Bring Back The Rainforest Project
Sarawak Forestry Corporation
Bring back the rainforest project
‘Bring Back the Rainforest’ (BBtRF) Project is an initiative by SARAWAK FORESTRY Corporation (SFC) as part of the habitat rehabilitation efforts to bring back the rainforest landscape to Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR). The project aims to rehabilitate degraded forest areas in the Nature Reserve through the two following components:
Enrichment Planting
Various native plant species will be planted at PNR to provide sufficient food sources and a conducive environment for the wildlife residing within the Nature Reserve when the trees grow and start bearing fruits in years to come. An experimental plot with a total area of 0.22 hectare was initially set up at PNR to identify plant species that could suitably grow on the soils of PNR and the suitable methods to plant them. Several tree planting activities had been carried out at the Nature Reserve to commemorate the following occasions;
Piasau Nature Reserve’s Earth Breaking Ceremony
Sarawak Tourism Board’s Borneo Jazz Festival
Sarawak Tourism Board’s Borneo Jazz Festival
Naim Cendera-Forest Department Sarawak Tree Planting Activity
Adoption Programme
Desired Results
- Sufficient food supply and a conducive environment for wildlife species residing in PNR
- Evolving PNR as a major birding spot in Sarawak
- Increase in visitors’ arrival to PNR which offers opportunities for visitors to experience rainforest landscape in an urban setting
Notes:
- All adopters are entitled for lifetime adoption.
- Number of plots/ trees offered for adoption: Corporate- 20 plots, Individual- 200 trees
Corporate Adoption
Plot Size: 0.25 hectare
(per plot)
Individual Adoption
List of Corporate Adopters
- Shin Yang Group of Companies
- SHELL Malaysia
- Dayang Enterprise
- Samling
- WTK
- Ta Aan Holding Sdn Bhd
Project Deliverables
The project is expected to deliver the followings:
a) Gardens (Piasau Garden, Mixed Species Garden, Fruit Tree Garden, Ficus Garden and Herbal Garden)
Develop Horticultural and Cultivation Skills
Species diversity can be conserved in the gardens as horticultural and cultivation skills allow original species that were once at Piasau to be planted back. Apart from that, restoration and rehabilitation of degraded habitats would be made possible through the development of these skills.
Living Collections of Plants
The collections of the various plant species in the gardens will serve as gene pools where plant genetic materials are conserved.
Education
The gardens would provide avenues for outdoor learning experiences through thematic interpretation.
b) Providing a Suitable Habitat for Hornbills
PNR is now renowned for the breeding Oriental-pied hornbills (OPH) residing within the Nature Reserve. The planting of food trees will provide shelter and supply sufficient food to not only hornbills but also other wildlife species at the Nature Reserve.
c) Transforming Piasau Nature Reserve as a Major Birding Area
When the trees mature and produce fruits, PNR will be a haven for the birds and other wildlife species. The congregation of the birds and other wildlife will be a sight to behold and this will surely attract birders and nature lovers to the Nature Reserve.
Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR)
Various native plant species will be planted at PNR to provide sufficient food sources and a conducive environment for the wildlife residing within the Nature Reserve when the trees grow and start bearing fruits in years to come. An experimental plot with a total area of 0.22 hectare was initially set up at PNR to identify plant species that could suitably grow on the soils of PNR and the suitable methods to plant them. Several tree planting activities had been carried out at the Nature Reserve to commemorate the following occasions;
Studies on PNR and its biodiversity components were carried out by SFC, UNIMAS and Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). Despite being located within the urban area of Miri city, studies recorded a notable number of plant and animal species at PNR; 107 plant species and 75 fauna species. More importantly, PNR has been known to have a small population of Oriental-pied hornbill (OPH) and the first written record of the species at Nature Reserve dated back to 2005 (site known as Piasau Camp then) when the famous pair, Jimmy and the late Faridah were first photographed by Dominique Wan. Sightings of OPH at the camp attracted a lot of interest amongst members of the public which spurred monitoring efforts into the particular avian species. Some examples are;
- 2007 – A resident of Piasau Camp, Dr. Giana Minton started monitoring the hornbills and the nesting site at House 58.
- 2008 – A small interest group, the Piasau Camp Miri Nature Park Society (PCMNPS) began working closely with SFC to monitor the small population of OPH at the then Piasau Camp.
For further information, please contact us
SARAWAK FORESTRY CORPORATION
Lot 218, KCLD, Jalan Tapang, Kota Sentosa
93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Tel: (+6) 082 610 088 Fax: (+6) 082 629 450
E-mail: asmahmusa@www.sarawakforestry.com
www.sarawakforestry.com
PIASAU NATURE RESERVE
Tel: (+6) 085 644 487 (Mr. Louis Velda – Park Warden)