Wait continues for Sg Ingei sanctuary

The Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahya (2nd L) speaking to Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei HE Joseph Koh (L), as the survey leader of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, Dr Joseph Charles (2nd R) and Stephen Hogg (R), a professional photographer-cum-videographer look on. The minister was on his fifth visit to Sg Ingei base camp from April 13 to 15. Picture: BT/Rasidah HAB

(Top) One of the frog species that can be found at Sg Ingei. (Above) A decomposing carcass of a crocodile was sighted on a riverbank, on the boat ride back to BukitSawat Jetty from Sg Ingeibase camp. The Brunei Times was invited to cover the progress of the Sungai IngeiFaunal Biodiversity Survey from April 13 to 15.  Pictures: BT/Rasidah HAB

RASIDAH HAB
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, April 19, 2012

TURNING the Sg Ingei conservation forest in the interiors of Belait into a sanctuary is still under consideration as the government has identified some issues that needs to be resolved before proceeding with the idea.

"The idea of a sanctuary is a good one in ensuring that Sg Ingei's flora and faunal will be protected," said Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri SetiaHj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar.

Scientists working under the survey are vying to convince the Brunei government to convert the 18,000 hectares of protected forests of remote Sg Ingei into a wildlife sanctuary, with the establishment of a buffer area that can be zoned for ecotourism and other activities. This is so that protection can be focused in the core area, where the team are currently working.

The minister was one of the VIPs invited to Sg Ingei from April 13 to 15, on the invitation of the survey team together with The Brunei Times.

The trip also saw the participation of WWF special adviser to the Heart of Borneo Dato' Dr Mikaail Kavanagh, British High Commissioner to Brunei His Excellency Rob Fenn, Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei His Excellency Joseph Koh and spouse who were no strangers to the trip, as well as Australian High Commissioner to Brunei His Excellency MarkSawers.

When asked about the status of wildlife management and wildlife enforcement in the country, YB PehinDato Hj Yahya said a multi-pronged approach taken by the ministry and government showed that they were serious on preserving and conserving the environment.

The management of wildlife in the country has recently been transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR). His Majesty has also consented to the transfer of wildlife matters to the ministry, and with that MIPR is working on establishing Wildlife Authority to protect both faunal and flora and the environment as a whole.

There is no timeline set yet for its establishment, but the work was in progress, YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahyasaid.

"We wanted to do this as soon as possible. There is a lot of administration work to be done, the legal matter (that has to be amended), financing as well as manpower (that needs to be look into)," he added.

One of the multi-pronged approaches that the minister talked about in the interview was establishing honourary or voluntary forest rangers (for Sg Ingei).

Sg Ingei Survey a community project

YB Pehin Yahya elaborated that the honourary rangers, once put in place, will comprise locals from Kg Melilas and Kg Sukang. However, a change in regulation or law (from the ministry) is needed to enable the honourary rangers to perform their duties and responsibilities.

"We are working with the locals (from Kg Melilas and Kg Sukang) to gather information, to listen to them but as of now, they still do not have the (authority) to perform official duties (similar to forest rangers who are officially appointed)," he said.

The Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, since its conception in 2010, has always been a community project. Locals from Kg Melilas and Kg Sukang were hired as guides due to their knowledge and expertise of the area as well as boatmen for the researchers.

The trip from Bukit Sawat jetty (in Belait) to the Sg Ingei base camp can range between five hours to eleven hours depending on the river's water level.

The locals feel a strong sense of belonging and pride on Sg Ingei, and this is shown by their involvement in the survey process.

"We need to take advantage of this, so that our efforts can be consolidated, to make our efforts more effective and synergise. It is beneficial for both sides," YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahya said.

Poaching issues

A major challenge that continues to be an issue in Sg Ingei is poaching, not only by intruders but also allegedly to have been executed by the locals, the minister pointed out, and the plan to create honourary rangers was driven by this issue.

The minister called on all members of the public including the grassroots leaders, heads of communities and associations as well as Legislative Council members to stress on the importance of environmental protection to their people, and to help in curbing poaching.

"If there is no demand, there will be no supply. If anyone is caught poaching or selling (wildlife), please report this matter (to the authority) so that the demand will decrease. We are working with the locals to prevent poaching here," he said.

A Community Outreach Programme (COP) slated within this year is also aimed at increasing public awareness on this matter. The COP, part of the ministry's multi-pronged approach, will talk with locals around Sg Ingei area who are not directly involved with the survey on the importance of preserving the area.

The programme was supposed to be organised last month but was postponed due to high water level.

"This will also teach the younger generation on the importance of environment, to make them more responsible and our efforts more effective," said the minister.

Call for Funding

Environmental preservation and conservation is not only a government effort as it concerns all, YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahya said, and this means funds from sponsors are most welcome.

"We hope the involvement of the private sectors and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) will continue and more will come forward," he said adding that he was grateful for the involvement of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Brunei and HSBC as sponsors for projects under Heart of Borneo (HoB).

The minister expressed his wish for the two-year survey, due to end by this year, to continue but this depends on the availability of funding, and sponsors who wished to contribute or sponsor the survey.

"This is a thankless job. We may not be able to see the benefit now, but over the long run, it is rewarding. Many new species of faunal were discovered, and we have not yet look into the flora or microbes. The findings are worth the funding. If there are no sponsors, then the government would have to think of ways how we can preserve the area before this area is affected by poaching and illegal logging," he said.

The presence and support of the minister at the base camp was seen as a boost to the team, moral support to the researchers as well as the local residents.

"We know that this job is not easy. We really appreciate the work done by the researchers in UBD and the funding from SCB. Mingling with the locals is one way to tell them that the government care for them," he said.

The visit was YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahya's fifth visit to Sg Ingei. He had joined the team to various field trips and research sites.

Last weekend, the minister joined four members from the survey team as they trekked the deep interior of Sg Ingei jungle to set up camera traps as well as continue with the research work.

"The experience was one that we cannot gain from hearing stories or reading book, we must see it for ourselves," the minister commented.

Previously, he joined some members of the team to salt lick areas where animals congregate as well as joined an Indonesian researcher who specialises in the Ecology of the Western Tarsier, Indra Yustian, to check his net (trap) at midnight.

"(Even in the base camp), once the light is out, you can hear the animal calls (sounds). This is hard for us to get from books. Even the boat ride to come here, we need to experience that so that we can appreciate the beauty of this place and the works done by the researchers," he said.

The Brunei Times
 

Sg Ingei new faunal species undergo DNA analysis

File photo shows survey leader of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, Dr Joseph Charles (R) briefing the Standard Chartered Bank Brunei (SCB) members. Picture: BT file

RASIDAH HAB
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, April 9, 2012

DNA works are currently on-going for the data collected for the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, said the survey leader Dr Joseph Charles in an interview with The Brunei Times.

"There are some DNA work being done, that information won't be available for the public yet until we have the proper thing analysed and identified," said Dr Charles.

Initial findings of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey indicate that there are evidence of new species at Sg Ingei, but more work, including DNA analysis, needs to be done.

Dr Charles and his team, a multinational team of researchers from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), are currently in Sg Ingei until April 24 to continue their survey work. The two-year survey which began in 2010 hopes to document and compile data on elusive animals and convince to authorities to protect the area as a sanctuary.

At present, the area is known as the Sg Ingei Protection Forest situated in the remote interior of BelaitDistrict.

"We are hoping that when the sanctuary is made, part of it (a buffer zone) will be used for recreation and eco-tourism, showcasing the skills of the local people."

He added in many cases (in such researches) the public comes in giving them more data. "For example, most data on birds was gathered by the layman," he said.

People think of forests as merely trees growing, it is more than that as it provides habitation, he said.

"There is hardly any information on the Borneoan Bay Cat, and we are getting information on the Bay Cat from the Sg Ingei project," he added.

The Borneoan Bay Cat is one of the world's rarest wild cats, an elusive creature once thought to be extinct. The Borneoan Bay Cat is a long-tailed reddish or grey feline the size of a large domesticated cat.

Poachers are a major concern for the team hence the decision to limit the release of survey findings.

Dr Charles said, "Poaching is done now not only by intruders but also our local people. Hunting for survival is different from hunting for commercial (purposes). Poaching takes away the resources from the local people/natives who greatly depend on forest produce."

Cases of poaching at the survey area were published by The Brunei Times during an invitation by the team to cover the survey's progress last October. The cases were reported by the locals in Kg Sukangand Kg Melilas, alleged to have been executed two weeks before the Survey team returned to their base camp in Sg Ingei.

"We have lots to be proud of. Brunei (has) got so much to be proud of, that pride must be felt by everyBruneian. If you feel that pride you wont hunt, poach (and) you will protect. To protect the forest in Brunei is a task. A lot of things depend on how they do it. We are doing our part, other have to do their part also." he added.

The Brunei Times
 

Classify Sungai Ingei as reserve sanctuary

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Dear Editor,

THIS is with reference to the report "Call to classify Sungai Ingei forest area as sanctuary" in your edition dated April 5, 2012.

I think its time for the government to look into the matter and declare the whole Sungai Ingei Forest as a sanctuary. Since the forest reserve is already a protected area, I don't see any hassle in classifying the forest as a sanctuary.

The Sungai Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey team seems to be doing some constructive work. The team has collected data on wildlife and would soon be retrieving cameras placed at vantage points in the forests over a year ago to study and record the behavioural patterns of various animals, including the shy nocturnal creatures.

The scientists and environmental experts, studying the Sungai Ingei forest, have been trying to convince the government on the need to convert the 18,000 hectares of protected area in the forest into wildlife sanctuary, and establish a buffer area that could be zoned for ecotourism and other activities.

Of late, we have been reading reports about poaching in the Sungai Ingei reserve forest. Hence, there's a need to declare the Ingei forest as a sanctuary and step up vigil against poaching. The strength of monitors and rangers in the forest has to be beefed up to check the wildlife plunderers. The authorities could also enlist or encourage the involvement of the indigenous people who dwell close to the forests.

PKC, Bandar

Call to classify Sungai Ingei forest area as sanctuary

File photo of British high commissioner Robb Fenn (L) taking a closer look at a Bornean leaf-nosed bat caught by Dr David Lane (R) of UBD, while Wildlife photographer and videographer Stephen Hogg (C) looks on at the Sungai Ingei basecamp during the second phase of the Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey. Picture: BT file

RASIDAH HAB
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, April 5, 2012

THE Sungai Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey team will continue to push for the Sungai Ingei Protected Forest into being classified as a sanctuary as the two-year survey nears its end.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, the survey's leader, Dr Joseph Charles, said the team will leave for Sungai Ingei, which is in a remote part of Belait, from April 6 to 24.

The two-year faunal biodiversity survey, which began in July 2010, is supported by the Ministry of Primary Resources (MIPR) and sponsored by the Standard Chartered Bank (SCB).

The trip will focus on retrieving camera traps, which has been left for over a year, and setting them up in another area to get a better representative of wildlife in the area, said Dr Joseph.

"We have very good data so far and are hoping to get more from the other side. The expedition is going to wind up now, because funding is nearly done," he said.

The team will also continue with their small mammals data collection, centreing on dipterocarp forests, compared to the previous kerangas (heath) and mixed swamp forest.

"We are going to do pitfall traps to trap birds in dipterocarp forests. We also hope to sample flying squirrels at night, so we are going to set up mist nets at canopy level. The bat work will continue, and Dr David Lane is going to come and we are getting another research fellow to survey aquatic invertebrates," Dr Charles said.

"We want as much background data of Sungai Ingei as possible, as this will come useful for managing the area and for the Wildlife Unit to continue in future research," he said.

The Wildlife Unit was set up recently by the Forestry Department under MIPR.

"Any future research can only be done after you know what is there. We are still in the first phase of long-term research to answer the question of what is there. Once we get the basic information, will we then build up on other things," he said.

"One of the greatest resources in Brunei other than oil and gas is the forest. A forest without wildlife is a dead forest. MIPR today is really promoting the protection of wildlife and its survival because it helps us. Our water depends on the forests," he said.

The scientists are vying to convince the Brunei government to convert the 18,000 hectares of protected forests in remote Sungai Ingei into a wildlife sanctuary, and for the establishment of a buffer area that can be zoned for ecotourism and other activities.

The ongoing Sungai Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey will once again invite VIPs and the media to the remote, virtually-undisturbed forests in the interior of Belait.

The visit is slated to be held from April 13 to 15, with participants such as the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya BegawanMudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar; British High Commissioner to Brunei, Rob Fenn; and Singaporean High Commissioner, Joseph Kohl; as well as World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Special Adviser to the Heart of Borneo, Dato' Dr Mikaail Kavanagh.

The Brunei Times

Wildlife under threat as poachers raid Sg Ingei

By Siti Hajar Borneo Bulletin 15 March 2012 The protection of the country's wildlife has been given serious attention as the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources is currently exploring ways to ensure that Brunei Darussalam's wild animals are properly and adequately protected under the country's laws as the ministry has received feedback that poachers are hunting with bags and trucks in Sungai Ingei in the Belait District. Minister of Industry and Primary Resources YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar yesterday announced that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam as of January 2012 has given the ministry the mandate and trust to handle the management and preservation of not just wild animals on land but also marine life. In line with the Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative that protects identified forest areas under a three-way agreement between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, the issue of wildlife protection was brought to the Eighth Legislative Council meeting yesterday by YB Awg Hj Ramli bin Hj Lahit who voiced his concern on illegal hunting that is taking place in the country's forests and how this can significantly affect the progress made under the HoB. Feedback from residents in the rural areas of the Belait District, especially in Sungai Ingei, said the minister, has indicated that poachers are hunting in droves as opposed to the acceptable one animal a month for personal consumption. Among the steps that are currently being taken, added the minister, is the organising of meetings and workshops "to identify what should be done especially in the strengthening or changing of laws to ensure that these laws are effective and relevant". As governmental efforts are not enough to curb the loss of wildlife, especially mainstream game targets such as deer and a few species of birds, the minister also made a public call for the people to help in monitoring not only the hunters but also those who purchase hunted wildlife. If there is demand for wild (exotic) meat then there will be supply, he said. "People need to stop demanding so as to ensure the control of supply and control hunting that is compromising on wildlife," he added and highlighted that "there is no scientific proof that wild meat is better than meat that is reared".

Sg Ingei team works to attain goals

Project Administrator of Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey, Dr Ang Bee Biaw (R) is showing the SCB personnel on how they capture small mammals for records for the faunal biodiversity survey during their expedition to Sg Ingei in October last year. Picture: BT/Rasidah Bakar

RASIDAH HAB
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, January 8, 2012

THE Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity team said that they wold continue their efforts to attain their objectives to preserve and protect the flora and fauna found in the area.

In an interview, Sg Ingei Faunal Biodiversity Survey's leader, Dr Joseph Charles and the survey's Project Administrator Dr Ang Bee Biaw spoke of the team's three future plans for Sg Ingei.

First and foremost is to protect Sg Ingei and its biodiversity by turning it into a wildlife sanctuary.

The scientists are vying to convince the Brunei government to convert the 18,000 hectares of protected forests of remote Sungai Ingei into a wildlife sanctuary, where they want the protection to focus in the "core" area, where the team are working on the survey.

Secondly, they wisi to increase the survey efforts all the way from Kg Melilas to Sg Ingei as an extension zone.

Dr Charles said that the integrity of Sg Ingei depends on the integrity of this area because animals do go out. "Animals don't know any boundaries, wherever there is food, they will go out," he said.

"We have got evidence of endangered species breeding outside Melilas and in Sg Ingei. This whole area outside Sg Ingei, we are trying to make that area as buffer zone for Sg Ingei. Once there is a buffer zone, then we can zone it for multipurpose for ecotourism for local people to sell their handicraft, an area for ecotourism and recreation where you charge people to see and showcase the locals' skills and also for public education."

He added: "If there are any sensitive findings (according to our data), people will not be allowed to go to Sg Ingei, so it will be left alone. You will not be able to see the animals anyway, because they only come out at night. You have the same beautiful trees and forests outside (in the buffer zone)."

Dr Charles added, "When you look at the wildlife sanctuary for the future, the only way it can stay as a good a sanctuary is to have a good buffer zone."

Dr Ang said that the ecological dynamics of buffer zone and protected zone is very closely integrated.

"We are going to make extension zone, study it, survey it that data will help the ministry (MIPR) protects that place," she said.

She also mentioned of the team's third objective, which is to look for fundings (for enforcement) by setting up honorary rangers.

"This means we will get our people, Angus (the surveys chief guide) and field coordinator Samhan Nyawa, to identify potential rangers who can help us to check whether people are going in (Sg Ingei). Pehin Hj Yahya (Minister of Industry and Primary Resources) is very keen on that idea, and we are hoping once we get the fundings, we will talk with him in more details on how the government can give us permission to carry out all these activities," she said.

"We cannot wait for reinforcement to come, we have to be proactive and do something for Sg Ingei. Because my fear is when things happen, Sg Ingei is already gone."

"We want people in Kg Melilas and all the stakeholders to feel that Sg Ingei project is their project. It is only when you feel that it is your project that you have a sense of belonging and you will protect it," she added.

She said they had included them (the residents) in their survey.

"Acting Penghulu of Kg Melilas, Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Hj Muhd Ali Abdullah Itam is very supportive so we are lucky in that sense. This is more like a community project rather than a government, scientists or ministry project," said Dr Ang.

"That is why when we finished phase two this year, before we went back, Pehin Datu Hj Ali told us 'Just because you finish the Sg Ingei project, please do not abandon us and go away,"' she added.

Dr Ang said she promised the acting penghulu that the team would try their best to help Sg Ingei and Kg Melilas as much as they could. "This is why we are pushing the ministry to put Sg Ingei as a sanctuary. At the end of the day, what do we gain? We do not gain anything, we just want to protect Sg Ingei so that the Melilas people will feel that the government is protecting their area," she said.

She went on to say "Because these native people, as far as I can understand from their minds, this is their land, their native right, they don't want people to come in and destroy their land. They themselves do not destroy their land.".

Dr Charles said if the locals did hunt, they would hunt just a deer, while the others (outsiders), come in lorry loads. They are depriving the locals of their onetime hunt. And the locals do not hunt all the time.

"You see the new road that was open for Melilas, this road is used as a highway for local poachers. What was meant as a good thing for Melilas for transport has now become a highway for these poachers," he said.

He shared that their concern now is for local stakeholders and the whole Brunei to have a sense of belonging, that Sg Ingei is special to them.

Asked whether their plan to release the findings next year is still on track, Dr Ang said they were hopeful that they would be able to do so.

"We are ready to release the results, but is Brunei ready to receive them? We do not want our results to be the reason why poaching starts in Sg Ingei because that will defeat our purpose," she added.

In voicing similar sentiment, Dr Charles said, "The sad part is we release some of our results and the news got out, and somebody had gone in Sg Ingei and started poaching around the (base) camp."The Brunei Times