SCB backs Brunei's green agenda

(Top) Standard Chartered Bank Brunei (SCB) CEO Lai Pei-Si (R) prepares to board the 'tamuai' to Sg Ingei. Behind her is SCB's Head of Corporate Affairs and Marketing Jennifer Kang. (Above) Project Administrator of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, Dr Ang Bee Biaw (L) briefs SCB CEO Lai Pei-Si (R). Both photos are taken on October 29 this year. Pictures: BT/Rasidah Bakar

RASIDAH HAB
BELAIT

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey

RECOGNISING Brunei's "green agenda" and its commitment to the Heart of Borneo (HoB) project, major banking institution Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) pledges to support this initiative by funding the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, which it is closely monitoring.

The bank's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Brunei, Lai Pei-Si recently visited the project at its base camp on Sg Ingei, and told The Brunei Times that it "was very nice" to see where the money goes to, adding that the sponsorship "has brought many things together".

"In Brunei, we participate in the HoB project because it is extremely important to the Bruneian community," said Lai, who is also the SCB's Head of Consumer Banking.

SCB provided funding for the two-year Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, from a US$500,000 ($700,000) prize donation from the Race for a Living Planet Environment Challenge, which Brunei won last year for its HoB initiative.

She said the sponsorship has brought together "a group of incredibly passionate scientists", the community and relevant agencies. "On our way here (to Sg Ingei), we met with the penghulu of Kg Melilas, Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Hj Muhd Ali Abdullah Itam. It is obvious that he is excited (about) the project and (we can see) how important the role of the local people is in the survey," she said.

The CEO together with several SCB senior personnel on October 28 went on a three-day two night trip to Sg Ingei base camp in Ulu Belait. They were accompanied by the survey research team, which comprised the survey leader, Dr Joseph Charles and Project Administrator of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, Dr Ang Bee Biaw. The trip also saw participation of members of the media.

Lai said SCB's involvement in the project "is not only because it is green", but it is also important for Brunei "to be able to preserve what we have".

"It is important for Brunei's future generation and it is really apt under our slogan, 'Here for good'. It is something that we feel that we should do, and we did it," she said. The bank's CEO added that it wants to partner with Brunei in delivering aspirations that is important to the country.

The Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey is one of the bank's key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project in the area of environmental conservation. SCB was also involved in the first HoB project: the rehabilitation of Borneo's degraded peatland forests. "We realised very earlier on, that HoB is strategic to Brunei," she added.

Touching on the progress of the survey, Lai said "they found a lot of biodiversity here, and it is our job to see how we can communicate this to the right stakeholders to ensure that it will be protected".

The findings of the survey are expected to be released next year, with the condition that wildlife enforcement is put in place. "My expectation on the presentation of the findings will confirm the researchers belief that Sg Ingei is diverse. It will give empirical data and proof on what is here, (then we need) to decide on what to do next," she added.

Personally, Lai said, "I have always known the wonders of forests, but never experienced it myself. It is one thing to read about the wonder of the forests and it is another story when you come here and see for yourself. This is one of the reasons why I feel proud to be in SCB today."

Lai jokingly said, "It takes a lot for someone like me who is absolutely cosmopolitan to take a bus ride for almost three hours and another potentially 11 hours boat ride (during low water level); we were lucky we only did four (hours)."

The faunal biodiversity survey, a Brunei project under HoB, is backed by the Ministry of Primary Resources and sponsored by SCB in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The arrival of the survey team members with SCB Brunei staff and the media at the base camp was welcomed by former Brunei Museum curator Samhan Nyawa, who is the survey's field coordinator and Angus, the survey's chief guide, as well as several Melilas locals who are also boatmen-cum-guides for the project. The SCB members left Sg Ingei on October 30, while the research team continues their survey until November 7.(.The Brunei Times

Poaching affects locals, study results

A Kg Melilas local, known as 'Abdul Rahman, crosses the Ingei river with a 'tamuai' to pick a group comprising Standard Chartered Bank Brunei (SCB) staff and members of the media who are hiking towards the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey base camp in Ulu Belait on October 29. Picture: BT/Rasidah Bakar

Ripas Hospital Paramedic HjRoslan Hj Mustapha prays at a designated area at the SgIngei Faunal Biodiversity Survey base camp. The survey is a Heart of Borneo (HoB) project at Sg Ingei inUlu Belait. Picture: BT/RasidahBakar

RASIDAH HAB
BELAIT

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey

LOCALS in Sukang and Melilas have reported activities of poaching at SgIngei, where the two-year Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, a Heart of Borneo (HoB) project is being conducted, said its survey leader during a trip to its base camp over the weekend.

The poaching activities, alleged to have been executed by those hailing from Belait town, took place two weeks before the survey team, which comprised the survey leader, Dr Joseph Charles and Project Administrator of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, Dr Ang Bee Biaw, returned to their base camp on October 28. The survey team was informed of the activities by members of the local community in Sukang and Melilas.

Dr Ang said, "The Melilas and Sukang people really want to protect this place (Sg Ingei) and the (surrounding) areas."

"The locals catch one or two deer for personal consumption, but when other people actually come into their kampung and surroundings and poach a huge number, they get affected," she said. "We do get cooperation from the Melilas and Sukang people who tell us what is happening. We are really grateful for that. We do not want to mention names because we do not want them to be targeted."

The project administrator said this in an interview with The Brunei Times, during a three-day trip beginning October 28 to Sg Ingei base camp with senior personnel of Standard Chartered Bank Brunei (SCB), which included SCB Chief Executive Officer Lai Pei-Si, as well as staff of state broadcaster RadioTelevisyen Brunei (RTB).

Dr Charles, who represented Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) said, with the poaching activities going on at Sg Ingei, the release of the survey findings next year is dependent on enforcement.

He said, "Some of the results of Sg Ingei are sensitive and there is a need for enforcement because poaching is Sg Ingei's biggest problem."

"Enforcement must be put in place, before any findings can be released. Anywhere else in Brunei, whenever such results or findings were released, everything is gone," he said. The survey leader said "one of the reasons we did not release the results this year, are because the results are not ready and the poaching is going on".

"Whatever we said, poachers will know (what is here) and they will come for it," he added.

"When you drive into Melilas by car, there are poachers' cars parked and (there are) poachers' camps along the Belait river. This is the first time that we have seen poacher's camp in Melilas," he said. Poachers came in four-wheel drive vehicles to Melilas and "they have taken so much". "They won't stop or listen," he added.

"We have board signs that said 'Heart of Borneo and Universiti Brunei Darussalam research project no entry', but nobody cares. When we go back, it is our duty to inform the departments. We hope that there will be enforcement," said Dr Charles.

He added that the Forestry Department, under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and Museums Department, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports have been providing them with tremendous assistance.

Poaching is not only done by outsiders but the locals as well, he said. "We are very sad that our local people are poaching. They are taking everything. Whatever they catch they just take, dead or alive. They are making money out of it. We are going to tell the ministry and police about it," he added.

The arrival of the survey team members with SCB staff and the media at the base camp was welcomed by former Brunei Museum curator Samhan Nyawa, the survey's field coordinator and Angus who is the survey's chief guide as well as several Melilas locals who are also boatmen-cum-guides for the project.

SCB provided the funding for the two-year survey, from a US$500,000 ($700,000) prize donation from the Race for a Living Planet Environment Challenge, which Brunei won last year for its HoB initiative.

The Brunei Times

Don't be hasty in eco-tourism bid

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Rasidah H.A.B
BELAIT

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey

PROPER planning and management is needed for Sungai Ingei Protection Forest to become a national park, said a senior lecturer at Univerisiti Brunei Darussalam.

Dr Joseph Charles, who is also the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey project leader, said steps must be taken before eco-tourism is introduced in the area to prevent disasterous consequences.

The two-year survey will help the team of scientists working on the project to push for the classification of the Sungai Ingei Protected Forest into a national park.

This will set clear guidelines as to how the government can introduce sustainable eco-tourism in the area, a potential boost to the economy and creating better appreciation on the nation's green environment.

Dr Charles, however, said the word "sustainable" is open to abuse. "People use it and they do not know what it means," he added.

"We have many examples of poor management in other parts of Brunei and lack of communication between ministries and departments," the scientist said.

He an gave an example of the clearing of mangroves along the riverside near the Bengkurong village in May last year, which drove away the proboscis monkeys and endangering its population.

Dr Charles said the team is passionate about Sg Ingei because "we do not want anything that happened elsewhere to happen here, otherwise we have destroyed every part of Brunei".

Apart from thorough planning, tourist guides need to be well informed and trained. He added, "When you bring tourists, you are not just showing them the place, you are showing them how proud you are of that place. If you are proud, you must also think in terms of its sustainability."

He explained that whatever natural resource on display to tourists must maintain its beauty for many years to come. "By showing the resource, if it deteriorates in its wonder and beauty, then you are more or less committing suicide," he said.

"If we can have trained personnel and properly managed recreational eco-tourism facilities, then this will be (very good) and this can only come after proper planning, management and training," Dr Charles said.

The survey's Project Administrator Dr Ang Bee Biaw said she believes that the forests will give long-term sustainability. "If you log a forest, you gain short-term benefits and only a few (logging) companies will gain. If you protect the forests and you bring in properly managed eco-tourism, it will carry on for years and generations to come," she said.

Dr Ang added, "What is most important is we must have properly trained eco-tourism guides, who are well informed and know what they are talking about and proud of what they have in Brunei."

Commenting on the Bengkurong example, she said the proboscis monkey population will not be able survive long, as they move to an area with poor foliage, "there is not much food left (for them) and it was a sad scene to see".

"It is important to have a sense of pride of what we have in our country, and if you have pride, you will protect it," she added.

Dr Ang said members of the survey team are all volunteers. "We come here because we love the place. We are lucky to have a monarch passionate about forest conservation, but we need proper planning and management. Get input from people who live and work here, and those who know what we have in Brunei. I know many Bruneians who are proud of our heritage," she added. The Brunei Times

Plans to include Melilas, Sukang in biodiversity survey

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Rasidah HAB
BELAIT

Thursday, November 10, 2011

THE Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey team hopes to include Kg Sukang and Kg Melilas in their project as an effort to protect its wildlife, but this depends on the availability of funding.

A team of UBD scientists are currently undertaking a two-year survey of Sg Ingei in Belait to explore and document the wildlife of Sungai Ingei Protection Forest as it is believed to be one of the richest forests in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) project.

The survey's Project Administrator Dr Ang Bee Biaw said: "Sg ingei itself is only 18,000 hectares. That is only a small part of the country but the results that we have got is really encouraging. We are hoping that the government will convert this to a wildlife sanctuary."

To include other places for protection there is a need to do survey (in this area) first.

"We are hoping to get extra funding to buy more camera traps to survey areas between Melilas and Sg Ingei," Dr Ang said, adding that they were looking to turn Melilas into a centre of educational and tourism activities.

They also suggested for the establishment of a buffer area that can be zoned for ecotourism and other activities.

"We are hoping that once we have the different zoning done, (it will) convince the government that this is the (proper) way they can do it," she explained.

"One of the reasons why we work in Sg Ingei is because we want Kg Melilas to be known in Brunei. We are hoping that Kg Melilas will return to its old glory self. We do have lots of plans for KgMelilas and its people," she added.

According to Dr Ang, the Acting Penghulu of Kg Melilas, Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Hj Muhd Ali Abdullah Itam had requested them to help the villagers as much as they could.

He was also very supportive of the project and has also provided help in the form of manpower from the people of Melilas.

"But as scientists, the only thing that we can do is think of ideas, talked to minister and try to convince him of the things that can be done," she said.

Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey's leader, Dr Joseph Charles echoed Dr Ang's sentiment.

"They are the stakeholders. We have got some many different ideas. We will recommend this idea to the government. The local people are the ones who suggested that we continue our project beyond Sg Ingei and go forward Kg Melilas. They asked us for help in protecting their wildlife in Melilas," he said.

"We have been keeping them in contact with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources to see what best ways that all of us can help," Dr Charles added.

The Brunei Times

Three video cameras to be set up along Sg Ingei track

The survey leader of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, Dr Joseph Charles (C), former Brunei Museum curator Samhan Nyawa (R), the field coordinator of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey and Stephen Hogg (L), a professional photographer-cum-videographer whom the Universiti Brunei Darussalam-led scientific team invited to join the two-year expedition, examining the topographical map of Sg Ingei for strategic locations to place their camera traps. Picture: BT/Rasidah HAB

RASIDAH HAB
BELAIT

Saturday, November 5, 2011

THREE video cameras will be set up at Sg Ingei in Ulu Belait as part of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey. The installation of the video cameras follow suit the first cameras set up made in July.

Speaking during an interview at the Sungai Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey base camp, Stephen Hogg, a professional wildlife photographer-cum-videographer, said more than 60 camera traps had been set up around Sg Ingei area, and the video cameras were hoped to provide further visual of the 18,000 hectares area's biodiversity.

The three-day, two-night trip to Sg Ingei saw the participation of senior personnel of Standard Chartered Bank Brunei (SCB), including SCB Chief Executive Officer Lai Pei-Si, and members of the media.

Hogg was invited by the Universiti Brunei Darussalam-led scientific team to join the two-year expedition.

Hogg said they had huge results with the camera traps in the expedition set up in four trails around Sg Ingei.

"We have more than 60 camera traps and have more than 7,000 pictures in one sample (there are four samples altogether)," he said.

The next step is, because some of these animals are really unique and rare, it would be good to try to get video footage of the animals, he added.

The video traps will probably be set at the same trail of the camera traps. The video cameras, which can take 120 minutes of video, will be left on the chosen sites for six months.

"The three video cameras will be set in this trip but we do not know where yet. We will look for interesting trails, along ridges and we will see what we get," he added.

Hogg, from the Kuala Lumpur-based Wildtrack Photography, recorded the first footage of a Sumatran rhino with a video trap in Sabah, Malaysia, several years ago, and he will be using the same method to capture the faunal biodiversity in Sg Ingei.

For the survey, the team were not looking for any particular species, hence the video traps will be set at knee height or slightly higher but not waist height.

The reason was to enable them to capture all land animals, he said.

The survey's Project Administrator, Dr Ang Bee Biaw, said the pictures in the sample of the first trail had already been analysed.

They will be analysing the remaining sample soon. The team retrieved the fourth and final sample on October 30.

"Each sample is about three to four months of data, normally a sample we would have 7,000 to 12,000 pictures," she said.

"In the first sample we have more than 7,000 pictures. The second sample was the most, we have 12,000 pictures to analyse," she added.

"What we do for camera trap data analysis is we look at each picture, try to identify the animal, see if the animal is even in the picture or not, sometimes it is so vague, sometimes there is just a tail you can only see. You need to identify which animal the tail belongs to," Ang said.

The survey team together with Hogg arrived at Sg Ingei on October 28 and will continue their work there until November 7.The Brunei Times