KOTA KINABALU: Carol Patterson, coauthor of the book “Saving Paradise: The Story of Sukau Rainforest Lodge”, believes the book will be of interest to those in the tourism industry or similar situation as the lodge’s founder and her coauthor, Albert Teo.
I think this is because the story of Sukau Lodge is a good one and that it talks about how eco?tourism can help to show a community as well as how it can make money from sustainable sized tourism,” Patterson said.
The proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants are unique species and that gives Sukau an advantage over other communities that may not have that kind of diversity, she said after the book is launching yesterday.
“The reason I got involved and I like the book is because it talks about some of the lessons that Albert has learnt in its 10 years history,” she said, adding that it also deals with successes and failures.
“It is not a perfect story (as) Sukau has a lot of challenges and there are still lots of things that have to be dealt with,” Patterson pointed out.
“But it is no different from other communities which struggles with the same issues.”
The book chronicles the story of Albert’s work to build and operate Sukau Rainforest Lodge and it includes many of his photographs of the wildlife found in the area.
Patterson also included the lodge visitors’ comments in the book as they inspired her, she said, adding: “I like to read the visitors’ comments…to see how a visit to Kinabatangan changes a person and how enthusiastic they are even after a brief encounter of just two or three days. ”
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said Sukau Rainforest Lodge was developed as a model eco?lodge in line with the State Government’s ecotourism objectives and with WWF Partners for Wetlands Vision for Ecotourism objectives in the Lower Kinabatangan floodplains.
“It adopted an integrated and proactive approach to encourage the preservation of habitat and biodiversity and sustainable use of resources through education and creating awareness among visitors, staff and the local community on conservation,” he said in a speech read by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Karim Bujang.
At the same time, Chong said that through best practices, the lodge showed efforts to minimize consumption, waste and pollution as well as ensuring that local communities also derive benefits from the development.
The efforts and achievements of Sukau Rainforest Lodge have helped the Kinabatangan Region earn an international reputation as a premier ecotourism icon, he said, adding: “I have no doubt that this publication will further enhance the Kinabatangan Region as a world class ecotourism product.”
Source : The Borneo Post 14th April 2005