Yayasan Sabah director Datuk Seri Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar flagging off the 166 participants taking part in the TRCA exploration at Menara Mustapha. - NSTP/ PAUL MU
KOTA KINABALU: A 10-day scientific exploration is being conducted to study the biodiversity, natural resources and potential of the Taliwas River Conservation Area (TRCA) as an eco-tourism destination.
Yayasan Sabah's Conservation and Environmental Management Division (CEMD) group manager, Dr Waidi Sinum said the data gained from this effort will be used as reference material to formulate strategic development plans and conservation activities at the TRCA.
The exploration involves 166 participants comprising 99 researchers and their assistants as well as 67 support staff from CEMD and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.
Yayasan Sabah director Datuk Seri Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar flagged off the participants at Menara Mustapha today.
Featured Videos
They will carry out scientific studies on insects, termites, and the area's flora, fauna and other wildlife as well as conduct research on the area's tourism resources and product development.
The 10-day event will include an evironmental education programme by the Sabah Nature Lovers Clubs, which will rope in 20 students and two teachers from SK Silam, Lahad Datu.
A full report from the exploration will be presented at a seminar before the end of the year, said Waidi.
Yayasan Sabah’s Conservation and Environmental Management Division (CEMD) group manager Dr Waidi Sinum. - NSTP/ PAUL MU
"The report will also be published as articles, proceedings, reference books such as coffee table books, and the production of exploratory documentaries.
"Hopefully, the information obtained from this exploration will be used effectively to make TRCA as one of the well-known eco-tourism and recreation areas in Malaysia as well as a destination of choice," he said.
To ensure the smooth running of the exploration, the organising committee was set up with Yayasan Sabah as its main organiser.
The organising committee comprises the Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Teknologi Mara (Sabah), WWF-Malaysia, Sabah Environmental Trust, Sabah Tourism Board and Sabah Biodiversity Centre.
TRCA is located 36km from Lahad Datu town and 45km from the eastern part of the Danum Valley Conservation Area. It consists of a unique lowland and ultramafic forest with an area of 9,546ha.
It covers Sungai Segama which is adjacent to the Sepagaya Forest Reserve (including Bukit Silam) and Dara Kawang-Gibong Forest Reserve.
Previously, the Sabah Forestry Department had established the Taliwas Forestry Camp in this area in 1970, which served as an agro-forestry centre and pilot project site for enrichment planting of dipterocarp species.
However, the Sabah Forestry Department completed the planting project in 1987 and handed over the management to Yayasan Sabah in 1992 for research, education, training, and eco-tourism.
On May 10, 2012, the area was upgraded and gazetted as a class I forest reserve (protection) and included as one of the management areas of the Danum Valley management committee.
