TREES here are so tall,” notes a journalist during a media trip to Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) recently. She was probably mesmerised by the many majestic tualang trees that rise at least 40m above the ground.
Even as we were admiring the last tract of virgin lowland forest in Sabah, logging continues in Malua Forest Reserve, just next to this 43,800ha conservation plot.
DVCA is part of the one million hectare forest concession allocated by the state government to Yayasan Sabah to finance the state social development by utilising its timber resources.
Fortunately, thanks to the foresight of scientists on the importance of pristine lowland forests to science, a part of the valley was set aside by Yayasan Sabah for conservation. In 1995, it was elevated to Class One protected forest.
Danum has long served the research interests of foreign scientists who make up more than 90% of the research community in the world-renowned tropical forest research station.
Continue reading (incl. pic) at: Uncovering Danum’s treasures
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