In November 1999 the Sabah State Government declared more than 27,000 hectares in the lower Kinabatangan floodplain on the east coast of Sabah a 'Gift To The Earth' by gazzetting it as a wildlife sanctuary. 

Home to some of the most diverse concentrations of wildlife in Sabah today, the lower Kinabatangan area is a rich mosaic of dry and boggy forest, ox-bow lakes and vast mangrove forests and home to 200 species of birds including 8 species of hornbills, ten species of mammals including the proboscis monkey, orang-utan, and other animals like the Sumatran rhino and Asian elephant.

On 4th June 2000, officiated by the Assistant of Tourism Development, Environment, Science and Technology, Datuk Hj Nahalan Hj Damsal , we adopted 64 acres of riverine land at Tenegang and have since planted 500 trees. (The theme chosen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2000 is "The Environment Millennium-Time to Act".)

We have set our target to plant 5,000 trees in Sukau this year . The tree species to be planted are those fruit bearing trees specially liked by wildlife. These include Nauclea subdita (Bangkal Kuning), Octomeles sumatrana (Binuang), Ficus racemosa (Tangkol), Neolarmarkia cadamba (Laran), Terminalia copelandii (Talisai paya) and Litsea garciae (Pengolaban). (Species details at bottom of page)

The tree planting project further aims to :- 

• restore and increase wildlife habitats and create wildlife corridors,
• reduce erosion of river bank
• provide tourists staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge an opportunity to participate in conservation.
• improve scenery during river cruise and enhance recognition of the Kinabatangan as an ecotourism destination.
• raise public awareness to sustainable development.

Effective January 1, 2000, we set aside US$1 for every international adult tourist who stay at our Sukau Rainforest Lodge for our environment and community projects. Part of the fund will be used to purchase 5,000 tree seedlings from the local Orang Sungai in Sukau to help generate local income and employment. We have also arranged for one of our staff to maintain the trees to ensure higher survival rate after planting.

We will encourage Sukau Rainforest Lodge guests/staff to plants the tree seedlings for us over the next one year. We will also be promoting this project to schools and NGOs by offering them to plant for us in exchange for a special tour package price.

A certificate and receipt will be issued to donors. Meanwhile, two tour companies have agreed to become a sustaining donor by donating funds for every tourist they send to Sukau. They are :-

Corporate Leisure, UK and Venture Holidays, Australia

Photograph shows six tour operators from Asean Tourism Forum /Brunei 2001 after the launching of the treeplanting project for 2001 in Sukau.

From left: 

Albert Teo	Managing Director	Borneo Eco Tours
C.Nagendra Prasad	Chairman	Travelexpress, India
Terry Assang	Managing Director	Transcon Travel, Canada
Colin Brown	Director	Travelpath, UK
Steve Gouldby	Managing Director	Worldwide Air Holidays, UK
Sven Lookene	Managing Director	Travel Expert, Estonia
Gert Notbohm	Managing Director	All Asia Touristic, Germany

Prepared by Albert Teo
Managing Director ,
Borneo Eco Tours/Sukau Rainforest Lodge 
Feb 22, 2001

Plant Species Details

SPECIES:	Nauclea subdita (Rubiaceae) - Bangkal kuning
Distribution:	India and throughout Malesia except New Guinea
Ecology:	Lowland to hill forest, also in swampy places and frequently along streams and rivers.
Uses:	It is a timber species. In the Philippines it is planted to stabilize river banks and slopes. Young leaves and fruits are edible and the trees are occasionally planted as a hedge.
SPECIES:	Octomeles sumatrana (Datiscaceae) - Binuang
Distribution:	Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines, Celebes and New Guinea. In Sabah common on the east coast and interior.
Ecology:	Associated with riverine and alluvial deposits. Also found in primary and secondary mixed dipterocarp forests on well-drained fertile soils. Often found in disturbed habitats such as logged-over forest and grows fast after an area has been converted for cultivation.
Uses:	It is a utility wood for packing cases, concrete shuttering, matchboxes and temporary purposes. It is also used for wood chip and pulping. It is has good potential as a shade tree or for stabilising river banks.
Special Features:	It is a very fast growing tree and light demander. It also has a short period of sowing to planting out of the field, i.e. 4 months. It can thrive on low hilly sites and in temporarily flooded area, quick crown development and self-pruning abilities. Hence, it's a good plantation tree.
SPECIES:	Ficus racemosa L. (Moraceae) - Tangkol
Distribution:	Abyssinia, India, Myanmar, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi and Lesser Sunda Islands.
Ecology:	In lowland forest, in open area by stream.
Uses:	The figs are edible and used in various preserves and side-dishes. Leaves are eaten as vegetable and used againset diarrhoea. They are also used as animal fodder. In India, the tree is cultivated as host plant for lac insects and shade tree for coffee. The latex is used in production of water-resistant paper and as plasticizer for Hevea rubber. Ficus racemosa var. elongata - This variety is only present in Sabah and Sarawak.
SPECIES:	Neolamarckia cadamba (Rubiaceae) - Laran
Distribution:	India, Indo-China to New Guinea.
Ecology:	Lowland to montane forest at c. 1000 m. Also found by streams and rivers and in open sites on deep moist alluvial soils as a pioneer species.
Uses:	The timber is traded as Laran and is soft and light. It is used for manufacturing plywood, packing cases, wooden sandals and disposable chopsticks. It has also potential as a source of short fibre pulp. Others: The seeds are dispersed by bats.
SPECIES:	Terminalia copelandii (Combretaceae) - Talisai paya
Distribution:	Sumatra, Borneo, Flores, Moluccas, Philippines, New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
Ecology:	Found in primary forest and swamp forest, inland and coastal regions, up to 500 m. Recorded to grow well in monocultures.
Uses:	The wood has many uses, i.e. in construction, and veneer. The kernels of the fruits are edible. It is cultivated and has potential to stabilize river banks.
SPECIES:	Litsea garciae (Lauraceae) - Pengolaban
Distribution:	Borneo & Philippines. In Borneo, found throughout the island. Cultivated in Indonesia (Java and Bangka).
Ecology:	It forms the midstorey or subcanopy trees. Found from low to medium altitude forest, also in secondary forests. Cultivated in Java especially in mountain regions. In Bangka it is one of the most common fruit trees.
Uses:	It is a useful timber for construction. The fruits are edible; the pulp of the fruit is eaten either raw or steamed with rice. Oil can be extracted from the seeds and have been used to make soap and candles. Leaves, bark and wood chips are used in traditional medicine.

Sources

1. Plant Resources of South EAst Asia (PROSEA). Vol. 2. (1992) -- Edible Fruits and Nuts.
2. PROSEA Vol. 5 (2) (1995) -- Timber trees: Minor commercial Timbers.
3. PROSEA Vol. 5 (3) (1998) -- Timber trees: Lesser-known timbers
4. Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vol. 1 (1995)-- Eds. Soepadmo, E. & K.M. Wong
5. Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vol. 3 (2000) -- Eds. Soepadmo, E. & L.G.Saw

Information by Joan Teresa Pereira, Forestry Department, Sandakan