By Nia Natasha Hasenan
LUNDU: A scientific expedition is being carried out here to document forest biodiversities and environment, revealed the director of Sarawak Forestry Department, Datuk Hamden Mohammad.
“It is to unravel the natural treasures. We hope to use the information obtained later to develop a plan to manage the resources in this area.
“Local people will know the uniqueness of their own places as well as increase their conservation efforts and in the process, develop eco-tourism activities that will help to improve living standards,” he told the media after officiating at the launch of the Pueh Forest Scientific Expedition 2020 programme at Kampung Sebako here on Monday (Oct 5).
According to Hamden, through this expedition, several new species have been identified such as flowers, animals like bats, insects and so on.
“So far, many expeditions have been carried out in northern Sarawak such as Ulu Mentawai and places on the Indonesian border.
“We are trying to go to many places throughout Sarawak, especially in the Heart of Borneo (HOB) areas,” he explained.
Previous expeditions involved researchers from within and outside the country who had conducted various researches.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the scientific expedition was conducted by the Research, Development and Innovation Division with the HOB.
“Lundu is rich in nature. From Sematan to Tanjung Datu, it has a lot of potential. Mount Pueh has been turned into a national park and we are trying to explore its forest reserve,” he added.
Hamden also said the Sarawak Forest Department hoped to bring the idea of community forest to the State Legislative Assembly in November.
“This community forest concept will allow visitors to enter the forest area without the need for a permit unlike the concept of a national park that requires a permit to enter,” he explained.
Hamden said the department had organised scientific expeditions to various parts of Sarawak such as Lanjak Entimau, Batu Lawi, Payeh Maga, Lawas, Ulu Mentawai, Gunung Mulu National Park since 2008.
The current scientific expedition is an annual programme organised by the Sarawak Forest Department.
Themed ‘When Science and the Environment Unite’, it will last for 13 days from October 5 to 17 and involves 146 participants.
