RANAU: Sabah Parks will carry out scientific studies on the former Mamut copper mine area here to prepare for its gazettement.
The studies will run from Sept 19 to 30 and will be conducted by 50 researchers from 13 universities, state and federal departments and agencies.
The studies were needed to draw up development and management plans to protect the area, said state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin at the launch of the Mamut Scientific Expedition here.
Present was Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim.
"This was made following the Sabah cabinet agreement on July 13 to gazette the former Mamut copper mine area of 2,112ha as a nature reserve under the Parks Enactment 1984.
"Sabah Parks will work with surrounding communities so that the benefits will be shared.
"This area is expected to be developed into an eco-tourism area, in addition to restoring and maintaining its original nature," said jafry.
The abandoned mine bordering Kinabalu Park is part of the national geopark site, which is now in the final stage of assessment to be recognised as an aspiring Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark site, he said.
"This area has the potential for geo-tourism development. A copper mine museum can be built to offer programmes and commemorate the geological heritage here.
"We are identifying new routes to be developed to the summit of Mount Kinabalu from this area through the eastern ridge as a new tourism product," said jafry.
He said the former mine area had the potential to develop a new research and education centre to carry out a long-term study on the rehabilitation and ex-situ conservation of endemic species.
"This will open up opportunities for Sabah to collaborate with experts from local and foreign research institutions."
Jafry said gazetting the former copper mine area would serve as a buffer zone for the Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site.
He said he hoped the conservation and restoration efforts would turn the former mine into a reservoir to reduce the impact on the river and the socio-economic condition of affected villages.
The abandoned mine was formerly part of Kinabalu Park. It was removed in a gazette for private copper mining in 1971 until the operations stopped in 1999.
Studies had reported that the dumping of mine tailings, such as heavy metals, had caused soil and water pollution in the area, said Jafry.