978 to co-ordinate the Malaysian Primates Research Programme for Cambridge University with Universiti Pertanian Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He then spent 25 years with WWF-Malaysia, starting with assisting Sarawak Forest Department to establish new protected areas, and latterly 16 years as national CEO through 2006. In 2000, he proposed that

WWF explore the idea of creating transboundary protected areas along the Indonesia/Malaysia border, with

Brunei joining in later that eventually became HoB.

Abstract

The Heart of Borneo began as a very simple idea that was put forward at a WWF Asia-Pacific meeting in October 2000. It proposed joining up the existing protected areas along the Indonesian/Malaysian border on Borneo, plus some additional proposed sanctuaries, as one transboundary PA complex, stretching along about three quarters of the entire international boundary. It was focused on bilateral co-operation to ensure connectivity of pristine habitat, with its rationale based on island biogeography. It was called the Borneo Forest Initiative (BFI) and was taken up by WWF with just enough funding to elaborate a plan. Initial progress was slow, but three factors were critically important for giving it life: (1) Embracing sustainable development for human use of the forested landscape around the totally protected core, (2) Changing the name from the uninspiring BFI to HoB, and (3) Evolving from a bilateral NGO concept to a commitment supported by and thereafter led by the governments of all three Bornean nations. As it was, after nearly seven years of development, HoB’s viability was sealed in Bali on 12th February 2007 when the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia signed the historic Heart of Borneo Declaration.

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Slide Presentation

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PLENARY PAPER 1

HEART OF BORNEO CORRIDOR PROJECT

Haji Muhammad Safwan bin Abdullah Bibi HoB Brunei

Hj. Muhammad Safwan bin Abdullah Bibi graduated from Cranfield University, UK, with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and an M.Sc. in Forestry from Aberdeen University, Scotland. In 2008, he was promoted as a Silviculturist. In 2013, he was assigned to the Minister’s Office of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism as Acting Senior Special Duties Officer until December 2016. Since December 2016, he was appointed as Acting CEO of HoB, Brunei Darussalam.

Abstract

Since the inception of the Heart of Borneo (HoB) Initiative in 2007, it has established itself as a leading example in the forest and biodiversity conservation initiatives involving multilateral Governments; namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia. So far, collaborations in the transboundary protected area management within the HoB area are bilateral in nature, focusing on protected areas at common border. Hence, the proposal on the “HoB Corridor Project”, introduced in 2013 during the 7th Heart of Borneo Trilateral Meeting, held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, and in support of the renewed commitment made by the Ministers responsible for HoB as stated in the “Bandar Seri Begawan Joint Statement”, was aimed at creating the first trilateral transboundary protected area management corridor – linking up the protected areas, well managed forest management areas and other sustainable land uses of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Indonesia. This should eventually form a large conservation focused landscape in the Heart of Borneo that could potentially make it the world’s longest connected landscape managed under transboundary collaboration. This paper will highlight and provide updates on the current status and progress of this corridor project, including opportunities, challenges and the way forward for its successful implementation.

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PLENARY PAPER 2

HEART OF BORNEO: TRANSBOUNDARY ECOTOURISM AND NATURE PROTECTION: PROMOTING CONDITIONS FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE HEART OF BORNEO

Prabianto Mukti Wibowo Ministry for Forestry Governance, Indonesia

Dr. Prabianto M. Wibowo holds a Doctor’s Degree in Economics from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of Edinburgh, UK, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia. He is currently working at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as Assistant Deputy Minister for Forestry Governance. He is responsible for providing expert support for policy-making in particular economic analysis relating to forests and climate change, green economy, consistency and coherence between sectors and regulations. He also serves as National Coordinator of the Heart of Borneo (HoB) Initiative, and member of the International Steering Committee of a multi-partners project on Forest Certification for Ecosystem Services (ForCES). Prior to joining the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in 2013, Mr. Prabianto spent over twenty seven years in the Ministry of Forestry, where he served various positions both at Head office and field assignments. Mr. Prabianto has also worked for over four years (2005 – 2008) at the ASEAN Secretariat, where he was the Manager of ASEAN – German Regional Forest Programme.

Abstract

The Heart of Borneo is spatially and culturally defined by the long international border between Indonesia and Malaysia from the north-east to the south-west of the island. The border traverses habitats and ecosystem with rich and unique biodiversity, is the watershed from where most of the main rivers flow out to the coast in Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan, and it has been crossed and inhabited by several Dayak ethnic groups who share similar cultural traditions. This makes the Heart of Borneo a priority for biodiversity and ecosystem service conservation, and a unique cultural and natural endowment. The three countries of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia committed to conserve and sustainably manage the Hob in 2007. Two trans-boundary protected areas systems lie across the international border with Sarawak in West and North Kalimantan. More areas are protected by communities or are under best management practices to provide safe corridors for species (e.g., elephants between North Kalimantan and Sabah). The development of ecotourism in the Heart of Borneo can also contribute to preserving this area and enhancing conservation. An effective protected area system and ecotourism activities that involve local partners and communities can guarantee security, sustainability and prosperity along the long international border, Heart of Borneo represents a unique place to develop and support a world-class, innovative, trans-border, green destination for ecotourism in South East Asia with integrated packages linking Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan, in partnership with governments and local communities. Ecotourism was identified as one of the pillars of the Trilateral HoB Initiative. In April 2017, Indonesia established a multi-stakeholder Task Force with also private sector representatives from Malaysia to seek expert technical advice for the development of a roadmap for transboundary Green Ecotourism in HoB and the launching of the Visit the Heart of Borneo campaign. The positive experience of the Task Force provides a lesson for the future coordination to strengthen multi-stakeholder fora, increase dialogues and develop common vision and initiatives in support of the transboundary area. Development and conservation need to go hand-in-hand to guarantee a sustainable future for all.

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PLENARY PAPER 3

TRANSBOUNDARY MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE HOB LANDSCAPES

Wilhelmina Cluny Forest Department Sarawak

Wilhelmina Cluny graduated with a degree in Animal Resource Science and Management from Universiti

Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in 2005 and was engaged as a Research Officer for the ITTO-supported transboundary projects in Pulong Tau National Park and Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary. She joined Forest

Department Sarawak as a Research Officer in 2013. Currently, she is attached to the Social Forestry Division, assisting in the implementation of ITTO-supported buffer zone management for Pulong Tau National Park and community-based activities in the Sg. Menyang Conservation Area.

Abstract

In 1994, Sarawak and Indonesia pioneered the establishment of the first transboundary biodiversity conservation area (TBCA) in the humid tropics covering a combined area of 1.1 m ha in Lanjak Entimau W.S. in Sarawak and Betung Kerihun N.P. in West Kalimantan. In 2005, a second TBCA partnership was established between Pulong Tau N.P. Sarawak and Kayan Mentarang N.P. in East Kalimantan, totaling 1.3 m ha. In 2007, the Declaration of HoB inititative in Bali followed similar concept of ITTO transboundary cooperation by Sarawak and Indonesia. In Sarawak, the two ITTO projects in Lanjak Entimau and Pulong Tau, which fall within the HoB landscapes have made significant contributions towards the development and progress since its inception. HoB initiative being a voluntary partnership has focussed on individual programmes, with little emphasis or interest on joint cross-border management actions. Though voluntary in essence, HoB partners, where relevant, should seriously consider and address issues of common interests that affect cross-border resources, conservation and security. Transboundary cooperation has led to securing large natural contiguous forest ecosystems for biodiversity conservation beyond international borders.

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Slide Presentation

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PLENARY PAPER 4

HOB SABAH - PROVIDING PLATFORM FOR INNOVATIVE CONSERVATION INITIATIVES

Frederick Kugan Sabah Forestry Department

Frederick Kugan is a forester by profession having graduated from Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) (1987) and from New Brunswick University, Canada (1991). He has been with the Sabah Forestry Department since

1987 and had served in various positions over the years. He was appointed as the Deputy Chief Conservator of

Forests (Forest Sector Planning) in 2008. His current portfolio, amongst others, involves: Policy and

Legislation, Forest Sectoral Planning, International and Corporate Affairs and Project Collaboration and

Cooperation.

Abstract

The Sabah chapter of the HoB initiative, over the last 10 years, had accomplished many in roads of championing the cause for conservation. Key achievements included establishment of forest connectivity addressing fragmentation in terms of expanding Totally Protected Areas, reinforcing forest protection, enhancing the management of protected areas, large scale forest restoration, empowering community involvement in conservation, mainstreaming sustainable practices in agriculture sectors, development of ecotourism, and making HoB as the conservation branding in environment education to reach out to the community in Sabah. Despite these achievements, the journey as stipulated in the Strategic Plan of Action is still far from complete. The success of the HoB initiative in the long run can only be realized if it leads to a bigger outcomes that benefit the community and society at large. With this in mind and the wealth of innovative conservation related initiatives in the state, this paper will highlight the issues and the focus for the next phase of HoB implementation in Sabah. This includes expanding HoB influence beyond its geographical landscape, addressing socio-cultural barriers and efforts to address cross sectoral issues pertaining to capacity building and conservation finance.

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Introduction

The HoB Initiative was incepted in 2007 by the three nations i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia under a common goal of conservation with the objectives to preserve and maintain the sustainability of Borneo’s remaining rainforests, for the welfare of present and future generations.

The Sabah component involves an area of about 4 million hectares or 20% of the 22 million hectares designated by the three nations to be under the Initiative. Since the midterm review of the 9th Malaysia Plan, about RM38 million have been invested thus far for the development of the initiative in Sabah. The priority of HoB Sabah, as stipulated in the Revised Strategic Plan of Action, is focused on three areas of work that are: (i) maintenance of forest connectivity through the strengthening of the Protected Areas network; (ii) establishment of sustainably managed forested corridors connecting these areas; and (iii) the opportunity for enhanced trans-boundary cooperation.

Since its inception in 2007, HoB Sabah has brought about significant influence in mainstreaming conservation in the state. The following chapters of this paper briefly highlight the achievements and describe the next phase of the HoB Sabah in relation to the many other conservation initiatives in the state.

Achievements of HoB Sabah in the last 10 years

The last 10 years of HoB, as per illustrated in the following graph (Chart 1), had succeeded in constituting of about 1.9 million ha of the State’s land mass as Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), which is the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of the initiative. This is a milestone achievement, which is in line with the State’s target to reach 30% or about 2.2 million hectares of Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) by 2025 (Figure 1 & Map 1).

Target 2.2 mil Ha (2025)

1.9 mil Ha (2017)

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2007 2017

EXPANSION

Figure 1: TPAs expansion from 2007 to 2017

Map 1: Projected TPAs in 2025

Following the expansion, the protection was enhanced with the establishment of 19 field outposts, 33 scientific expeditions were conducted within various forest reserves, management plans focusing on these forest reserves which are crucial connectivity for HoB were formulated, environmental education (EE) including road shows were conducted exposing at least 3200 individuals from villagers, students and teachers, and of course the annual HoB conferences (now entering its ninth conference) has provided the platform for continuous sharing of progress among stakeholders and to resolve issues in championing the cause of the initiative.

Over the years, HoB Initiative has brought about bigger outcomes leading to, amongst others, in safeguarding of the natural environment providing crucial functions such as water sources for the local populace, safe haven for wildlife (especially endangered species such as Orang Utan and Pygmy Elephant, etc) to thrive, forest landscapes restoration involving about 24,000 hectares of critically important corridors, and had attracted various interested parties in the form of MoUs, of which about 65 MoUs involving at least RM110 million worth of co-operation were sealed, to implement actions that are contributing towards achieving the objectives of HoB. 41

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All the above contribute toward the national commitment towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly in terms of maintaining and realizing a healthy and quality life. This ranges from providing clean air and water, to economic needs and general well-being of society.

Though having achieved the above after 10 years of implementation, there are still a lot of works remaining to be implemented as stipulated in the Revised Strategic Plan of Action (SPA).

The next phase

The success of the HoB initiative in the long run can only be realized if it leads to bigger outcomes that benefit the community and society at large. The focus for the next phase of HoB implementation in Sabah includes expanding the initiative's influence beyond its geographical landscape, addressing socio-cultural barriers and efforts to address cross sectoral issues pertaining to capacity building and conservation finance.

The five HoB programs will be further promoted and supported in relation to the development of the many conservations related initiatives in the state as follows:

Protection and restoration of corridors

One of the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of HoB Sabah is the designation of TPA to reestablish forest connectivity. Over the last ten years, about 1.9 million hectares of forest areas were constituted as Totally Protected Areas (TPA) in Sabah, most of which are within the HoB landscapes. To achieve the 30% TPA target by 2025, the department will engage with partners such as SEARRP with their MoU with the Rainforests Trust, to translate the 30 years of research findings undertaken under Royal Society in Danum and various parts of Sabah. The outcomes will be used to identify the remaining critical forest areas based on scientific grounds to be set-aside as TPAs as well as to establish practical mechanism for its long-term monitoring. Besides the production forests, the remaining 4% or about 300,000 ha may come from other non-protected areas, state-land, private lands or even community lands.

In addressing connectivity across landscapes, findings from the latest LIDAR Hyper-Spectral survey by Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) would be used to identify High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stocks (HCS) forests. The results of the aerial surveys are being fine-tuned and would be utilized for various purposes including state land-use rationalization (with possible high HVF and HCS for lands swap) and identification of corridors across ecological landscapes beyond HoB area. The outcomes are also crucial in supporting ongoing initiatives such as the Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) and the consolidation of Forest Management Estates (FME) Initiative.

Having established the corridors, management plans will continue to be formulated based on the scientific expeditions and social baseline surveys conducted at the Forest Management Unit (FMU) level and specific management prescriptions prescribed for implementation. Besides protection, emphasis would be placed on restoring degraded corridors. Hob Sabah had thus far treated about 26,000 hectares of critically important corridors under the Malaysia plan funding and this is expected to be intensified once the corridors are identified. This nonetheless has to be closely executed with the larger forest restoration program, which has thus far treated in the forms of silviculture treatment, enrichment planting and forest plantations of about 665,575 hectares

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017 statewide. The role of research would be crucial to help identify appropriate and cost effective interventions in the long run.

The concept of biodiversity offsets is also being explored to demonstrate No Net Loss (NNL) or Net Gain (NG) of biodiversity, which is being piloted in the GoM-UNDP-GEF Biodiversity Conservation in Multiple-use Forest Landscapes in Sabah, Malaysia Project1. It is aimed at quantifying the measurable conservation outcomes of actions and after having taken appropriate mitigation measures, to compensate the potential impacts of the project i.e. multiple-use forest landscapes including agroforestry, on the biodiversity of the project area. The designation of protected areas and implementation of SFM and forest restoration activities could bring about positive conservation outcomes leading to either NNL or NG. This would eventually be scaled up for statewide assessment, taking into account the development of other sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure that would bring about negative impacts on the forests and biodiversity. Sabah with the implementation of various conservation measures could be a net gain state on biodiversity conservation.

Map 2: The location of the G0M-UNDP-GEF project area within the Sabah’s Forest Reserves (Inset: The Project Area Map).

1 The GoM-UNDP-GEF Biodiversity Conservation in Multiple-use Forest Landscapes in Sabah, Malaysia Project was designed to institutionalize a multiple-use forest landscape planning and management model that brings the management of critical protected areas and the connecting landscapes under a common and integrated management umbrella in order to mainstream biodiversity, ecosystem functions and resilience, while enabling ongoing sustainable uses. The 261,264 Ha project landscape is located at the eastern part of Sabah as a contiguous block that forms an important connecting land mass between three globally significant protected areas i.e. Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Danum Valley Conservation Area, and Imbak Canyon Conservation Area. The project was started on 22 June 2012 and is in its fifth year of implementation and is scheduled to end on 31 December 2018. 43

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The establishment of TPAs nonetheless must be supported with increased physical enforcement on the ground through the establishment of elite PROTECT team(s) and SMART patrol involving all enforcement agencies. Actions will be complemented with more appointment of Honorary Forest Rangers or Honorary Wildlife Rangers involving those on site such as the local communities, fellow researchers and tour companies, forging of MoUs with neighboring or adjacent plantations landowners for joint responsibilities, and conducting continuous awareness campaign involving all segments of the society.

Enhancing Sustainable Forest Management within the production landscapes

Consolidating forest management plans of all forest estates is also on the cart under the FME initiative. This initiative attempts to integrate existing and new management plans of all protected forests areas including the production forests and state land forests into a 25yr Statewide Forest Management Plan. This may include the realignment and distribution of conservation areas within the production landscapes.

The concept of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), which was modeled after the Deramakot2, is being adapted to other FMUs. Given the conditions of the forests they inherit, improvements or modifications are inevitable to address its economic sustainability. The traditional concept of timber yield regulation no longer applies but more emphasis will be placed on the sustainability of biodiversity in the long run. New management concepts such as mosaic planting were also introduced in the production landscapes as this, including forest plantations, will be the main source of revenue from production forestry in the immediate term. One of the major hurdles faced by all the FMU holders is in the certification of these production landscapes due to the issue of conversion and the FSC’s cut-off date of 1994 for plantation forestry to be eligible for certification. SFM must be adaptive and enhanced continuously in order to meet the evolving requirements of forest certification. Alternative statewide jurisdictional or phased certification of forest management may also be considered to place the remaining 1 million hectares of production forest reserves under some form of certification.

While the above is being addressed, the Forestry Department will also continue to engage with serious and interested parties that could assist to improve the economic outlook of the production forestry. One such effort is the Forest New Economy (FNE) Initiative, looking at the integration of forest upstream and downstream activities and exploring avenue that may offer added value downstream technologies in terms of diversifying into non-traditional byproducts such as bioplastics, biomass, adhesive products, etc.

2 In 1989, the Sabah Forestry Department, with technical support from the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) of Germany, has chosen the Deramakot Forest Reserve as the model forest for best forest management practices, whereby a management system aimed at responsible production of timber for logged over forestlands was developed. The system requires substantial investments in forest planning, infrastructure, low impact harvesting equipment, and training of foresters, managers and forest workers in new techniques. Deramakot Forest Reserve is managed in accordance with good forestry practices. It was certified as such by the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) in September 1997 and currently in its 5th certification period which expires in October 2019, making it the longest certified tropical rainforest in the world.

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Sustainable resource management targeting key sectors

Besides having conservation or management plans for the protected forest areas, the HoB initiative will also focus on the sustainable development of adjacent lands, targeting primary on the development of agriculture particularly oil palm, and the landholdings of communities (Map 3 & 4). Ongoing efforts on promoting sustainable agricultural practices and capacity building that are currently being conducted by the State Agriculture Department would be further intensified. The oil palm sector, which has occupied about 22% of the state landmass, will be the next focus area for mainstreaming HoB objectives particularly on biodiversity conservation. The Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) 2025 initiative will be the vehicle to implement measures to achieve 100% RSPO certification for oil palm across the entire state of Sabah by 2025. The first 5-year Work Plan has been drafted and works have begun in High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stocks (HCS) mapping, socializing the concept of Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and cataloging of smallholders within the oil palm sectors, under the advice from RSPO3 and FOREVER SABAH4. These efforts are now being piloted in the districts of Telupid, Beluran, Ranau and Kinabatangan, which also includes addressing the development issues on lands adjacent to and surroundings the Telupid Forest Reserves Complex, the core area for piloting sustainable practices involving the participation of local communities.

Map 3: Agriculture Lands within HoB (source: Department of Agriculture, Sabah)

3 The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a not-for-profit organization that unites stakeholders from the 7 sectors of the palm oil industry: oil palm producers, processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks/investors, and environmental and social non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil. The RSPO has developed a set of environmental and social criteria, which companies must comply with in order to produce Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO). The RSPO has more than 3,000 members worldwide who represent all links along the palm oil supply chain. 4 Forever Sabah is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Sabah, Malaysia that aims in supporting Sabah’s transition to a diversified, equitable, and circular economy.

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Map 4: Oil Palms Distribution in Sabah (source: Department of Agriculture, Sabah, 2010)

A relatively new term that surface from the engagement of the local communities in conservation is the establishment of the Community Conservation Area or CCA within the community land holdings. This is currently being explored under the current EU-REDD Project5 and efforts are underway to have this CCA recognized and, subject to the assurance of permanence, has the potential to be included as a new category of protected areas and hence eligible for REDD’s incentives.

The above initiative nonetheless must be complemented with the implementation of community livelihood programs or activities to address their socio economic issues. There are existing models, such as KOPEL6, that could be emulated in building the capacity of local communities, but first targeting on communities residing within or adjacent protected areas, particularly within corridors crucial for the establishment of connectivity.

The co-management concepts which were mooted and implemented under the Community Forestry Projects (CFP) by the Sabah Forestry Department and the Community Utilization Zone (CUZ) by Sabah Parks would be further explored and tailored to the specific needs of the affected

5 The EU-REDD Project on "Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development" programme is a 4-year programme aims to contribute to the sustainable and low-carbon development of the State of Sabah. The European Union (EU) is contributing up to EUR 4 million (~RM16,800,000) for this project since 2013. 6 The Batu Puteh Community Ecotourism Co-operative (KOPEL), established for almost ten year, 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 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. The Batu Puteh community comprises of four (4) villages i.e. Batu Puteh, Mengaris, Perpaduan and Singgah Mata. KOPEL has 209 members from all of these four villages.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017 communities. In addition, community based initiatives such as the "Tagal" System and community based eco-tourism (CBEST), which were incorporated as part of HoB's Strategic Plan of Actions (SPA) would be further developed as potential revenue streams to support community livelihoods in a sustainable manner.

Promoting HoB as world class ecotourism destination and drawing support for conservation

The natural pristine forests of HoB and the cultural life of the local communities readily become a magnate for the ecotourism market and proper development of this sector is crucial in order to create lasting economic benefits and help preserve the biodiversity of the area.

Stand-alone community-based eco-tourism however will not work but the HoB branding can sell. In order to capitalize from the brand, a total of at least 37 potential and unique eco-tourism sites, including 9 community based tourism products home have been identified to be further promoted under the Visit HoB Year 2018. The Visit HoB initiative which was recently launched by the three nations in the recent 11th HoB Trilateral meeting in Tarakan, Indonesia could propel the promotion of HoB as a world class eco-tourism destination.

The development and promotion of ecotourism in the HoB would focus on highlighting the ongoing efforts on the protection and conservation of the natural forests and the importance of the establishing forest corridors, demonstration of sustainable practices, and uplifting of community livelihoods. The next step would be to engage with the captain of the industry and relevant tourism stakeholders in order to draw up appropriate tour packages for the state and also the possibility of having trans-Borneo tour packages involving neighboring states and countries. It is hoped that the HoB's unique experience would not only able to promote awareness on the importance of the protection of the forest corridors but also the needed support in terms of making contributions to support the protection and maintenance of the ecosystem services provided by HoB.

This is crucial in support of the state government’s larger plan, through the support from the UNDP GEF Multiple Use Forest Landscapes Project, in formulating a financing mechanism to finance conservation in the state through the concept of Payment of Ecosystem Services (PES)7. Tourism or recreation is seen as a viable low hanging fruit that the state can tap to support conservation in the state. The proposal is to collect “ecosystem conservation fee” on all visiting tourists upon departure from the state, to establish an independent trust to manage the disbursement of funds to the targeted beneficiaries based on agreed trust directives, and the provision of a legal instrument to affect its implementation. If this materializes, this will offer long term financing for conservation in the state, including HoB. The utilization of this new additional funding however must not replace but complement existing government funding which was earmarked for conservation.

Expanding and linking HoB initiative beyond project landscapes

Expanding the scopes of HoB beyond its designated boundary is inevitable as the conservation outcomes cut across inter connected ecosystems. Efforts are being taken to forge several transboundary projects with neighboring states/country focusing on (1) the Ulu Padas Corridor linking Sarawak and Kalimantan Utara (Map 5A), and (2) the

7 The consultancy on “Development of State-Level Policy Options and Mechanisms for Payment for Ecosystem Services (SC-2)” was carried out under the GoM-UNDP-GEF Project Component I Outcome: An enabling environment for optimized, multiple-use planning, financing, management and protection of forest landscapes.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Elephant - Orang Utan conservation project linking Kalabakan and Kalimantan Utara (Map 5B). These are part of the corridor project, which was agreed at the HoB trilateral meeting for implementation to further promote transboundary cooperation between the three participating countries

Map 5A: HoB Corridor Project (Brunei-Malaysia-Indonesia landscape - Ulu Padas Corridor linking Sarawak and Kalimantan Utara)

Kalabakan, Sabah – North Kalimantan Elephant - Orang utan Corridor Project

Map 5A: HoB Corridor Project (Kalabakan, Sabah – North Kalimantan 48

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Elephant - Orangutan Corridor Project) For larger conservation outcomes, efforts are also underway to link HoB to other key conservation initiatives in the State such as; the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life and the Lower Kinabatangan and Segama Wetlands Ramsar site and Klias Peninsular Wetlands. The main activities would be focusing on actions among others such as restoration of riparian and implementation of best water catchment/river management practices. The outcomes of which will also benefit other conservation initiatives such as the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), including the Tun Mustapha Marine Parks (Map 6: HoB and Other Conservation Areas).

1 5

2 4

3 3

Map 6: HoB area and Other Conservation Areas (1: Tun Mustapha Marine Parks; 2: Klias Peninsular Wetlands; 3: Kinabatangan Corridor of Life; 4: Lower Kinabatangan and Segama Wetlands Ramsar site; 5: Coral Triangle Initiative -CTI (inset)

Building Capacity for continuity to realize the objectives of HoB

HoB Sabah had progressed over the years with the emergence of various innovative conservation related initiatives promoting relatively new concepts and terminologies (such as; Biodiversity Offsets, No Net Loss, Net Gain, High Conservation Value, High Carbon Stocks, REDD, PES, JCSPO, SMART Patrol, Green Economy, etc.) as well as imparting advance technologies (CAO’s LiDAR Hyper- spectral) and management approaches in the management of natural resources.

With all these developments, the key agencies which will be shouldering these new responsibilities will require a capacity building plan and to invest in training and build the capacity of their workforce, including the possibility of setting up a dedicated unit on conservation, in order to cope with the increasing roles of sciences, research, technology and innovation in conservation. These are highly specialized fields and the transfer of the technology and the knowledge must happen now through the various existing and upcoming initiatives in the state. 49

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HoB Sabah also recognized that there is a greater need to further promote the involvement of local scientists and researchers in the field of conservation, particularly tropical forests ecosystem research and hope that such interest could be further inculcated through the various expeditions, environmental education road shows and conferences to be implemented under the Initiative.

Conclusions

Within a decade, HoB Sabah had achieved commendable progress in restoring connectivity of protected areas in the state and this comes with parallel advances made to enhance its protection and management. The success of the HoB Initiative in the long run can only be realized if it leads to bigger outcomes and benefit the community and society at large.

With this in mind, the next phase of HoB Sabah, besides meeting the TPAs target, will also focus on: enhancing the economic viability of sustainable forest management; the implementation and development of the various related initiatives targeting other sectors such as the oil palm and community development in the state that could bring about greater influence on HoB’s landscape; developing and promoting HoB as world class ecotourism destinations leading to sustainable financing for conservation; expanding and linking the HoB initiative beyond project landscapes focusing on the trans-boundary projects; and finally, building the capacity of key conservation agencies with the required knowledge, skills and talents, with the help from partners in order to scale up the HoB Initiative.

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International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

RAPPORTEUR’S NOTES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A DECADE - TRANSBOUNDARY MANAGEMENT

The session basically highlighted the establishment of the HoB Initiative and the 10th year accomplishments, especially in transboundary management among the three countries. Some points highlighted in transboundary management:-

1) Collaboration and cooperation among the 3 countries on protected areas management at the common border. 2) Addressing issues on cross border resources, conservation, security, ecotourism and culture. 3) The need for capacity building and conservation finance.

Summary from Plenary Session I Speakers

1. Heart of Borneo Corridor Project Speaker: Mr. Haji Muhammad Safwan bin Abdullah Bibi

 Current discussion only involves two countries, it is our hope that we can realize the HoB project within 3 countries, linking up forests between Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.  Discussions have to be conducted, such as identifying what kind of activities need to be implemented, including engagement with local communities as well as discussion on the sustainable financing of implementation of the HoB project.

2. Transboundary Management within the HoB Landscapes Speaker: Ms. Wilhelmina Cluny

 HoB is just a rebranding of existing transboundary biodiversity conservation area that Sarawak government and the International Tropical Timber Organisation have established in the past.  Conducted numerous activities based on 5 pillars: SFM, eco-tourism, research, sustainable agriculture and local communities.  We are facing common issues with our neighbour, i.e. Kalimantan with illegal activities, such as collection of forest produce, especially Gaharu and illegal trade.  Three summary points: - Sarawak government, Indonesia and ITTO have made significant contribution towards HoB and should be recognized and acknowledged. - Illegal threats and activities should be addressed in HoB platform. - If all members can work together to ensure protection of transboundary biodiversity conservation areas from the threats and damages, it is already a great achievement.

3. Heart of Borneo: Transboundary Ecotourism and Nature Protection: Promoting Conditions for Long-Term Sustainability and Prosperity in the Heart of Borneo Speaker: Dr. Prabianto Mukti Wibowo

 There is hardly any trilateral initiative by 3 countries in the coalition. HoB challenges in a few years to come, especially on the pressure on our natural capital. 55

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 Indonesia implementing green economy approach through eco-tourism development, hence transboundary eco-tourism is important. There is a need to synergize and harmonize all policies in the trilateral level.  The trilateral countries have already launched the visit HoB year. This campaign will be a good example of trilateral cooperation in promoting the transboundary eco-tourism in HoB.  For a success in HoB eco-tourism, we have to work with local communities and establish multi- stakeholders forum to discuss how we can harmonize local regulations and improve infrastructure, and discuss and agree on the benefit sharing mechanism as a platform for local community development.

4. HoB Sabah - Providing Platform for Innovative Conservation Initiatives Speaker: Mr. Frederick Kugan

 The next phase for Sabah HoB is to fine-tune the totally protected areas, with more research inputs, long-term monitoring, economic viability in sustainable forest management, and mainstream biodiversity conservation targeting key sectors: oil palm sector, infrastructure, and community development.  The Trilateral countries have a common ground in terms of eco-tourism development. In Sabah, we are heading towards tapping eco-tourism for finance conservation, which must be realized very soon.  We must prepare our capacity for the increasing roles in science, technology, innovation and conservation.  In the 2025 target, we will encounter many initiatives, terminologies, etc., so we must be prepared.

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PROTECTED AREAS MANAGEMENT

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 1

CAO-SABAH SCIENCE

Roberta Martin on behalf of Carnegie Institution for Science, Standford University

Dr. Roberta Martin is staff scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science. Her scientific goals are to understand the functional biogeography of forests and their species diversity through linking canopy foliar chemical traits and remote sensing properties. Since 2008, she has been the co-leader of the Carnegie

Spectranomics Programme, which has collected and analyzed chemical and spectral data. As a current member of the CAO team, Dr. Martin continues to work on developing the remote sensing – biodiversity linkages that help us to understand fundamental ecosystem processes and aid conservation and management decisions.

Abstract

We will review scientific progress and outcomes from the CAO team following its 2016 airborne campaign in Sabah. The primary methods will be discussed, followed by a summary of outcomes related to forest carbon and biodiversity mapping made in support of Sabah Forestry Department’s protected area expansion efforts. Forthcoming results and plans will also be highlighted.

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International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 2

LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY, WILDLIFE PERSISTENCE AND MEGA-DAMS IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO

Jedediah Brodie University of Montana

Dr. Jedediah Brodie has studied wildlife conservation and animal-plant interactions in Southeast Asia for nearly 20 years with a focus on the population ecology and landscape connectivity of carnivores and ungulates, and the dispersal of tree seeds by mammals. He served as Fulbright Research Fellow to Malaysia and as Communications Director for the Society for Conservation Biology Asia Section for 6 years. He is currently the Craighead Endowed Chair of Conservation at the University of Montana.

Abstract

Given the low population densities of most rainforest mammals, many protected areas are too small on their own to support the long-term persistence of threatened wildlife. Corridors of habitat linking protected areas are crucial to maintain connectivity among protected areas. Yet how animals disperse through heterogeneous, mixed-use landscapes is poorly understood, and predicting which of the many potential habitat corridors are the most important remains difficult. I use a combination of dispersal analysis and population modeling to determine the most critical areas for wildlife movement in Malaysian Borneo. I also address the impacts of the Baleh Mega Dam on wildlife movements and persistence in Sarawak.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

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International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 3

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ENDANGERED BORNEAN BANTENG (Bos javanicus lowi) – A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF FINDINGS FROM THE STATE-WIDE SURVEY OF SABAH

Penny C. Gardner1, Hong Ye Lim1,2, Katie Journeaux1,3, Naomi Prosser1,3, Jocelyn Goon Ee Wern1, Benoit Goossens1,3,4 1 Danau Girang Field Centre 2 Universiti Malaysia Sabah 3 Cardiff University 4 Sabah Wildlife Department

Dr. Benoît Goossens is the Director of the Danau Girang Field Centre in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, a research and training facility co-managed by Sabah Wildlife Department and Cardiff University. He is also a Reader and a Research Fellow at Cardiff University, as well as, a member of the IUCN SSC’s Asian Wild Cattle, Crocodile Asian Elephant Primate Specialist Groups. Benoit has more than 20 years of experience in the field of conservation genetics and conservation biology, and has published more than 80 scientific papers in those two fields.

Abstract

Conservation of the Bornean banteng has been negligible since their declining trend was first widely acknowledged by Davies and Payne in 1982. Despite reaffirmation of this in 1997 by Boonratana, bantengs continue to suffer from habitat loss and hunting. With a lack of current ecological data and no remedial plan to prevent their decline, they face an uncertain future. We conducted an extensive non-invasive survey of bantengs across Sabah using camera traps and observations to identify remnant populations, model distribution, investigate behaviours and identify demography, amongst others. A variety of techniques were used, including Maximum Entropy and BRT to estimate habitat suitability and potential linkages to reconnect suitable habitats, GLM and extrapolation to identify activity budgets and habitat use, GEEGLM to model herd demography, and CLM to model impacts of logging upon banteng health. Our results augment the knowledge of Bornean banteng, and will assist the formulation of an action plan for managing banteng in the wild in Sabah.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

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International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 4

CHANGES IN THE EXPRESSION OF PLANT FUNCTIONAL TRAITS IN RESPONSE TO LOGGING TROPICAL FORESTS

David F. R. P. Burslem1, Sabine Both1, T. Riutta2, C. E. T. Paine3, R. S. Cruz Chino1, A. Jain4, U. H. Kritzler5, M. Kuntz1, N. Mielke1, M. X. Montoya Pillco1, N. Majalap-Lee7, Y. A. Teh1, Y. Malhi2 1 University of Aberdeen 2 University of Oxford 3 University of Stirling 5 South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP) 6 The University of Manchester 7 Sabah Forestry Department

Professor David Burslem is a tropical forest ecologist and biodiversity specialist with 25 years' experience conducting research and teaching with a focus on Southeast Asian tropical forests. He is currently a Professor of Forest Ecology and Diversity and Keeper of the Cruickshank Botanic Gardens at the University of Aberdeen,

UK, where he leads the Tropical Ecology and Conservation Research Group. Within Sabah, he has a particularly strong association with Sepilok Forest Reserve and Danum Valley Conservation Area in collaboration with the

Sabah Forestry Department and South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP).

Abstract

Expression of plant functional traits at the community scale is an important driver of ecosystem functions such as carbon storage and biogeochemical cycling. Logging induces substantial changes in forest structure, species composition and resource availability. We tested the hypothesis that these changes induce differential expression of 31 leaf and wood traits for tree communities growing in lowland dipterocarp forests in Sabah. Abundant tree species, collectively contributing to more than two-thirds of basal area, were sampled on four 1-ha plots in unlogged forest (two each in Danum Valley and Maliau Basin) and four 1-ha plots in logged forest in the SAFE project area. Traits reflecting carbon and nutrient assimilation and use, storage, and structural and defence properties were either measured in situ or obtained through laboratory analysis of tissue samples. We conclude that logging drives a transition from an old-growth forest dominated by individuals with resource conserving, structurally persistent tissues to post-logging communities displaying greater capacity for carbon assimilation and vegetative growth, and displayed greater tolerance to short-term limitations on water supply. These changes in trait expression, and associated impacts of logging on forest structure, will drive altered patterns of productivity and biogeochemical cycling that must be considered in future projections of the biomass and carbon storage potential of human-modified landscapes in Borneo.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Slide Presentation

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 5

ASSESSING THE BENEFITS OF RIPARIAN RESERVES: DEVELOPING THE SCIENCE TO INFORM ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Eleanor Slade1, Sarah Luke2,3, Miklin Ationg4, Charles Vairrappan5, Agnes Agama6 and Matthew Struebig2 1 University of Oxford 2 University of Kent 3 University of Cambridge 4 Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Sabah 5 Universiti Malaysia Sabah 6 Southeast Asian Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP)

Dr. Eleanor Slade is a tropical forest ecologist, focusing on invertebrates and ecosystem functioning, at the Universities of Oxford and Lancaster. She is a co-investigator and consortium co-ordinator of the Land -use Options for Maintaining BiOdiversity and eKosystem functions (LOMBOK) project, which investigates the links between biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles in the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) project and Maliau Basin. In addition, she is also a Co-Investigator on the UNDP-GEF project based in Luasong, which investigates biodiversity conservation in multiple-use forest landscapes in Sabah.

Miklin Ationg obtained a Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering from University of Malaya. He is currently the Head, Water Resources Management Section, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Sabah.

Abstract

There is little supporting evidence to demonstrate that reserves are effective, particularly in conserving biodiversity. Moreover, the science-base is often not accessible to the local policy-makers. To help address this problem, we formed a collaboration between universities in the UK and Sabah, and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID). Together, we undertook a rapid evidence appraisal of the peer-reviewed scientific literature concerning the potential benefits of riparian reserves in tropical agriculture. Our ongoing research in Sabah so far demonstrates that some riparian reserves support high levels of bird and invertebrate diversity if more than 40 metres wide (80 metres total width), as well as commercially important carbon stocks if not disturbed. The biodiversity and carbon values of riparian reserves will become increasingly important for plantations seeking environmental certification such as RSPO, and could also be useful to mitigate climate change. The results of this review have been synthesised into a policy brief and poster to enable DID policy- makers to make informed decisions based on the current scientific knowledge-base when they review their riparian guidelines in the coming years.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

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International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 6

LIDAR AND ITS UTILIZATION IN THE MAINTENANCE OF BORNEAN ELEPHANT POPULATIONS

Luke Evans Carnegie Institute for Science

Dr. Luke Evans is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Carnegie Institute for Science, focusing on pairing airborne LiDAR data with aspects of animal ecology. He conducted his PhD and masters at Danau Girang Field Centre through Cardiff University. This work focused on estuarine crocodile ecology and landscape genetics in the Kinabatangan River. He is currently a regional vice-chairman for the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group and is overseeing state-wide surveys of estuarine crocodiles in Sabah.

Abstract

Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) conducted mapping missions over Sabah in May 2016, collecting high resolution LiDAR data. We demonstrate how Bornean elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) populations can benefit from a range of LiDAR-based analyses. Through analysis of habitat regrowth, we show that areas that would traditionally be thought of as low-quality, flood-prone areas for habitat restoration can be a useful, cost-effective tool for wildlife corridor management. We propose that natural regeneration of reclaimable, underproductive agriculture has the potential to play a key role in lowland tropical forest connectivity, reconnecting now isolated populations of endangered Bornean elephants. We also utilize data from 27 GPS collared elephants from across the range to examine preferential habitat and terrain structure. We attempt to quantify the importance of low-stature, scrub forest and assess whether these habitats are key to the future of Bornean elephants. With many of these forests at high risk of future conversion, the aim is to guide future conservation planning.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Slide Presentation

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 7

INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS IN SABAH

Anne Lasimbang PACOS Trust

Anne Lasimbang is the Founder and Executive Director of a local, non-profit organization called PACOS TRUST, or Partners of Community Organizations, which focuses on rural indigenous community development in

Sabah. Since 1993, she has set up 27 rural community learning centres in Sabah, providing the opportunity for children in remote areas of Sabah to have the best possible start in their education. She is also a trainer in community organizing for PACOS and actively promotes gender awareness at the grassroots level as well as

Native Customary Land Rights.

Abstract

This presentation is a sharing of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) in Sabah, which are based on the principles and values of indigenous knowledge. ICCAs already existed within the Heart of Borneo. What are the challenges and the opportunities for improvement, drawing both on PACOS' experience and the latest international law and policy from the Convention on Biological Diversity and other instruments, and the IUCN, as a way forward towards realizing the HOB Initiative?

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Slide Presentation

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 8

FOREST CONNECTIVITY BENEFITS OF HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE (HCV) AREAS IN RSPO MEMBER-HELD OIL PALM PLANTATIONS

Sarah A. Scriven1, Kimberly M. Carlson2, Jenny Hodgson3, Colin McClean4, Robert Heilmayr5, Jennifer M. Lucey6 and Jane K. Hill1 1 University of York 2 University of Hawai’i Mānoa 3 University of Liverpool 4 University of York 5 University of California 6 University of Oxford

Dr. Sarah Scriven is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Department of Biology, University of York, UK. Sarah completed her PhD at the University of York in 2016 and has been working as a researcher on the SEnSOR

(Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Oil Palm Research) project for the past year. Her research focuses on ways to promote biodiversity and connectivity in tropical agricultural landscapes. She combines empirical field data from oil palm plantation landscapes in SE Asia and computer modelling techniques to examine issues of connectivity in relation to land-use and climate change.

Abstract

Oil palm plantations can prevent dispersal of rainforest-dependent species, and we examined whether requirements by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for oil palm companies to conserve High Conservation Value areas (HCVs) within plantations contribute to forest connectivity on Borneo. To do so, we digitised HCVs from publicly-available audit documents for 70 plantations, and quantified remaining forest cover in these areas using satellite remote sensing products. We assessed the benefits of HCVs for forest connectivity by simulating range expansion of populations across patchy plantation landscapes, assuming HCVs were either present or absent. Our results suggest that the RSPO’s requirement to conserve HCVs has the potential to improve landscape connectivity for some species, possibly mitigating biodiversity loss on Borneo. We recommend that management efforts focus on restoring the amount of natural forest habitat within HCVs, and that HCV designation should consider the amount and spatial distribution of remaining rainforest within the surrounding landscape.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Slide Presentation

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

ORAL PAPER 9

IMPACTS OF FOREST FRAGMENTATION ON DIPTEROCARP RECRUITMENT IN SABAH, MALAYSIA BORNEO

Yeong Kok Loong1,2, Jennifer M. Lucey3, Glen Reynolds2, Susan Benedick4 & Jane K. Hill5 1 University of Sheffield 2 South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP) 3 University of Oxford 4 Universiti Malaysia Sabah 5 University of York

Dr. Yeong Kok Loong @ Benny is a Postdoctoral Research Associate based at the South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP), Malaysia. Benny’s main areas of research interest are on maintaining and enhancing regeneration capacity as well as ecosystem functioning of tropical forests, including those that have been logged and fragmented that are located within oil palm landscapes. His current research work focuses on a project funded by the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation (LC3M), to examine the potential of enhanced weathering as a geoengineering solution to climate change and, improve plant growth, productivity and resilience in oil palm within oil palm plantation.

Abstract

Rainforests in Southeast Asia are dominated by trees from the Dipterocarpaceae family, which reproduce synchronously (also called masting) at interval of one to many years. Masting is a vital strategy to satiate fruit predators for maintaining long-term viability of natural forest regeneration. This mechanism however, could be altered when forests became increasing fragmented due to human activities. We study the impacts of forest fragmentation on the recruitment of dipterocarp during masting events in 2014 and 2015. We placed dipterocarp fruits on the ground to examine fruit predation rates in 12 forest fragments (12 ha-3529 ha) and four sites in continuous forests (~1 million ha). At the same location, we also surveyed dipterocarp fruiting and seedling reproduction, based on seedlings recruited in previous masting events (i.e. in 2010). In 2016, we measured survival rates of planted dipterocarp seedlings over 6 years in 8 of the 12 fragments and 4 continuous forest sites to find out whether artificial regeneration is successful in forest fragments. Our findings suggest that dipterocarp seedling recruitment can potentially increase in forest fragments if seed germination and seedling establishment are not adversely affected. Human intervention such as enrichment planting may be required to maintain regeneration of dipterocarp in fragmented forests.

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

Slide Presentation

International Conference on the Heart of Borneo 2017

RAPPORTEUR’S NOTES PROTECTED AREAS MANAGEMENT

There are 4 aspects discussed in this session:-

1. Scientific Information

Environment and landscape changes will affect both flora and fauna’s traits, growth, survival and etc.

Baseline information is essential in the subsequent formation of management plans.

2. Technology Application

Utilise up to date technological advancements like LIDAR, population modelling and etc to incorporate existing data to come up with projections (biomass and carbon stock) and predictions (potential crictical areas/wildlife corridors) for management and policy makers.

3. Management Enhancement

Formulation of state wide action plans, policy briefs and guidelines to be knowledge based upon scientific evidence. Thus, to enchance efficiency and effectiveness of management within protected areas.

4. Stakeholders’ Participation

All sectors to be involved and working alongside each other (scientists, government sectors, NGOs and local communities) to realise the HoB initiative.

Summary from the Session I Speakers

1. CAO-Sabah Science Speaker: Dr. Roberta Martin

 CAO reviewed all scientific and outcomes from the CAO team since 2016 airbone camping in Sabah.  The primary methods, summary of outcomes related to forest carbon, biodiversity mapping, the forthcoming results and plans will be discussed to support Sabah Forestry Department's protected areas management.

2. Landscape Connectivity, Wildlife Persistence, and Mega-Dams in Malaysian Borneo Speaker: Dr. Jedediah Brodie

 Used a combination of field data, dispersal analysis and population modeling to determine the most critical areas for wildlife movement in Malaysian Borneo and in Baleh mega-dam in Sarawak.

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3. Conservation and Management of the Endangered Bornean Banteng (Bos javanicus lowi) - A Brief Overview of Finding from the State-Wide Survey of Sabah Speaker: Dr. Benoit Goossens

 A lack of current data and no remedial plan to prevent decline and an uncertain future of the Bornean Banteng.  Through an extensive non-invasive survey using camera trap and observations can identify remnant population, model distribution, investigate behavior and identify demography of the Bornean Banteng.  There were 4 types of techniques used to augment the knowledge and assist the formulation of an action plan for managing of the endangered Bornean Banteng in the wild in Sabah.

4. Changes in the Expression of Plant Functional Trait in Response to Logging Tropical Forest Speaker: Dr. David Burslem

 The expression of plant functional traits is an important driver of ecosystem functions, such as carbon storage and biogeochemical cycling.  Logging in tropical forest induces substantial changes in forest structure, species composition and resource availability.  In this study, the changes in trait expression, and associated impacts of logging on forest structure, drive altered patterns of productivity and biogeochemical cycling.  For that, consideration in the future projections of biomass and carbon storage must be taken seriously.

5. Assessing the Benefits of Riparian Reserves: Developing the Science to Inform Environmental Policy. Speaker: Dr. Eleanor Slade & Mr. Miklin Ationg

 The study shows some riparian reserves in Sabah support high levels of bird and invertebrate diversity if more than 40 meters wide (80 meters total wides), as well as commercially important carbon stocks if not disturbed.  The biodiversity and carbon values of riparian reserves are important for plantations seeking environmental certification, such as RSPO and could also be useful to mitigate against climate changes.  Working example of how policy makers and scientists can come together to produce policy briefs and guidelines that are scientific evidence and knowledge based for the general public.

6. LIDAR and its Utilization in the Maintenance of Bornean Elephant Populations Speaker: Luke Evans

 Through analysis, the areas thought of as low-quality, flood-prone areas effective tool for wildlife corridor management and has potential to play a key role in reconnecting of isolated populations of endangered Bornean elephants.

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7. Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas in Sabah Speaker: Anne Lasimbang

 The Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) in Sabah are based on the principles and values of indigenous knowledge. There are a few challenges and the opportunities for improvement based on PACOS’ experience and the latest international law and policy from the Convention on Biological Diversity and other instruments, and the IUCN to realizing the HoB initiative in Sabah.

8. Forest Connectivity Benefits of High Conservation Value (HCV) Areas in RSPO Member- Held Oil Palm Plantation Speaker: Sarah A. Scriven

 The survey on requirements by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for oil palm companies to conserve High Conservation Value (HCV) areas within plantations contribute to forest connectivity on Borneo have been conducted.  The results suggest that the RSPO’s requirement to conserve HCVs has the potential to improve landscape connectivity for some species, possibly mitigating biodiversity loss on Borneo.  However, there is also a need to consider restoring natural forest habitat within existing HCV areas that has been established within the plantations.

9. Impacts of Forest Fragmentation on Dipterocarp Recruitment in Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo Speaker: Yeong Kok Loong

 A survey on dipterocarp fruiting and seedling reproduction based on seedlings recruited in the masting areas have been measured to find out whether artificial regeneration is successful in forest fragments.  The findings suggest that dipterocarp seedling recruitment can potentially increase in forest fragments if seed germination and seedling establishment are not adversely affected. Human intervention, such as enrichment planting may be required to maintain regeneration of dipterocarps in fragmented forests

Q&A Session

Name Johan Kieft

Agency Technical Specialist Land Use and Green Economy United Nations Environment Programme

Question/Comment Will it be possible to use HCS and HCV areas linked to connectivity modeling to develop effective corridor for biodiversity/species movement? Then to incorporate HCV spatial planning. Answer Sarah Scriven At the moment, there don’t seem to be digitizable maps of HCS areas, but this is an important area of further research. The HCV & HCS approaches are hopefully going to be combined, so in 102

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future, there is the possibility for these areas to form important corridors.

Eco-Tourism Development

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ORAL PAPER 10

ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT: COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM IN THE HEART OF BORNEO

Albert Teo Borneo Eco Tours

Albert Teo Chin Kion is a graduate in Economics from University of London. He has been in the tourism industry for the last 40 years. He is presently the Managing Director of his own companies Borneo Eco Tours and Sukau Rainforest Lodge, which have won numerous international ecotourism awards. He now focuses on developing social entrepreneurship through his community/environment foundation called Borneo

Ecotourism Solutions & Technologies or BEST Society in Sukau for wildlife conservation. He is also Adjunct

Lecturer and Fellow of Edith Cowan University, Australia and Adjunct Professor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

Abstract

During the last ten years (2007-2016), the Heart of Borneo Initiative has brought much publicity and hope to the prospect of saving the fast depleting natural forest in Borneo and its remaining flora and fauna. Policies were put in place to gazette more forest under conservation. Tourist arrivals meanwhile have increased by 38% from 2.5 million (2007) to 3.4 million (2016). But communities have benefited less due to increasing negative impact on biodiversity and on pollution of river they depend on. Degradation of landscape has made many areas unsuitable for ecotourism due to pollution, drought, depletion of wildlife. Private sector investment is lacking. Most places gazetted for conservation by government has limited capacity and benefit for community. Among some of the natural areas which have benefited from tourism are Kinabatangan region, Kiau-Kundasang-Ranau area, Selingan island, Semporna region, Kudat, Klias, Kota Belud, Imbak, Kawag, Kiulu and Trusmadi, mostly in the form of job creation. Limited capacity has however reduced the potential benefits. But challenges will also increase as evidenced by increase of poaching of wildlife from turtles, sharks, pangolins to elephants. Do we need to craft new strategies to combat negative impact from unsustainable developments, mass tourism, and involve all stakeholders to collaborate and manage our shared resources?

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ORAL PAPER 11

FOLLOWING THE HISTORIC DEATH MARCH TRACK: ECO-TOURISM IN THE TAWAI AND TAVIU FOREST RESERVES

Lynette Ramsay Silver TYK Adventure Tours

Lynette Ramsay Silver is an honorary historical consultant to TYK Adventure Tours. She was appointed historian to the Australian 8th Division and became a consultant to the Australian Government in 1995. Her research was recognised in 1989 when she was made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of History and the

Arts. She has authored thirteen books and has received a number of outstanding awards, amongst them:

Defence Forces Commendation and Medal from Special Operations Command Australia, the first civilian ever to receive this prestigious award (2003) and a vocational award for her humanitarian works in Sabah (2017).

Abstract

In 1945, Australian and British prisoners of war were sent on a series of marches through the Heart of Borneo from Sandakan to Ranau. The path they took, lost for 60 years, was identified and opened up for war tourism in 2005. Although much of the route passes through developed land, a considerable portion of the challenging mid-section traverses the Tawai and Taviu Forest Reserves. Trekking through these reserves not only offers an amazing experience for people interested in war history, it also has great potential to open up local tourism initiatives in Sabah's rural heartland by attracting bird watchers, nature lovers, botanists and all those with a sense of adventure who enjoy jungle walks.

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ORAL PAPER 12

IMPORTANCE OF ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION IN ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Lee Kian Foh Green Spider, Malaysia

Lee Kian Foh graduated from the Lund University, Sweden with an M.Sc. in Environmental Management and Policy International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics. He has more than 16 years of experience in the field of environmental management and policy. He has also worked for projects with WWF-Malaysia, the Malaysian Environmental NGOs (MENGOs), Malaysian Nature Society, and DANIDA. He is a consultant for the Government of Malaysia-UNDP-GEF Project on Biodiversity Conservation in Multiple use Forest

Landscapes in Sabah, Malaysia.

Abstract

The long-term development of the State’s ecotourism industry will depend on the conservation efforts, with particular reference to Goal 3 of the Sabah Biodiversity Strategy 2012-2022: “By 2022, all of our key ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity are protected and well managed”. The presentation will also consist of deliverables under the component on the “Development of State-Level policy options and mechanisms for payment for ecosystem services (PES)” of the Government of Malaysia-UNDP-GEF Project on Biodiversity Conservation in Multiple use Forest Landscapes in Sabah, Malaysia.

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ORAL PAPER 13

WILLINGNESS OF VISITORS TO PAY FOR ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION

Mohd. Shahwahid Haji Othman Universiti Putra Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Mohd. Shahwahid Haji Othman is a professor at the Department of Natural Resource Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He holds a Ph.D. and an M.Sc. (Resource management and policy) from the State University of New York, M.A. (Economics) from Syracuse University and B.Sc. (Forestry), Universiti Putra Malaysia. He specializes in economic valuation, natural resources and environmental economics.

Abstract

Through the biodiversity conservation in multiple use ecosystem programme under the GoM-UNDP-GEF Project in Sabah, a feasibility study to introduce the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), based on an ecosystem conservation fee targeting visitors to Sabah, was conducted in three international airports in Sabah. 514 visitors were randomly surveyed and broken down to proportions from Sabah (Malaysia), Southeast Asia, Northeast Asian Oceania, Europe and North America, based on 2016 arrivals. The study was conducted to provide information on whether the tourists were generally agreeable to the proposed ecosystem conservation fee and also to look at the tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP). The study would also provide the tourists’ perception on the most popular method of payment for the conservation fee collection. Hence, through this study, it is expected that when working on the suggested WTP estimates, it would be possible to simulate the potential revenue collections for the state.

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ORAL PAPER 14

SELLING THE FOREST THROUGH TOURISM, THE STORY OF THE KAWAG DANUM RAINFOREST LODGE

Waidi Sinun Borneo Refugia Sdn. Bhd.

Dr. Waidi Sinun obtained his Ph.D. in Hydrological and Geomorphic Process from the Manchester University, United Kingdom. He has over 20 years of experience in conservation and forest management. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Borneo Refugia Sdn. Bhd., which manages the newly established Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge in Lahad Datu.

Abstract

The collaboration between Sabah Forestry Department and Borneo Refugia is an example of collaboration between government and the private sector. In 2016, the newly established Borneo Refugia Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned company of Yayasan Sabah took the task to manage and sell the newly built Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge located inside the Kawag Forest. Kawag Forest is a lesser known secondary forest located inside the Kawag Catchment, part of the Ulu Segama-Malua Sustainable Forest Management Project and part of the buffer zone of the Danum Valley Conservation Area. The role of the Sabah Forestry Department is to make available infrastructure deep in a forest while the Borneo Refugia is tasked to sell the experience of living in the tropical forest. In other words, Borneo Refugia is responsible to ‘sell’ the forest by attempting to provide some experiences in living in the forest and learning about them non-destructively. As a new company established only in 2015, Borneo Refugia faced interesting challenges in managing the lodge and in selling the Kawag Forest through the lodge, particularly due to lack of tourism experience, limited budget, an incomplete lodge and the insufficient detail information about the Kawag Forest itself. With the assistance of many, specifically the Sabah Forestry Department and including the tourism and research fraternity, we were able to face these challenges. The path and the journey that Borneo Refugia faced in marketing and selling forest, the Kawag Forest in particular, has only just begun. We have gained and learned valuable experience. The lodge starts receiving visitors in August 2016 and the visitor's arrivals are increasing. The journey is still continuing.

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ORAL PAPER 15

COMMUNITY BASED ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM (CBEST) PROGRAMME IN SABAH

Neville Yap, Saidal Udin & Najib B. Ramsa Forever Sabah

Neville Yapp is a project manager at Land Empowerment Animals People and a Forever Sabah team member for Coast and Communities Initiative. He has been engaging with several communities throughout Sabah for the last 6 years in facilitating community based tourism, watershed restoration, alternative livelihoods, institutional support and fundraising.

Abstract

CBEST is a grass roots initiative built around the concept of ecologically sustainable tourism development, which is meant to put “people, planet and profit” on par in the overall ethos of the business – that being tourism. It is also meant to keep local communities in the “driver’s seat” in terms of management but also in terms of defining the associated benefits. CBEST is built around demand from communities all over Sabah. CBEST is an initiative of Forever Sabah, and is partnering with the well-known Community Based Tourism initiative in Kinabatangan – KOPEL Bhd. KOPEL is an initiative that supports both livelihood as well as forest management in the Lower Kinabatangan. CBEST is working with KOPEL to develop a training and extension programme to support CBT aspirations in communities across Sabah and the region. The main drawback and challenge in this programme to date is funding of fully fledged CBT initiatives in the respective communities where interest or need has been expressed. This presentation will provide some insight into what has been achieved with CBT, what is currently being done, and what is in the pipeline for the near future with the CBEST Initiative.

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ORAL PAPER 16

HOMESTAY PROGRAMME – BENEFITS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN SABAH

Djuanis Mojirong Sabah Homestay Association

Djuanis Mogirong holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Science from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). He is currently the President of the Sabah Homestay Association since 2013. Under his leadership, he aspires for more involvement of the local communities in the rural tourism industry, particularly in homestay programmes in Sabah.

Abstract

The homestay programme is a government initiative to help the socio-economic status of the local people in rural areas. In Sabah, this programme began growing since 2000. The rural tourism industry has become one of the choices of domestic and foreign tourists to enjoy unique and valuable experiences during their holiday periods. The diversity of ethnics and cultures, especially in Sabah, and generally in Malaysia, has attracted more foreign tourists visiting the countryside. The tourists’ experience with the rural community has provided the community with an overall income generating opportunity through the package of activities, and also the sales of handicraft and food products produced by the homestay community. Homestay programmes are community-based tourism that requires the involvement of all local communities. The villagers can develop ecotourism in their respective areas by conserving the environment for the benefit of all parties and future generations.

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ORAL PAPER 17

THE POTENTIAL OF ECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE TELUPID FOREST RESERVE COMPLEX AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS

Mohamad Hj. Abu Bakar1, Yong S.C.1 & Eddy Chia2 1 Sabah Forestry Department 2 Koperasi Pelancongan Bestaria

Mohamad Hj. Abu Bakar holds B.Sc. in Forestry from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor and a Diploma in Forestry from UPM Bintulu, Sarawak. He is currently the District Forestry Officer in Telupid and has vast experience in forest management. Previously, he was District Forestry Officer in Sipitang (2001-2014) and was also the Principal of Sabah Forestry Institute (1997-2000).

Abstract

Located in central Sabah along the Sandakan-Kota Kinabalu highway, the Telupid Forest Reserve Complex (TFRC) and its surrounding areas have great potentials for ecotourism. One of the recent ecotourism activities is the Tawai Rainforest Camp (TRC). It is located only 4 km from Telupid town, within the Tawai Forest Reserve, and it is known for its crystal clear spring water from the adjacent mountains, flowing through a series of rock pools which are cooling and refreshing. TRC was previously a checking station for monitoring and enforcement, but now has been transformed into a popular ecotourism and recreational destination since 2016. The magnificent 95-m Tawai Falls is located within the Tawai Forest Reserve. It is the second highest waterfall in Sabah. Hiking to the waterfall is part of the more adventurous activity besides swimming, camping and tree planting at the camp.

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ORAL PAPER 18

A HABITAT RESTORATION MODEL IN THE LOWER KINABATANGAN THROUGH VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT

Mark Louis Benedict APE Malaysia

Mark Louis Benedict is a core member of APE Malaysia (Animal Projects & Environmental Education Sdn. Bhd.) since 2008. As Project Director, he manages responsible volunteering and educational programmes in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. He is also instrumental in setting up of the Kinabatangan CREATE Project (Corridor Restoration for Animals Threatened & Endangered), a dream come true for APE Malaysia to include local villagers in habitat restoration work.

Abstract

APE Malaysia runs several projects that focus on improving wildlife welfare in Malaysia. These projects have been proven to bring positive impacts not just for better wildlife welfare, but also to the local community and the environment. APE Malaysia’s project in the Lower Kinabatangan focuses on habitat restoration and bringing benefits to the local community. More than 12,000 trees have been planted across 12 acres of land in the Lower Kinabatangan landscape since 2008 by over 800 volunteer tourists from 24 countries. Project monitoring shows a 75% tree survival rate. The project structure provides alternative incomes to at least 24 families, villagers and local businesses at Kampung Sukau. The project structure and organisation also brings inclusive conservation methods to the community through participative and educational activities. With proper set up guidance and close monitoring, this model of voluntourism can be replicated in other locations for positive impact to the community, economy, environment and conservation effort in Sabah.

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RAPPORTEUR’S NOTES ECO-TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

 Ecotourism is nature based, sustainable, low impact to nature, and ultimately has to benefit local communities.  In order to tap on this wealth of natural products for tourism, Sabah needs to be creative and innovative to take advantage of her potential, which will bring benefits to surrounding communities.  Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) shall endow a trust, in order to assist the people of Sabah to effectively manage its rich and diverse natural heritage.  Ecotourism must benefit local communities.  Homestays represent inclusive avenue for local communities to be involved in the tourism industry as they bring direct benefit to communities who host tourists, providing a culturally unique experience, and a connection to the natural surroundings.

Summary from Session II Speakers

1. Ecotourism Development: Community Based Tourism in the Heart of Borneo Speaker: Albert Teo

 The HoB initiative has the prospect to conserve the remaining natural biological wealth in Borneo, which is an essential resource for nature-based tourism. In Sabah, tourism arrival has grown steadily yet such mass tourism has often not directly benefited local communities, and occasionally has impacted on the fundamental needs of affected communities to their natural surroundings. Are new strategies needed to combat increasingly negative impacts of unsustainable development and mass tourism through the involvement of all stakeholders in a collaborative effort to manage our shared natural wealth?

2. Following the Historic Death March Track: Eco-Tourism in the Tawai and Taviu Forest Reserves Speaker: Lynette Ramsay Silver

 The path taken by the Australian and British prisoners of war in 1945 during a series of marches through the Heart of Borneo from Sandakan to Ranau has been identified and established as a war tourism product in 2005. The challenging mid-section of the path that traverse the Tawai and Taviu Forest Reserves offers local tourism potential, both in war and nature tourism.

3. Importance of Ecosystem Concervation in Ecotourism Development Speaker: Lee Kian Foh

 The long-term development of the State’s ecotourism industry will depend on the conservation efforts, with particular reference to Goal 3 of the Sabah Biodiversity Strategy 2012-2022: “By 2022, all of our key ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity are protected and well managed”. The presentation will also consist of deliverables under the component on the “Development of State-Level policy options and mechanisms for payment for

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ecosystem services (PES)” of the Government of Malaysia-UNDP-GEF Project on Biodiversity Conservation in Multiple use Forest Landscapes in Sabah, Malaysia.

4. Willingness of Visitors to Pay for Ecosystem Conservation Speaker: Prof. Dr. Mohd. Shahwahid Haji Othman

 Through a feasibility study conducted to introduce the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), based on an ecosystem conservation fee targeting visitors to Sabah, the majority of the tourists agreed to contribute to the proposed ecosystem conservation fee. Willingness to pay (WTP) varied among regional visitors and purpose of visits. The most popular method of payment for conservation fee collection was looked into. The potential revenue collection for the state could be stimulated when working on the suggested WTP estimates.

5. Selling the Forest Through Tourism, the Story of the Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge Speaker: Dr. Waidi Sinun

 The speaker shares his experience and valuable lessons gained since 2016 to market and create a memorable learning and living experience for visitors to the Kawag Rainforest Lodge, a collaborative project between the Sabah Forestry Department and Borneo Refugia Sdn. Bhd.

6. Community Based Ecologically Sustainable Tourism (CBEST) Speaker: Neville Yap

 CBEST is an initiative of Forever Sabah, and it partners with KOPEL Bhd. to develop a training and extension programme to support CBT aspirations in communities across Sabah and the region. The challenge in this initiative is funding of fully fledged CBT initatives in the respective communities where interest or need has been expressed. Insights into what has been achieved with CBT, what is currently being done, and what is in the pipeline for the near future of the CBEST initiative.

7. Homestay Programme – Benefits to the Local Community in Sabah Speaker: Djuanis Mojirong

 The homestay programme, a rural tourism industry which is a community-based tourism in Sabah, has been growing since 2000. It has generated income opportunity through the package of acitivities and sales of handicrafts and food products produced by the homestay community. By conserving the environment, the villagers can develop ecotourism in their respective areas which will benefit the future generations.

8. The Potential of Ecotourism Activities within the Telupid Forest Reserve Complex and its Surrounding Areas Speaker: Mohamad Hj. Abu Bakar

 Since 2016, Tawai Rainforest Camp has been a popular ecotourism activity in the Telupid Forest Reserve Complex (TFRC), better known for its crystal clear spring water from the adjacent mountains that flow through a series of rock pools. Aside from this, the hike to the Tawai Falls which is the second highest waterfall in Sabah, located within the Tawai Forest Reserve, is a potential eco-tourism activity aside from swimming, camping and tree planting at the camp.

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9. The Lower Kinabatangan trough Volunteer Management Speaker: Mark Louis Benedict  APE Malaysia’s project in the Lower Kinabatangan involves planting of trees by volunteer overseas tourists that focuses on habitat restoration and bringing benefits to the local community by providing alternative income to the villagers and local businesses in Kampung Sukau. The project structure and organisation also brings inclusive conservation methods to the community through participative and educational activities. With proper set up guidance and close monitoring, this model of voluntourism can be replicated in other locations for positive impact to the community, economy, environment and conservation effort in Sabah.

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ORAL PAPER 19

FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION IN SABAH

Robert C. Ong Sabah Forestry Department

Dr. Robert Cyril Ong is a Senior Researcher and Deputy Head of the Forest Research Centre in the Sabah Forestry Department. Based in Sandakan, Sabah, he has served with the Department for the last 27 years, i.e. since 1991. Much of his early research focused on the silvicultural management of logged dipterocarp forests, with emphasis on yield regulation and timber stand improvement. His current work focuses on forest management planning, forest quality assessments, and exploring opportunities for generating revenue from non-timber forest resources. He holds an M.Sc. in forest biology from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in forestry from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Abstract

Despite recent efforts and achievements in forest conservation and more responsible forestry, the fact remains that Sabah’s natural forests have endured years of unsustainable timber exploitation and poor logging practices. Two major El nino induced fire periods since the early 1980s, and the illegal occupation and encroachment of parts of Sabah’s 3.8 million hectare Permanent Forest Estate, are other important drivers of forest degradation. In addressing these problems, the Sabah Forestry Department has been putting greater emphasis on forest restoration in the last 10 years, pouring in millions of dollars in the process. Since 2011, about 270,000 ha of degraded forests have been treated and another 53,000 ha have been planted up through various initiatives. NGOs, along with the corporate sector have also been forthcoming in their support. Much remains to be done in the years to come, as the State government reclassifies more production forests for conservation purposes.

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ORAL PAPER 20

SABAH RSPO JURISDICTION CERTIFICATION: THE SMALLHOLDER CHALLENGE

Cynthia Ong Forever Sabah

Cynthia Ong engages in facilitating processes, partnerships and projects that provoke ecologically sustainable co-existence between groups, communities, regions and nations. She has over 25 years of experience in the fields of organizational leadership, process facilitation, project management and financing. She is the founder of Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP)– which has helped birth multiple long-term partnerships and organizations coalescing around systemic solutions and change. Her current task is Forever Sabah, the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah’s transition towards a diversified, equitable circular economy with the focal areas of food and agriculture, water, waste and soil, renewable energy and tourism.

Abstract

In Sabah’s journey towards 100% RSPO certification of its palm oil production, one of our biggest challenges will be engaging and facilitating the change for the smallholder community. MPOB registers some 60,000 smallholders in Sabah, but we estimate the real figures to be significantly higher, perhaps 50% to even 100% more. This is symptomatic of layers of complex issues like land legality and licensing, farm management and access to market. Forever Sabah’s work engages directly with smallholders on the ground, in four pilot districts of Telupid, Tongod, Beluran and Kinabatangan. This presentation will share findings and the work over the past year and a half.

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ORAL PAPER 21

ROADS TO RUIN? OPTIMISING HUMAN NEEDS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOREST CONSERVATION IN SABAH

William F. Laurance James Cook University, Australia

William Laurance is a Distinguished Research Professor and Australian Laureate at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. He also holds the Prince Bernhard Chair in International Nature Conservation at Utrecht University, Netherlands. A former President of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, he has written eight books and over 600 scientific and popular articles. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and has received many professional honors, including the Heineken Environment Prize, the BBVA Frontiers in Conservation Biology Award, the Society for Conservation Biology’s Distinguished Service Award, and the Zoological Society of London’s Outstanding Conservation Achievement Award. He is director of the Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science at James Cook University in Australia, and founding director of ALERT—the Alliance of Leading Environmental Researchers & Thinkers.

Abstract

Borneo is a globally unique environment with unparalleled biological richness and a megafauna adapted for life-or-death migrations across the island, in response to striking spatial and temporal fluctuations in local fruit production. The Heart of Borneo reserve network is designed to sustain this complex natural phenomenon as well as the diversity of Bornean wildlife and plants that are sensitive to human habitat alteration and intense overhunting. While vital in concept, the Heart of Borneo initiative is in peril, because provisional existing plans for large-scale infrastructure expansion and land-use change—particularly driven by the Pan-Borneo Highway and Trans-Kalimantan Highway network—will severely disrupt remaining forests while promoting waves of new wildlife poaching and illegal exploitation. In East Malaysia, the Sabah Spatial Plan provides a well- considered template for advancing land-use and economic development, but key tenets of scheme are alarming from environmental and economic perspectives. Notably, I will identify several of the most perilous infrastructure elements. The high-risk projects require a moratorium on construction until further environmental, economic, and social analyses can be conducted. Available evidence from Southeast Asia suggests that proposed mitigation efforts for the projects, such as small wildlife underpasses and forest corridors, are seriously inadequate. In Sabah, as elsewhere, there has been far too little discussion of the inherent financial, economic, social, and environmental risks of large-scale infrastructure projects—which are needed to maximize their long-term human benefits.

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ORAL PAPER 22

RILEAF PROJECT – SUPPORTING KCOL RIPARIAN REFORESTATION

Kertijah Abdul Kadir1 & Yong Lee Keng2 1 Nestle RiLeaf, Kinabatangan 2 Agriculture Services for Nestle Malaysia

Kertijah Abdul Kadir joined Nestle in June 2011. Been involved in reforestation work in Kinabatangan since 2004 while with WWF-Malaysia under the KCoL Project. Personal interest in community involvement and strongly believes that no conservation work would be sustainably worked out without local community involvement.

Abstract

In September 2011, Nestlé Malaysia launched the Nestlé RiLeaf project. Through this project, Nestlé envisages a landscape where people, agriculture (oil palm) and the natural ecosystem can live harmoniously in their shared need for water. The project is attempting to restore riverine vegetation along the Kinabatangan River to promote its ecological and environmental functions. This is done through a two-prong approach i.e., the riparian reforestation along Kinabatangan river and promotion of oil palm sustainability among its local stakeholders. Local communities provide almost 90% of the manpower source for this project, both on the riparian reforestation work and oil palm. The project actively supports sustainable rural development by working with and buying forest seedlings from KAPOK (Komuniti Anak Pokok Kinabatangan), a community- based forest seedlings producer of entrepreneurs from four villages, and involving local smallholders from Kinabatangan as members to its Oil Palm Sustainability Programme. The presentation will share amongst others our achievements and challenges faced throughout a six-year period – with the intention that the positive ones will be magnified for larger impact.

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ORAL PAPER 23

SECURING, RESTORING AND CONNECTING HABITAT FOR LARGE MAMMALS IN SABAH, MALAYSIA

P. Kretzschmar 1,2 & R. Risch1 1 Rhino and Forest Fund, Germany 2 Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Germany

Dr. Petra Kretzschmar has a Diploma in Biology and made her Dr. rer. nat at the Mathematic-Science Faculty of the University of Greifswald on female mate choice in free-ranging white rhinoceros. She is currently working as a scientist and project coordinator at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin,

Germany. Dr. Kretzschmar is founding director of the Rhino and Forest Fund, a German based NGO conducting reforestation projects in Sabah, Malaysia. She was based for 2 years in Sepilok, Sabah and worked as scientific director and programme coordinator for the American based NGO SOS rhino.

Abstract

Agricultural expansion, logging activities, forest fires and urbanization are causing one of the highest rates of deforestation in the tropics. As a consequence, wildlife habitat is being reduced and fragmented and large land mammals such as the Borneo pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) and the Banteng (Bos javanicus) are restricted in their movements which often result in human–wildlife conflicts. The Rhino and Forest Fund (RFF) is a German based NGO operating in Sabah, Malaysia and in Sumatra, Indonesia. Our aim is to restore habitat, to establish wildlife corridors and to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. Together with the Forestry Department and Wildlife Department, two forest restoration projects have been started in Sabah. As a result of our activities, agricultural fences restricting the movements of elephants and other wildlife have been removed, private land has been secured for conservation and habitat corridors have been replanted. The target of the Rhino and Forest Fund is to establish a network of well-connected conservation areas of sufficient size and quality to overcome current habit fragmentation. The reforestation projects are carefully designed in order to restore a high diversity of different tree species and to provide sufficient food for elephants and other wildlife. Wildlife corridors become feeding paths which help to guide the animals and to minimise the conflict with local villages. They also help to connect isolated populations of different animal species and to enhance the gen-pool. The RFF works together with all crucial stakeholders and considers the socio-economic setting as well as the likely ecological and socio-economic developments. We are currently fundraising for a new project to establish the best-practice for the restoration of oil palm plantations. Together with scientists from different disciplines we will investigate how to restore heavy degraded soils and forests rich in wildlife.

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ORAL PAPER 24

WILDLIFE AS A NATURAL RESOURCE IN NATURAL FOREST MANAGED FMU: A CASE STUDY IN KTSP SDN. BHD., SEGALIUD-LOKAN, SABAH

Jephte Sompud1, Collin Goh2, Paul Liau2, Fadzil Yahya3, Cynthia Boon Sompud4, Ahmad Tarmizi Abd Rahim1, Hisham Hansam1, Amirul Aizat Jamaludin1, Ridhwan Juma’at1, Mohamad Faisal Midin1, Abdul Hannan Ahmad Shuhaimi1, & Rufi’at Ramly1 1 Universiti Malaysia Sabah 2 KTS Plantation 3 Sabah Forestry Department 4 Wildlife Sentinels, Kota Kinabalu

Dr. Jephte Sompud used to work in Sabah Wildlife Department in 1992 and then employed by New York Zoological Society to conduct wildlife research in Sabah and Sarawak that investigated on ecological impacts on hunting towards wildlife population. His M.Sc. was on the calling adaptation by primates, hornbill, and argus pheasant in Sabah and Sarawak. For his Ph.D., he studied the effect of forest fire on non-volant mammals in Sabah. His ongoing research now focuses on the bioacoustic study that investigates the response of bird community on traffic noise. His research team is also working on pangolin population in Gaya island and clouded leopard study in Segaliud Lokan, KTS Plantations.

Collin Goh joined KTS Forests Management Sdn. Bhd. in 2000 after graduating from Universiti

Putra Malaysia. He then proceeded with Post Graduate Diploma at Lincoln University in 2006 and graduated in year 2009. In 2016, he completed his Certified International Project Manager Course from International Academy of Business and Financial Management Institute. He is a coordinator for License for Planted Forest in Sarawak for PUSAKA KTS Forest Plantation Sdn. Bhd. since year 2000. He was assigned again to become coordinator for KTS Plantation Sdn. Bhd. in 2014 until 2017. Recently, he has been promoted to Sabah Area Operation Manager (Forests) where he is responsible to the operation for KTS Plantation Sdn. Bhd. and Unistate Sea Food (Sabah) Sdn. Bhd.

Abstract

The forested landscape in Sabah is increasingly being dominated with human modified forests. Nowadays, wildlife as a natural resource must be managed beyond the boundary of protected areas. The purpose of this paper is to present the scenario of wildlife as a natural resource in KTSP Sdn Bhd, Segaliud-Lokan. Wildlife Surveys were conducted in Segaliud Lokan to systematically assess its population from 1st of July to 30th August 2016 using line transect method. A total of 20 survey transects were established for this purpose that covers different habitats in order to represents the surrounding forests in KTSP Segaliud Lokan. Each transects were 500m long. The data was analysed using descriptive method. The results shows that a high diversity of wildlife. Despite of the harvesting operations that are actively carried out in the concessions, high diversity and abundance of wildlife population indicate that they are being taken good care. The rich presence of wildlife here reflects the good forest governance and practice of the company. Among the significant efforts that they have conducted were strictly adhering to RIL principles, setting a significant size of their concession into a permanent protected forest, establishment of wildlife corridors and many more. The rich and abundant wildlife population in KTSP suggests for a possible resource capitalization. The number of visitors coming to Sabah that goes for nature tourism is significantly increasing based on the past five years data obtained from Sabah Tourism Board. This indicates an existing and growing market for nature tourism and needs to be explored. Wildlife may become a potential asset for resource diversification. It will take-off pressure from timber harvesting by focussing on wildlife as sustainable economic revenue. An economic evaluation of the wildlife in KTSP would be the next course of action in order to pave into this direction.

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ORAL PAPER 25

EX-SITU SOLUTIONS FOR CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE LAND USE STRATEGIES

Dzaeman Dzulkifli Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC)

Dr. Dzaeman Dzulkifli received his B.Sc. in Zoology from Queen Mary University of London, M.Sc. in Ecology and Ph.D. in Rainforest Restoration from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Switzerland. He is the Executive Director of Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre (TRCRC) and a member of Landskap Malaysia’s (sister organisation to TRCRC) alternate board of governors since 2012.

Abstract

With the ever-increasing rate of deforestation throughout South-East Asia, the loss of endangered plant species remains a major conservation concern. Efforts throughout the world have been carried out to safeguard plant species by preserving those that can be stored in refrigerated volts i.e. seed banks. However, the conservation of tropical rainforest species remains a challenging task. A large percentage of tropical seeds are generally recalcitrant and are difficult to store for long periods. In order to increase efforts to avoid the loss of tropical plant species and to minimise the effects of deforestation, TRCRC has established multiple ex-situ ‘Tropical Rainforest Living Collections’ in Malaysia, where seeds from threatened plants (e.g. Dipterocarpaceae family) are collected, germinated, planted and eventually re-introduced back into their native habitats. In conjunction with this, TRCRC has initiated and are developing specific investable projects built around sustainable land use and value added downstream technologies. This would enable enrichment reforestation initiatives that amongst others i.e. agroforestry, eco-tourism and bio-prospecting, would recreate large amounts of biomass for further downstream processing. These sustainable land use and holistic value chain approaches hold the potential to create substantial economic value at a level above traditional forest management, have a significant positive environmental effect, and create stable rural jobs and livelihoods.

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ORAL PAPER 26

THE STATUS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS (CCAs) UNDER THE EU PROGRAMME - TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Rosila Anthony1, Norlina Mohd. Din2, Rashidah Maqbool Rehman1 & Ricky Alisky Martin1 1 Sabah Forestry Department 2 Sabah Parks

Rosila Anthony is a Research Officer with the Sabah Forestry Department and she is currently the Project Coordinator for the Sabah EU REDD-plus Project on Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development since November 2016. She was previously the Head of the GIS Unit. She received her B.Sc. (Hons) Biology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1991 and her M.Sc. in Tropical Forest Resource Management from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2003.

Norlina Binti Mohd Din is currently attached with Sabah Parks as the Project Manager for Kinabalu -Ecolinc Pilot Site under the EU-REDD-plus project on Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development since June 2014. She received her Bachelor of Science in Project Management from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 1995 and her Master of Tourism Management from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand in 2003.

Abstract

The European Union is financing a project named “Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development” to address reduction of carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks and to involve local communities more closely in sustainable forest management initiatives. The project will enhance institutional capacity of the Sabah Government and develop tools to design and implement the State REDD+ Strategy. The intended work will be to assist the State Government of Sabah to implement the road map to REDD+ and establish necessary systems and build capacity to design and implement the proposed State REDD+ Strategy. These initiatives will be demonstrated in the three pilot project areas, namely at Kg Gana, Kota Marudu; the K-CoL area along Sg Kinabatangan in Kota Kinabatangan and within the Eco-linc Area around Kinabalu Park, Ranau. This paper will elaborate the initiation and implementation of this State REDD+ initiative with focus on the progress and lesson learnt on the establishment of Community Conserved Area (CCA) with focus on Kinabalu Eoclinc REDD+ pilot site.

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ORAL PAPER 27

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT IN ULU KALUMPANG-WULLERSDORF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PROJECT

Jaime Gampawi Sabah Forestry Department

Jaime Gampawi studied Forestry focusing on Urban Forestry and started working with Sabah Forestry

Department in 2006. He served as an Assistant District Forestry Officer for 7 years, and is currently the District Forestry Officer of Kunak, leading the Ulu Kalumpang-Wullersdorf Sustainable Forest Management which was certified in May 2016 under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Abstract

Kalumpang River is one of the important sources of water for both Tawau and Kunak Districts in Sabah. The Sabah Forestry Department had established an FMU and implemented Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) under the Ulu Kalumpang-Wullersdorf Sustainable Forest Management Project to serve this need. The aim of the SFM project is to protect and manage the watershed area within forest reserves comprising Ulu Kalumpang FR, Mt. Wullersdorf FR, Madai Baturong (Binuang) FR and three of Kalumpang (VJR107C, VJR107D and VJR107E) FRs. The project began with law enforcement to address encroachment activities within the forest reserves and later expanded to include forest rehabilitation activities. The management had also implemented several other conservation activities to monitor the progress of this project. The analyzed monitoring data are being used to update / modify the management of the area.

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ORAL PAPER 28

RESTORATION OF PEATLAND IN SABAH – CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD

Christopher A. Matunjau & Frederick Kugan Sabah Forestry Department

Christopher A. Matunjau received basic professional training from UPM. He joined Forestry Department in 1988. He has been attached to various focus areas in the department, i.e. R&D, sectoral planning, forestry district administration, peatland conservation, and currently he is the Sipitang District Forestry Officer.

Abstract

The Peatland ecosystem is considered as one of the most fragile ecosystems. Once disturbed, it may never recover to its original state. Peatland’s functions and contributions to the general integrity of the environment and the well-being of mankind are undeniable. In the past, Sabah had more than 130,000 ha of land mass categorized as in some form of peat ecosystem. Typical pressure on land for various development and conversion purposes had led to the reduction of peat land areas as well as posing various threats to the remaining ones. To date, the estimated secured peat area is approximately 25,000ha, which are in some form of legal protection, and confined in the state’s forest reserves (FR). The extent of these areas are mostly distributed at Klias Peninsula via Binsulik FR, Padas-Damit FR, Klias FR, Bukau Api-api FR and Nabahan FR. Noticing the threats and issues faced by the ecosystem, the Government had launched the conservation initiatives in 2000, resulting in the development of the Klias Peatswamp Site Conservation Plan in 2007. Various recommendations had been put forward to mitigate pressures and threats on peatland. The plan recommends initiating conservation measures on Klias FR which will later be adapted to other peat forests in the Klias Peninsula. Some notable issues are still recurring for the past decade in implementation of the plan. Realizing these issues, the Government through the Forestry Department had proposed for project extension through 11th Malaysian Plan since 2016 and at the same time welcome the assistance from Global Environment Facility (GEF) to assist by addressing certain issues which were not included in the plan. This presentation features the challenges encountered in conserving peatland in Sabah and outlines some of the initiatives proposed in a hope to remedy the issues.

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ORAL PAPER 29

A DECADE OF RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION OF DEGRADED MANGROVES IN SABAH

Joseph Tangah Sabah Forestry Department

Dr. Joseph Tangah obtained his Ph.D. from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). He is currently a Senior Research Officer at the Forest Research Centre of the Sabah Forestry Department, specializing on mangrove restoration, rehabilitation and conservation. Since 2011, he serves as the Project Leader of Rehabilitation of Mangroves in Sabah, a collaborative project between SFD and ISME.

Abstract

Since 1997, the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) has adopted the principles of sustainable forest (natural resources) management for all forest types, extending from coastal mangroves at sea level to sub-alpine vegetation, with emphasis on biodiversity conservation. The total area of mangrove vegetation within permanent forest reserves of Sabah is ~338,000 ha or 58% of the country’s total. A decade ago, the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) has initiated restoration efforts and rehabilitation activities of degraded mangroves throughout the State with financial support from the Federal Government of Malaysia. Apart from that, since 2011, SFD also receiving generous funding from Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. based in Tokyo, Japan, through the collaborative project with the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), to rehabilitate degraded mangrove in Sabah. The continued support to SFD by the funding agencies and ISME has been translated as earnest protection of all mangrove forest reserves in Sabah. SFD will continue its restoration, rehabilitation of degraded areas and outreach programmes through various activities in ensuring sustainable management and conservation of mangrove ecosystems in Sabah. In this overview, major challenges, experiences and achievements of the project activities are presented. With the commitment and support of all agencies involved within the HoB framework, sustainable mangrove management in Sabah is in line with its objectives. Hence, the long-term ecological and environmental benefits of mangrove ecosystems such as coastal protection, preservation of biodiversity, support for coastal fisheries and climate regulation will be known more widely.

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RAPPORTEUR’S NOTES SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

 Sabah is pursuing best management practices for all land use activities through mainstreaming biodiversity, sustainable socio-economic development and preservation of ecosystem services.  Government, NGO and corporate sectors support restoration of degraded forest or previously cultivated area to improve ecosystems function, connectivity and timber production.  Environmental, economic and social analyses should be conducted before any development project commences where fund and building of capacity are much required.

Summary of Session III Speakers

1. Forest Landscape Ecosystem Restoration in Sabah Speaker: Dr Robert Ong

 Forest landscape ecosystem addresses both conservation and production issues at a landscape level. Government, NGO and corporate sectors support restoration of degraded forest and previously cultivated area to improve ecosystem function and connectivity, where key initiatives have been pursued, such as certified CSPO and 25 year forest sector plan.

2. Sabah RSPO Jurisdiction Certification: the Smallholder Challenge Speaker: Ms. Cynthia Ong

 Sabah is pursuing best management practices for all land use activities through mainstreaming biodiversity, socio-economic development and preservation of ecosystem services. Part of the activities required direct engagement with smallholder communities to help them in applying the RSPO certification.

3. Roads to Ruin? Optimising Human Needs, Infrastructure and Forest Conservation in Sabah Speaker: Prof. William F. Laurance

 Environmental, economic, and social analyses should be conducted before the commencement of high-risk development project, especially in high biodiversity area of Sabah.

4. RILEAF Project – Supporting K-COL Riparian Reforestation Speaker: Ms. Kertijah Abdul Kadir

 Nestlé RiLeaf project aims to enhance Kinabatangan River ecological and environmental functions through riparian reforestation activities of the Kinabatangan River. The project has collaborated with local community which showed many positive impacts and promoting sustainable palm oil.

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5. Securing, Restoring and Connecting Habitat for Large Mammals in Sabah, Malaysia Speaker: Dr. Petra Kretzschmar

 Wildlife movements have been obstructed by forest fragmentation which subsequently linked to human-wildlife conflict. With the help of government agencies, the Rhino and Forest Fund (RFF) aims to establish wildlife corridors and connectivity between fragmented forests through carefully designed restoration practices on previously degraded and cultivated areas.

6. Wildlife as a Natural Resource in Natural Forest Managed FMU: A Case Study in KTSP Sdn. Bhd., Segaliud Lokan, Sabah Speaker: Dr. Jephte Sompud & Mr. Collin Goh

 Wildlife must be managed beyond the boundary of the protected areas as they have potential for resource diversification. The presence of high diversity and abundance of wildlife in KTSP Sdn Bhd, Segaliud-Lokan may likely be the consequence of good forest governance and practice of the company, which in turn could become a potential sustainable economic revenue.

7. Ex-situ Solutions for Conservation and Sustainable Land Use Strategies Speaker: Dr. Dzaeman Dzulkifli

 The loss of endangered plant species has become a major conservation concern. TRCRC has established several ex-situ conservation sites in Malaysia to minimize the effects of deforestation through enrichment reforestation initiatives.

8. The Status of the Establishment of Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) under the EU Programme – Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development Speaker: Ms. Rosila Anthony & Ms. Norlina Mohd. Din

 A European Union financed project named “Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development” with the involvement of local communities from Kg Gana, K-CoL, and the Eco-link areas to address the reduction of carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and conservation of forest carbon stock was commenced. The project will enhance institutional capacity of the Sabah Government and develop tools to design and implement the State REDD+ Strategy.

9. Watershed Management in Ulu Kalumpang-Wullersdorf Sustainable Forest Management Project Speaker: Mr. Jaime Gampawi

 The watershed management in Ulu Kalumpang – Wullersdorf Sustainable Forest Management Project area has been implemented to protect from encroachment activities, re-forestation of encroached area and monitoring of biodiversity.

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10. Restoration of Peatland in Sabah – Challenges and the Way Forward Speaker: Mr. Christopher A. Matunjau

 Sabah has lost much of its peatland ecosystems and about 25,000 ha of remnant peatswamp areas are gazetted as forest reserves. A Klias Peatswamp Site Conservation Plan was proposed in 2007 with the aim to conserve the peat ecosystems in southwest of Sabah. Government is seeking fund through Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment under the 11th Malaysian Plan and also looking forward to collaborate with Global Environment Facility (GEF) in addressing some issues that were not included in the plan.

11. A Decade of Restoration and Rehabilitation of Degraded Mangroves in Sabah Speaker: Dr. Joseph Tangah

 Sabah has large area of mangrove forests and various conservation projects have been carried out to rehabilitate the degraded mangrove forests. Many NGOs have contributed in the conservation efforts despite of inevitable challenges.

Q&A Session

Name Mr. Ibrahim Muin

Agency Sabah Softwoods Berhad

Question/Comment Who is going to help the small holder to pay for the cost of getting certification? Answer Frederick Kugan Basically, RSPO is also giving some help and Forever Sabah is definitely doing the same thing. The state government itself is also committing some initial funding in order to support that certification. Basically, the initial funding is to prepare the community in term of capacity building. We are providing the initiative a total of 1 million ringgit just to help them. But we hope, with our contribution, there will be more partners coming in.

Name Ms. Mary Ann

Agency Sabah Tourist Guide Association

Question/Comment How many species do you actually collect and left behind? Have you done any studies on the effect of not bringing in other natural species in that particular area? Answer Dzaeman Dzulkifli We need to leave behind some species for natural regeneration. We have collected close to one thousand seeds per individuals. Yes, natural regeneration is good. But for the project we have in line, we are creating a kind of different sort of solutions. We are not restoring forest to maintain its kind of diversity of that forest. We are restoring that particular site to pose a range of rare and endangered species of trees.

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Name Ms. Mary Ann

Agency Sabah Tourist Guide Association

Question/Comment What about the effect of not bringing in a species that will be there together with more hardy species? Answer Joseph Tangah You are referring about the fast-growing species to rehabilitate degraded mangrove. There is no term for fast growing species in harsh environment of mangrove. The seedlings or the planting material that we normally used is Rhizophora spp. They are not fast-growing species like Laran or Acacia sp. There is no such thing as fast-growing species when we come to mangrove ecosystem because they are very unique and complex ecosystem. The main question is whether we can use fast-growing trees or not. No. We just used the mangrove species that we have been using for the past ten years.

Name Mr. Genga Pillai

Agency Malaysian Palm Oil Association

Question/Comment Opinion/information: About the funding for MSPO, there is a council called Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC). It says for area below 1000 ha they give 70% of the cost of MSPO certification. For areas above 1000 ha, you get 30% of the cost for certification.

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ORAL PAPER 30

FOREST LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT IN SABAH: PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Zulkifli Suara, Hj. Mohd. Nasir Ag. Suman, Miskon Simin, Pius Primus Peter Maurice Lidadun , Peter Jack , Donatus Loisang & Mahali Yusin Sabah Forestry Department

Mahali Yusin holds a B.Sc. in Forest Resource Management from Southern Illinois University, USA. He joined

Sabah Forestry Department in 1992, and has held various posts, including DFO, MCEE, Enforcement Officer and Forest Auditor (Timber Legality Assurance System, TLAS). Currently, he is a Forestry Prosecuting Officer under the SPP Division of the Department.

Abstract

Forest Laws and Enforcement are tools to combat the threats posed to forests from illegal logging, evasion of royalty, encroachments and other related offences. In Sabah, the Forest Enactment 1968, and Forest Rules 1969 are two prominent principle forestry laws, which provide provisions for forest offences, penalties, administrative power of the Forestry officers, etc. With the help from the Police Department, and the State Attorney General’s office, the Sabah Forestry Department had initiated training and short forest crime related courses, followed by internal prosecution succession plans for its officers, to counter the weaknesses in investigation and prosecution, and also in field raiding. To date, the Sabah Forestry Department has trained many forestry officers throughout the state and has brought about tremendous improvement in reducing forest crimes. The implementation of Sustainable Forest Management and its underlying stringent policies and procedures has contributed to the success in containing illegal felling, especially in FMU licensed forest reserves. However, illegal encroachments by villagers, who often use NCR issues as a right to access, cultivate, and own land, and occasional opening up of areas by immigrants in some parts of forest reserves, remain as a major threat to field enforcement work. Another threat is wildlife poaching, which has reached a pandemic rate. To overcome these problems, the Forestry Department has initiated several initiatives, such as the launching of K9 unit and SFD Protect Squad, intensifying field patrolling, establishment of checking points at the entry point to FMUs, aerial surveys, and acquirement of permits to use firearm.

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ORAL PAPER 31

THE TRAINING AT THE SABAH FORESTRY INSTITUTE: ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE WAY FORWARD

Bernard Valentine Sabah Forestry Department

Bernard Valentine holds a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Forestry from University Putra Malaysia (UPM). He has worked with the Sabah Forestry Department since 1997. He currently serves as the principal of the Sabah Forestry Institute (IPS), Telupid. He actively participates in the development of a forest short course curriculum at IPS in improving the skills and knowledge of forestry workers in Sabah.

Abstract

The Sabah Forestry Institute is the only forestry learning centre under the supervision of the Sabah Forestry Department. It was established in 1974 and was formerly known as Forestry Training School. In 1989, the name of the Training School was upgraded to Sabah Forestry Institute when the first Forest Ranger course was introduced and offered. Until now, this institute has successfully trained 1,303 foresters and forest rangers. Short-term courses, such as Reduced Impact Logging, Tree Identification and Sabah Log Grading Rules (SLGR) are also offered by the Institute. As to ensure the existence and continuation of this institute, more initiatives and planning need to be done to enable multiple skills and techniques in forest management to be provided and transferred to field staff. Studies should also be conducted to review the actual needs of skilled forestry workers in all forest-related agencies whether they are sufficient or not. Field staff recruitment with minimum requirement for forester and forest ranger certificate should be made compulsory to all FMU companies and other forest-related agencies in Sabah. Having this kind of policy will directly assist the provision of job opportunities for IPS trainees as well as ensure that the government's goal of sustainable forest management can be achieved in the future

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ORAL PAPER 32

USING ANIMAL MOVEMENT MODELS TO ASSESS CONNECTIVITY FOR INTEGRATION IN OPTIMIZED RESERVE NETWORK DESIGN

Sara H. Williams SEARRP & University of Montana

Dr. Sara H. Williams is a post-doctoral researcher for SEARRP, working at the University of Montana under the guidance of Dr. Jedediah Brodie. She received an M.Sc. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont in 2012 and a Ph.D. in Fish & Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana in 2017. Her research interests are focused on the use of robust quantitative methods and modelling techniques to increase understanding of complex conservation problems while aiming to help identify effective solutions.

Abstract

With the goals of protecting threatened species and maintaining biodiversity, reserve network design often aims to optimize the balance of two major conservation components: one, the representation of species ranges, and two, connectivity between protected habitats. The first component focuses on ensuring that a target proportion of each species’ range is conserved within protected areas. The second component, connectivity, assesses species’ abilities to move across the network of protected areas, with emphasis on facilitating critical ecological processes. Here, we present methods to assess connectivity using animal movement models. Benefits of this approach include the ability to integrate information related to individual species, such as perceptual range and the distance typically traveled per movement, as well as information concerning the landscape, such as areas of development that may act as barriers to connectivity. We show that incorporating both conservation components of connectivity and species range representation targets in reserve network design, in contrast to use of only a single component, can result in different optimized solutions and that these solutions vary dependent upon the relative importance assigned to each component.

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ORAL PAPER 33

BUILDING CAPACITY FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICE VALUATION AND MANAGEMENT

Rosie Trevelyan Tropical Biology Association, Cambridge, UK & Nairobi, Kenya

Dr. Rosie Trevelyan has a doctorate in Zoology from the University of Oxford and is a recipient of the Zoological Society of London’s Silver Medal for contributions to wildlife conservation and education. She is the Director of the Tropical Biology Association (TBA) – an NGO that is building the capacity of conservation scientists and managers in Africa and SE Asia. The TBA has trained over 2,000 scientists from 70 countries world-wide. Rosie is also a founding member of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative.

Abstract

Ecosystems services are in decline resulting in economic, social and environmental impacts. It is therefore important that management decisions and policies are based on reliable information about these services to slow and reverse their declines. I will talk about how building capacity in ecosystem service valuation among conservation managers can help decision making for natural resource management. The Tropical Biology Association’s (TBA) has based much of its ecosystem services training on the Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site- based Assessments (TESSA). The TESSA toolkit was developed by a consortium of scientists and is a simplified, low-cost, approach to identify, assess and value ecosystem services through engaging stakeholders. A key feature of TESSA is that it employs site-based assessments of real data at both the site of interest and a site that represents its alternative state under a different management situation. I will end the talk summarizing the TESSA consortium’s progress towards its aims of having global conservation impact by developing capacity and enabling users to understand the benefits that nature brings to people and to integrate the results into policy and practice.

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ORAL PAPER 34

BUILDING CAPACITY FOR A NET GAIN POLICY

Amrei von Hase Forest Trends

Amrei von Hase has a Doctorate in Ecology and Conservation Biology (University of Cape Town). She has sixteen years of experience in biodiversity conservation, management and offsetting policy and practice as well as spatial planning, impact assessment and associated training and capacity building. She is currently Senior Scientific Advisor with Forest Trends and the Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme (BBOP). Her work involves regular collaboration with a wide network of partners from academia, government, companies and civil society.

Abstract

Policies on applying the mitigation hierarchy and achieving goals such as no net loss or a net gain (NNL/NG) of biodiversity are on the rise around the world. They typically include a policy commitment setting out a goal and how government will put this into practice; a legal basis for the system with guidelines on how to apply the policy; and an institutional framework (appropriate governance arrangements, mechanisms and institutions to put the policy into effect). Establishing and running a robust NNL/NG system thus requires a broad range of professional and technical skills, not only on the part of the government but also among key stakeholders such as companies and EIA consultants, financial institutions, research institutes and civil society (e.g. NGOs). Staff from government departments, agencies, consultants, NGOs and academics need skills in biodiversity policy, land-use planning, EIA and SEA, administration and enforcement, information technology, field assessments and analysis of developers’ proposals for mitigation. We will outline the principal skills and capacities needed and how these could be addressed to help Sabah meet its goal of a Net Gain policy and present some early recommendations from our work on a NG policy and system for Sabah.

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ORAL PAPER 35

APPROACHES TO CAPACITY BUILDING IN PALM OIL

Reza Azmi Wild Asia

Dr. Reza Azmi is the Founder and Executive Director of Wild Asia. He has over 20 years of experience working on Biodiversity and Conservation projects in a number of countries across Asia. He has been instrumental in pioneering a multi-year programme to improve the sustainability of the palm oil sector. His professional experience includes working at field-to-policy levels for the public-sector and the private-sector in Malaysia and across palm producing regions in the world.

Abstract

Over the last decade, Wild Asia has been at the frontline to provide education to the palm oil industry on improving their sustainability practices. This experience base has been unique in that it has spanned from professionals to board rooms to field operations. Since 2007, our attention has been on exploring how the learning could be extended to the small producers, the small holders and their workforce, to allow them to understand the requirements of sustainability standards. The approaches are widely different but at the heart, is the need, to communicate to adults (to win their hearts) and to bring methods designed for communities or creative thinking to stimulate adult-learning. This presentation will provide a glimpse of what we have learnt along the way.

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ORAL PAPER 36

CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH THE EERACE

Bernadette D. Joeman & George Hubert Petol Sabah Forestry Department

Bernadette Joeman has been working as an Environmental Educator at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) for the last 18 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from the National University of Malaysia. She is currently the Vice Chairman of the Sabah Environmental Education Network (SEEN) and was a member of the working group responsible in drafting the Sabah Environmental Education Policy (SEEP). She has shared her passion and experiences on EE through presentations in numerous EE conferences in Malaysia and abroad.

Abstract

The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) is a centre for environmental education under the Sabah Forestry Department. The role of the RDC in the Heart of Borneo Initiative is to create awareness on the HoB to the people of Sabah in general, and most importantly, to the people living in, around and adjacent to the HoB areas in Sabah. To achieve this, the RDC implements three main programmes; the HoB Awareness Road Show, the Sepilok Junior Rangers Camp on HoB and the EERace. The EERace, or the Environmental Education Race, is a teacher training course on environmental education, developed by the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in 2005. It is a unique six-day course, which takes participants to many places to complete their assignments on topics related to forest and wildlife conservation, agriculture, electrical power production and conservation, water purification and supply, communities and many more. In order to expose teachers to these various types of environmental experiences and knowledge, we work closely with various partners to organise the EERace. Although the main participants of the EERace are teachers, we are also targeting to build capacity of our staff, partners and others who are involved in this unique course.

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RAPPORTEUR’S NOTES CAPACITY BUILDING

Summary of Session IV Speakers

1. Forest Laws and Enforcement in Sabah: Progress & Achievements Speaker: Mr. Mahali Yusin

 Forest Laws and Enforcement are tools to combat forest threats, such as illegal logging, evasion of royalty, encroachment and other related offences. The Forest Enactment 1968 and Forest Rules 1969 are the two prominent principle forestry laws in Sabah. The implementation of Sustainable Forest Management has contributed to the success in containing illegal felling, especially in FMU licensed forest reserves. However, illegal encroachment by villagers and wildlife poaching remain as major threats to field enforcement work. The Sabah Forestry Department’s efforts to overcome these problems include: launching of the K9 unit and SFD Protect Squad, intensifying field patrolling, establishment of checking point at the entry point to FMUs, aerial surveys and acquirement of permits to use firearm.

2. The Training at the Sabah Forestry Institute: Achievements and the Way Forward Speaker: Mr. Bernard Valentine

 The Sabah Forestry Institute is the only forestry learning centre under the supervision of the Sabah Forestry Department. To date, the institute has successfully trained 1, 303 foresters and forest rangers. Short term courses offered by the institute include Reduce Impact Logging, Tree Identification and Sabah Log Grading Rules (SLGR). Field staff recruitment with minimum requirement for forester and forest ranger certificate should be made compulsory to all FMU companies and other forest-related agencies in Sabah. This will directly assist the provision of job opportunities for IPS trainees and to ensure that the government’s goal of sustainable forest management to be achieved in the future.

3. Using Animal Movement Models to Assess Connectivity for Integration in Optimized Reserve Network Design Speaker: Dr. Sara H. Williams

 In protecting threatened species and maintaining biodiversity, reserve network design aims to optimize the balance of two major conservation components: the representation of species ranges and the connectivity between protected habitats. Methods to assess connectivity using animal movement models are presented. Benefits of this approach include the ability to integrate information related to individual species-perceptual range and the distance-traveled per movement. Incorporating both conservation components of connectivity and species range as opposed to single component approach can result in different optimized solutions which vary dependent upon the relative importance assigned to each component.

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4. Building Capacity for Ecosystem Service Valuation and Management Speaker: Dr. Rosie Trevalyan

 Ecosystems services are in decline resulting in economic, social and environmental impacts. Building capacity in ecosystem service valuation among conservation managers can help decision making for natural resource management. The Tropical Biology Association (TBA) has based much of its ecosystem services training using the Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessments (TESSA). TESSA employs site-based assessments of real data at both the site of interest and a site that represents its alternative state under a different management situation developed by a consortium of scientists engaging stakeholders. TESSA consortium’s progress towards its aims of having global conservation impact by developing capacity and enabling users to understand the benefits that nature brings to people and to integrate the results into policy and practice.

5. Building Capacity for a Net Gain Policy Speaker: Ms. Amrei von Hase

 Policy on applying the mitigation hierarchy and achieving goals such as no net loss or net gain (NNL/NG) of biodiversity are on the rise around the world, and these include policy commitment setting out a goal, a legal basis for the system with guidelines and an institutional framework. Establishing NNL/NG system requires a broad range of professional and technical skills which involves the government, key stakeholders, financial institutions, research institutes and civil society. The principal skills and capacities needed and how these could be addressed to help Sabah meet its goal of a Net Gain policy are drawn. Sabah is committed to developing a NG policy. Some early recommendations based on a NG policy and system for Sabah are also presented.

6. Approaches to Capacity Building in Palm Oil Speaker: Dr. Reza Azmi

 Wild Asia has been at the frontline to provide education to the palm oil industry on improving their sustainability practices over the last decade. The experience base has been unique in that it has spanned from professionals to board rooms to field operations. Wild Asia explores on how the learning could be extended to all levels (e.g. small producers, small holders and their workforce) that allows them to understand the requirements of sustainability standards. The approaches used are different but still at heart, is the need to communicate to adults and to bring methods designed for communities.

7. Capacity Building Through the EERACE Speaker: Ms. Bernadette D. Joeman

 Developed in 2005, the EERace is a teacher training course on environmental education conducted by the RDC to create awareness on the HoB to the people living in, around and adjacent to the HoB areas in Sabah. The EERace is a six-day course that takes participants to many places to complete their assignments on topics related to forest and wildlife conservation, agriculture, electrical power production and conservation, water purification and supply, communities and many more. The RDC is targeting to include their staff members, partners and others in EERace.

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6.0 RAPPORTEUR’S NOTES PLENARY SESSION II: SYNTHESIS OF CONFERENCE

Nine panelists – (i) Datuk Sam Mannan (Chair); (ii) Mr. Frederick Kugan; (iii) Dr. Prabianto Mukti Wibowo; (iv) Mr. Hj Muhammad Safwan bin Abdullah Bibi; (v) Ms. Wilhelmina Cluny; (vi) Datuk Dr. Glen Reynolds; (vii) Dr. Jamili Nais; (viii) Dr. Haji Rahimatsah Amat; and (ix) Ms. Ivy Wong.

Summary from Session Chairpersons

1. Datuk Dr. Glen Reynolds:

 Session focused on conservation planning, namely biodiversity, land-use planning, government agencies on management, restoration and planning of riparian reserves, and forest connectivity in Borneo.  It is encouraging that a lot of sciences/studies have been done in Sabah, including HoB, that contribute to policy development.  Not only working with scientists but also to engage communities as well – collaborating with PACOS, BCI initiative. This partnership will improve management of biodiversity and forests, and improves livelihood of people.

2. Dr. Jamili Nais:

 Nine papers presented. Eco-tourism is responsible natural travel that conserves the environment and brings benefits to the local people. 1. Sabah, in particular the HoB area is blessed with natural wonders. Operators need to be innovative and creative in value-adding tourism products. 2. There are estimated 3.4 million people flocking Sabah every year for natural attraction. It is only fair for tourists to contribute in some way in order to conserve nature, such as through the proposed Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). 3. Ecotourism must also benefit the local people. Not only about the environment but also the people living in and around HoB region. At the end of the day, the eco-tourism programme must also trickle down to lowest society and benefit them. 4. Eco-tourism is where nature and culture come together.

3. Dr. Rahimatsah Amat:  Eleven papers were presented with different perspectives from government agencies, private sectors, and NGOs. Concerns among all causes on issues of degradation of natural resources due to encroachment, poaching and inappropriate planning.  Good examples of case studies which take into account several questions; (i) In order to address all issues, it requires financial means; (ii) Adaptive management needs to be considered; (iii) Connectivity among one ecosystem to another, fragmented forest with fragmented forest.

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 Community Conserved Area (CCA) – very good example under Kinabalu Ecolinc Initiative. CCA can be applied, only unfortunate that legal means was not discussed because of time out.  Progress far more than expected but over years we have achieved much more through HoB initiative without which we may never be anywhere near there.

4. Ms. Ivy Wong:  Capacity building has been identified in the HoB Strategic Planning Action 2014-2020.  Seven papers coincidently touched on priority in the areas of capacity building.  New sciences to the forefront that are needed and can be applied in Sabah to address forest needs in next 10 years.  Capacity in science – working hand in hand to bring mutual benefit and to be able to break silo of compartmentalization.  Huge interest in forestry schools in building capacity building by the industry, NGO and private sectors. There is a need for engagement to put together a curriculum to reflect current needs of industry in meeting the present challenges.  Several comments and calls that SFD is doing very well and moving forward not just managing protected forests but also in addressing conservation of its protected areas. This move needs to be exclaimed further throughout organization and beyond.  Great opportunity to get feedback from various stakeholders the department is engaged with, we just need to look beyond forestry and include wider environmental benefits of forests into its curriculum.

Q&A Session

Name Datuk Anthony Lamb

Question/Comment HoB emphasizes very much on corridors and connecting areas. Road going to be major problem on connectivity for wildlife, especially larger wildlife like elephants. We heard proposal of underpasses and overpasses, eg. Kalabakan to Keningau. Do they really work? We heard in West Malaysia, building viaduct is very expensive. What is your view? Can we use the underpasses and overpasses in the corridor for wildlife?

Answers 1. Datuk Sam Based on our discussion with the Public Works Department, they are not going Mannan to build any new roads. They are improving on what is there. There may be some cutting and diversion. New road means a lot of money which they cannot afford. They have been engaged with us; wherever we do not want them to go through, e.g. Sapi small VJR. If the road is widened, whole reserve will be gone. So far, they are not going to do anything with Kalabakan-Sapulut stretch.

2. Dr. Rahimatsah From Prof. William Laurence’s presentation - the study indicating wildlife Amat hardly use these overpasses. If there are any, they are the smaller animals. Those facilities are being used by people who left rubbish behind, and poachers. Other countries indicate it seems effective, but in Peninsular

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Malaysia’s Royal Belum State Park, it is otherwise. Only small mammals using it.

3. Mr. Mohd I’m a former officer in charge of CFS project. In initial stage in Pahang, Jemis Terengganu and the one which was monitored and coordinated by JPSM is in (Peninsular Gerik. The viaduct needs detailed study whether the Big 5 such as elephant, Malaysia tiger, bear, etc. really uses it. The one that has been used by big animal is in Forestry Gerik, which was studied by WWF. Another one in Terengganu also used by Department) the Big 5.

Name Datuk Anthony Lamb

Question/Comment 50% of forests in Borneo had been lost to development, agriculture, and roads. People should be more aware that virgin forest absorbed 66% of the sun energy compare to road, cities and towns but are expanded to shifting cultivation and oil palms. The unabsorbed heat contributes to local warming. We should be discussing about this but I heard very little of it. Can someone comment? Answer 1. Datuk Sam We will take note of that; the reflection of the sun, and the loss of carbon. But Mannan plantation probably also helps to reduce heat.

Name Mr. Johan (Indonesia)

Question/Comment Lowlands of Borneo central Kalimantan - Is there any thought within the trilateral collaboration taking element of spatial planning into vital socio- economic planning. Better integration between ecosystems, HoB to the lowlands? Answers 1. Mr. Frederick Sabah HoB Initiative is beyond its boundary; we are linking up to other Kugan ecosystems, lower Kinabatangan up to the wetlands that is part of ongoing initiative.

2. Dr. Prabianto In case of Indonesia, we are talking about HoB areas. The spatial land use plan Mukti Wibowo at District level has yet to be finalized. Some provinces in HoB, the provincial spatial land use plan has not been finalize until today. If we can agree and finally adopted the provincial and spatial land use plan, we can settle/solve the issue raised because everybody will follow. Under my coordination, we are finalizing prudential degree on the strategic area of HoB spatial plan, hope this regulation will soon be endorsed by government and can have a delineated area and reallocate whether lowland should be included in the HoB, vice versa highland to be excluded. The key message is we need to finalize the spatial plan for the HoB.

3. Ms. Ivy Wong There is a programme, currently run by the Tropical Biology Association on TESSA implementation, you can keep in touch with Rosie Trevelyan on the Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessment (TESSA).

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Name Unidentifed

Question/Comment i. Information: Beside RSPO, we have a national scheme, i.e. CSPO operated by MPOCC to further our objective to get more areas certified. Some incentives have been agreed upon to provide all growers and millers. The details are available in MPOB’s website. For smallholders, we do not only bring them to a level of being certified, but also provide financial assistance to embrace their process of certification. Under the jurisdiction certification process, we are looking into area to be certified. RSPO has been in the picture for a long time, and now MSPO. We will work hand in hand to get this maneuver certified for sustainable development. ii. Cynthia’s presentation – We have land legality issue to address. How are we going to address land use related to legality of ownership?

Answer 1. Datuk Sam Have to be sorted out by the Land and Survey Department. In fact, they have a Mannan special programme to do fast survey of native lands, called PANTAS. Quite a bit of money has been given by the Federal government for this purpose. I think they can increase their capacity in speed by five times or more, so that should be sorted within the royalty fee in a short period of time, maybe within 5 years’ time.

Name Mr. Albert Teo

Agency Borneo Eco Tours, Sabah

Question/Comment Sabah is a major entry point of tourists to Borneo, therefore Indonesia can tap tourists’ arrival through Kota Kinabalu. Unfortunately, what I see in Ba’kelalan – Long Bawan, the challenges are immigration between each border, the homestay and the communities need capacity building. If we are to develop visit HoB year for tourism, Sabah is going to get major benefit than Sarawak and Kalimantan because the level of development in Kalimantan is so far behind. The road from Ba’kelalan to Long Bawan is so bad. Without road accessibility as back up, it will be very challenging because we cannot depend on good weather for flights even to get out of Ba’kelalan and Bario. What is the possibility of getting more funding to ensure Ba’kelalan has smooth flow of traffic, as well as the road accessibility in case of bad incremental weather, so that Sarawak and Kalimantan can tap into cross-border tourism?

Answers 1. Dr. Prabianto Mr. Albert is one of our task force members on green eco-tourism. We had a Mukti Wibowo lot of discussion on how to promote the transboundary eco-tourism. I will take note of that and will forward to our Capital to be put into our national priority. I believe as our President is very keen to develop the country from the border areas, the problem connectivity in Ba’kelalan will be easily solved.

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Cluny by the Federal government but it is quite bad because of the weather. We will take note if there is any possibility to repair the road.

Datuk Sam Mannan’s final note – In the end, make sure this concept is sustainable despite the challenges of whatever that may happen in the mean of democracy.

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CHAIRMAN’S REPORTS,

C LOSING CEREMONY &

PHOTO GALLERY

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7.1 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Session I: Protected Areas management

Co-Chairpersons: Datuk Dr Glen Reynolds & Dr Agnes Agama, SE Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP)

The session received nine paper presentations around the theme of Connected Landscapes: protection and resilience in an era of climate change. Several of the papers referred to the Sabah State Government’s target of increasing the coverage of terrestrial protected areas to 30% of Sabah’s land mass by 2025, and highlighted the collaborative Rainforest Trust funded project between the Sabah Forestry Department, SEARRP, Carnegie Institution for Science (CAO), PACOS Trust and BC Initiative that is supporting the Sabah Government in identifying new areas for protection.

The session heard about Sabah’s unique position in the region of having a substantial scientific evidence base that can be harnessed to inform protected area planning and management. New technologies such as LiDAR and hyperspectral imagery have broadened the scope of scientific research and makes available crucial data about the condition of Sabah’s environment. The CAO presented an update of their latest findings from the 2016 aerial mapping campaign: a map of forest carbon stocks and a forthcoming map of functional biodiversity across forest types. These are important resources for conservation planning so that the design of a state-wide protected area network includes areas important for biodiversity as well as forest carbon storage.

Scientists from the Danau Girang Field Centre, Universities of York, Aberdeen and Montana, and the CAO presented results from a range of studies that demostrate how protected areas can be designed to serve connectivity functions based on data on animal movements, especially of critical and endangered species such as the Banteng, and underpinned the need for conservation planning to enable landscape-level connectivity across forest gradients. Several speakers touched on the importance of understanding the impacts of large-scale land-uses, such as logging and oil palm production, on forest fragmentation and regeneration, and drew attention to the role of High Conservation Value set-asides in maintaining connectivity, especially when restored. The potential for science to contribute towards conservation policy was made clear in a presentation about the ongoing work where scientists from the LOMBOK consortium are partnering with policy-makers in the Department of Irrigation and Drainage to work hand-in-hand on improving the design of riparian reserves so that they can more effectively support a range of biodiversity in addition to protecting water quality and quantity.

Equally important is the role of traditional knowledge and customs of Sabah’s indigenous people and local communities. The session heard how Adat, which is a repository of knowledge and experience accumulated over generations, is essential in underpinning conservation planning so that Sabah’s protected area network also supports the livelihoods and cultural identity of our peoples. The session heard about examples where local communities are engaging in conservation management through the concept of Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs). There was interest in seeing how ICCAs can be formally recognised as part of Sabah’s protected area network as this would be a way to empower local communities to be effective custodians of the resources and landscapes they rely on.

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7.2 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Session II: Eco-Tourism Development

Chairman: Dr Jamili Nais, Sabah Parks

Ecotourism is nature based, sustainable, low impact to nature, and ultimately has to benefit local communities. Over the afternoon session, presentations were made by pioneers from the private sector, government, and the local community.

Sabah is blessed with many wonders of nature, essential ingredients for nature tourism. Yet in order to tap on this wealth of natural products for tourism, Sabah needs to be creative and innovative to take advantage of her potential. This was eloquently presented by the many speakers; creating viable nature tourism products yet bringing benefits to surrounding communities.

However in fairness, tourist who visit Sabah en mass, and have benefited from the many provisions of ecosystems during their stay in the State, should further support Sabah’s endeavors to conserve and enhance the very services of the State’s natural wonders. In the near future, Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) shall endow a trust, in order to assist the people of Sabah to effectively manage its rich and diverse natural heritage.

Finally, ecotourism must benefit local communities. Homestays represent inclusive avenue for local communities to be involved in the tourism industry. As a niche product which has steadily grown in Sabah, bringing direct benefit to communities which host tourist, providing a culturally unique experience, and connection to the natural surroundings.

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7.3 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Session III: Sustainable Natural Resources Management

Chairman: Dr Rahimatsah Amat, Sabah Environmental Trust

Private sectors, including NGOs and community-based organizations presenting their cases on how they complement the efforts of government. The concerns were mostly the issues on the degradation of natural resources due to encroachment, poaching and by large inappropriate land use managements.

There were also some very good examples case studies produced in the papers presented that take into account several questions. In order to address all these issues, it requires financial needs to achieve, without which it would be impossible.

Adaptive management need to be considered because not everything is the same. You have to adapt to the changes.

Some of the other concerns also in term of connectivity among one ecosystem to another or one fragmented forest to other fragmented forest need to be addressed. A very good example (committee conserve area) provided under the Kinabalu Ecolinc Initiative, where some of the solutions were shown such as community conserve area can be applied.

Over the years, we have achieved much more under the Heart of Borneo Initiative.

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7.4 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Session IV: Capacity Building

Co-Chairpersons: Mdm Ivy Wong Abdullah, Yayasan Hasanah, Malaysia & Dr Rosie Trevelyan, Tropical Biology Association, UK

Context and Rationale for the Session

Priorities identified for Capacity Building extracted from the Heart of Borneo Strategic Plan of Action 2014-2020.

Summary

The session saw 7 papers being presented where at least one paper touched on each of the key priorities identified in the Heart of Borneo Strategic Plan of Action (SPA) 2014-2020. Institute Perhutanan Sabah (IPS), Tropical Biology Assoication (TBA) and Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) being practioners of capacity building talked about their programmes on the ground, including one that is currently on-going in Danum Valley Conservation Area i.e. TBA Field Course for SE Asian students. New sciences including Net Gain, Models for connectivity via Animal Movement and Ecosystem Services Assessment were presented and the session were of the opinion that capacity building in these areas is relevant and needed for Sabah in moving forward in the next 10 years. The session heard about how science and capacity building are working hand in hand to bring mutual benefit and breaking the silo of working individually.

Specificly, there was a huge interest in the IPS capacity building program especially now that its curriculum is being reviewed. The review process will be an oppportunity to get feedback from stakeholders for improvement to the teaching syllabus to go beyond just forestry and include wider environmental benefits of the forest. The timber industry representatives expressed their interest to be involved as they want to see that the IPS courses are up to date and relevant to the industries needs.. At the same time, there was a suggestion that NGO and education institutions be included to participate in the parts of the training program that will teach forest conservation issues and to have some of the courses conducted on a regular basis.

In moving forward, the group agreed that there is a need to incorporate new capacity and capability within Sabah Forestry Department and the wider foresry faternity to utilize new knowledge i.e. Net Gain and Ecosystem services for the wider Sabah Heart of Borneo benefit. There is a need to collaborate with other agencies and organizations to manage Sabah’s forest with this new paradigm shift of not just managing production forest but managing forests for wider environmental benefits. This includes working closely with local communities for the benefit of All. 302

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Overall, the session noted and congratulated Sabah Forestry Department in moving forward to include managing protected areas within their realm, though a more thorough dissemination of these new roles and responsbilities of the department needs to go out. There was a clariant call to Sabah Forestry Department to balance the expectation of all sectors in Sabah on the forest landscape and to have a more holistic view and future development of the forest sector in Sabah i.e. balancing needs of the industry for raw material and protecting forest areas.

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8.0 CLOSING SPEECH BY THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT (NRE), MALAYSIA DELIVERED BY YBHG. DATO’ SRI AZIZAN BIN AHMAD UNDERSECRETARY, BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AND FORESTRY

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Sam Mannan Chief Conservator of Forests, Sabah Forestry Department Distinguished guests, Members of the media, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here to officiate the Closing Ceremony of the International Heart of Borneo Conference - A Decade of Heart of Borneo Initiative: Accomplishments and the Way Forward. My sincere congratulations to the State Government of Sabah for successfully hosting the 9th International Conference on Heart of Borneo in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Malaysia is one of the mega biodiversity hotspots in the world, with very high diversity of flora and fauna, most of which are found in the tropical rainforests. Besides home to the invaluable biodiversity, the forests play an important role in the maintenance of climatic and environmental stability and in the supply of clean water resources in line with efforts towards achieving the Global Objectives on Forests as well as the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure environmental sustainability.

Malaysia recognizes the importance of Heart of Borneo Initiative, which emphasizes on the conservation of forests and sustainable forest management. This is in harmony with the existing policies, plans and programmes pertaining to sustainable development, land use and conservation, at both the state and national levels. The Ministry of Natural Resources, Malaysia views the Heart of Borneo as a significant initiative that will directly contribute towards the betterment in forest management and conservation. Therefore, this initiative will continue to be placed well within the government’s sustainable development framework and policy.

Much has been achieved from the Heart of Borneo Initiative after 10 years of implementation since the Declaration on the Heart of Borneo Initiative was signed among the three countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia in 2007. All of these have been showcased and deliberated in this 9th International Heart of Borneo Conference as well as the exhibition. Sabah, in particular, has gazetted about 26% of the state’s land area (approximately 1.87 million hectares) as Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), and this figure represents the largest network of TPAs in the country. I was informed that the State Government has pledged to expand the size of its TPAs to 30 per cent of Sabah’s land mass within a decade. The Heart of Borneo Initiative has contributed significantly to this milestone achievement on conservation in Sabah. I congratulate the Sabah Forestry Department for this outstanding endeavor! I am also delighted that the Sabah Forestry Department is taking the pro-active action in implementing the programs and activities of HoB Initiative in Sabah, and leading the way forward. In Sarawak, their achievements are also commendable. Since the inception of the Heart of Borneo Initiative, Sarawak has been progressing in their implementation of the Initiative

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Ladies and gentlemen,

In the recent 11th Heart of Borneo Trilateral Meeting which was held on 11 and 12 October 2017 in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia, we have discussed on a number of activities and collaborations under the Heart of Borneo Initiative to be implemented in each member country. One of it is the signing of Memorandum of Understanding yesterday, between the State Government of Sabah and WWF-Malaysia to establish a Transboundary Borneo Elephant/ Orangutan Conservation Initiative, in support of the Heart of Borneo Corridor Project in the southern part of Sabah and North Kalimantan, Indonesia. Another proposed initiative from Malaysia; the Transboundary Conservation Project on Sumatran Rhinoceros that involves collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia to save the last rhinoceros on the Island of Borneo, has finally being brought up to the technical expert meeting which was held in Jakarta last week to discuss on technical recommendations on rhinoceros conservation to both Governments. These two recent achievements are only some of the accomplishments in the 10 years of the implementation of the Heart of Borneo Initiative. Apart from that, the Visit HoB Year Campaign has been launched on 11th October 2017. This Campaign aims to promote HoB as a world-class, innovative trans-boundary ecotourism destination to support conservation and prosperity in the Heart of Borneo. In view of these achivements, the Federal Government will continue to support Sabah and Sarawak in the implementation the Heart of Borneo Initiative. In the 9th and 10th Malaysia Plan, the Federal Government has allocated about RM33.4 million to implement various projects and activities under the HoB Initiative and has further allocated a significant amount of RM67.8 million under the 11th Malaysia Development Plan for the same purpose. Out of this, about RM41.5 million is for Sabah Heart of Borneo Project, making the total contribution for Sabah alone is up to about RM65.7 million. The successful implementation of all the activities under Heart of Borneo also indicates the dedication and support of the both state governments. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both state governments, Sabah and Sarawak for giving their full commitment to the Heart of Borneo Initiative.

Ladies and gentlemen,

For this two-day conference, I believe that all of you have participated and contributed significantly to the deliberation on conservation in Sabah. I was informed that a total of 41 papers including the keynote address were presented in various sessions, namely on the accomplishments of a decade in transboundary management, protected areas management, ecotourism development, sustainable natural resources management and capacity building. They were presented by prominent speakers not only from Malaysia but also from other parts of the world.

The conference was well attended by more than 700 participants from different backgrounds representing various agencies, both local and international. Hence, I strongly believe that the conference as well as the exhibition has put the message across in showcasing the accomplishments of the Heart of Borneo Initiative after a decade of implementation, and it is vitally important for the continuation of conservation in Sabah and Sarawak. Besides the awareness and dissemination of information, more effort in further implementation of the Heart of Borneo Initiative should be given priority. The Government will ensure that the close cooperation among all the relevant agencies will continue to prevail in achieving its objectives through sustainable forest management in Sabah and Sarawak.

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Once again, I thank the Sabah Forestry Department for taking the lead in organizing this event. This effort would contribute significantly to the State’s sustainable development and conservation. The cooperation with other agencies, which include the Ministry of Natural Resources in organizing this conference signifies the smart partnership in working together for best practices in forest management in Sabah. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the speakers and all the participants for making this conference a resounding success.

With these remarks, ladies & gentlemen, I declare the International Conference on Heart of Borneo- A Decade of Heart of Borneo Initiative: Accomplishments and the Way Forward, officially closed.

Thank you very much!

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9.0 PHOTO GALLERY REGISTRATION

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OPENING CEREMONY

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EXHIBITION

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CONFERENCE DAY 1

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CONFERENCE DAY 2

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CONFERENCE DINNER

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CLOSING CEREMONY

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