KUCHING: The Jagoi Area Development Committee (JADC) is developing a long-term management plan for Jagoi Heritage Forest.
“Jagoi Heritage Forest, locally known as Bung Jagoi, is a heritage site for the Bidayuh of Jagoi in Bau District,” explained its chairman Professor Dr Gabriel Tonga Noweg.
“Locals that enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking recognise Bung Jagoi as a popular hiking spot. Some hikers, who happened to be there, also joined the tree planting,” he said.
Gabriel added that the development plan would include conducting various studies on forest health, potential tourism spots, evaluating existing resources and the supply capacity for non-timber products like rattan.
“It is one of the five sites in Malaysia that applied for the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Green List of Protected and Conserved areas. A successful listing will be a great recognition of these efforts,” he added.
WWF-Malaysia Sarawak conservation programme chief head, Dr Jason Hon said the initiative spearheaded by Peterson & Control Union was crucial to ensure degraded areas could be fully restored.
“Bung Jagoi Forest provides for the needs of the local community and is now a popular spot for the public as well. It is through the efforts of the people here that the public can have such beautiful forests to enjoy.
“Over time, some areas have become degraded and this project aims to improve and restore the forest cover,” he added.
On the ‘Retaining Forest and Culture Jagoi Heritage Forest Sarawak’ project, Peterson & Control Union Malaysia general manager Supun Sachithra Nigamuni said it reflected the organisation’s continuous efforts to balance the 3Ps (People, Planet, Profit) of sustainability.
