Klias Wetlands eyed for RAMSAR nomination

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, the first wetland situated within an urban area, has been accorded recognition as a RAMSAR site.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, noted that there was another urban wetland site located in Tokyo that has been given the recognition, but the site was treeless.

“We have mangrove trees,” said Masidi during a ceremony to launch the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands RAMSAR site yesterday.

The arduous process of applying for the RAMSAR nomination for the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands began as a dare made eight years ago by Masidi to the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society.

The application was approved by the State Cabinet in March 2013, and was subsequently submitted to the RAMSAR Secretariat by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in August 2016.

Last year, on December 22, the society finally received the long delayed good news that their application has been approved.

The Kota Kinabalu Wetlands has finally been designated as RAMSAR site no. 2290 – the second RAMSAR site for Sabah.

Now, Masidi said, he is eyeing the Klias Wetlands, which was part of a forest reserve and famous for the sighting of proboscis monkeys, for the RAMSAR nomination.

“But we need to engage with the local community because this will entail restrictions and regulations concerning the land use at the area,” he said.

Continue reading at: Klias Wetlands eyed for RAMSAR nomination

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Kota Kinabalu Wetlands to be seventh Ramsar site

KOTA KINABALU: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday disclosed that the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands will be declared the seventh Ramsar site in the country.

“There are currently six Ramsar sites in the country namely Tasik Bera, Pahang; Tanjung Piai, Pulau Kukup and Sungai Pulai, Johor; Kuching Wetland National Park, Sarawak; and Lower Kinabatangan – Segama Wetlands, Sabah.

“There are also a few criteria which wetlands must fulfil, for example a diverse biodiversity as well as functional role the wetlands play as a breeding ground for waterbirds before they can be declared as a Ramsar site

“The Kota Kinabalu Wetlands have already fulfilled these criteria,” Wan Junaidi told reporters after launching the national level World Wetlands Day 2016 in conjunction with the anniversary of the Ramsar Convention of 1971 at the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands here.

He added that the Ramsar Convention was an inter-governmental treaty that provided an action plan at the international level for the conservation and use of wetlands.

Today, there are 169 member countries of the Ramsar Convention including Malaysia and a total of 2,227 wetland areas covering 214, 875, 598 hectares worldwide had been declared as Ramsar sites.

Wan Junaidi also said the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society (SWCS) had asked the federal government to declare Kota Kinabalu Wetlands as a Ramsar site.

“All we need to do now is to nominate and declare it as a Ramsar site,” he explained.

He said unlike Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, most wetlands and Ramsar sites were outside the city.

And, he said that making Kota Kinabalu Wetlands a Ramsar site was important for flora and fauna conservation.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kota Kinabalu Wetlands to be seventh Ramsar site

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Hopes for Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre to be declared a Ramsar Site

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wetland Conservation Society (SWCS) is hoping to get the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC) declared a Ramsar Site at the Ramsar Convention Day this year.

“The convention is expected to be held in Uruguay in June this year,” said society president, Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa.

The 24-hectare KKWC has been nominated to be declared a Ramsar Site since 2012. However, since a new procedure was introduced by the Ramsar headquarters, SWCS had no choice but to abide by it.

“We have already submitted the nomination manually through the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in Europe last year but the procedure has changed which requires the submission to be made online,” he said. The online system is still new to many, including the SWCS members, he told reporters when met at the Jesselton Point Jetty last Saturday evening.

“To be familiar with the system, the federal ministry has sent one representative to Cambodia for training recently,” he added.

SWCS is currently working closely with the Sabah Biodiversity Centre (SBC) to do the filing for the online nomination.

Zainie told reporters that SWCS will try to expedite the process and hopefully by June, KKWC will be declared a Ramsar Site.

It will be a great achievement to SWCS as the KKWC is located within a 10-kilometre radius of the city centre, thus making it as one of the few urban Ramsar Sites in the world.

Zainie said if everything went according to plan, SWCS will hold double celebrations in one ceremony.

“One is for when KKWC is declared a Ramsar site and the other is to launch a book,” he said, adding that the book is now close to completion with only an official write-up and some photographs of KKWC that are pending.

Ramsar Site is a recognition given to a wetland area for the purpose of global biological diversity conservation through ecological and hydrological functions.

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Proposal to make Kota Kinabalu Wetlands a Ramsar site

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Biodiversity Centre is proposing that the 24-hectare Kota Kinabalu Wetlands be made as a Ramsar site under the Ramsar Convention.

“It hopes to forward the paper to the Ministry of Nature Resource and Environment earliest by November or December,” said Sabah Biodiversity Centre director Dr Abdul Fatah Amir.

He said feedback from the public would be compiled and forwarded to the State Cabinet and relevant departments.

Once the report was approved by the Cabinet, Fatah said the centre would forward it to the Ministry of Nature Resources and Environment in Kuala Lumpur.

He said the centre would try to expedite the process and aimed to complete it by November or December.

Fatah said this in an interview after the third dialogue with stakeholders here yesterday. Among the objectives of the dialogue were to inform the need and importance to register Kota Kinabalu Wetlands as a Ramsar site as well as to obtain input and feedback from stakeholders regarding this matter.

Fatah said the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands was designated as a Ramsar site in October 2008, a mere five months after the process, which included stakeholder and state agency meetings and workshops, begun in May the same year.

He pointed out that the concerns of property owners near Kota Kinabalu Wetlands raised in the dialogue, such as whether future development plans would be restricted once Kota Kinabalu Wetlands achieved Ramsar status was not related to Ramsar.

Earlier in the dialogue, Fatah explained that Ramsar was not a legal binding treaty, meaning Ramsar dids not create laws or regulations.

“Ramsar uses managing plan as guidance which complies with existing laws,” he said, adding that Ramsar dids not restrict development but used existing laws such as Draft Kota Kinabalu Local Plan 2020 or the Environmental Protection Enactment to guide property development.

Fatah pointed out that Ramsar was more on how to maintain the quality of ecosystem to preserve existing endangered species.

After achieving Ramsar status, there would be a managing plan which would be developed with the stakeholders, Fatah said.

He assured that the managing plan, which used existing laws as a guideline to maintain the quality of the site, would not be imposed on stakeholders as it would be developed based on consensus with the stakeholders.

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Wild encounters at Kota Kinabalu Wetlands

By NYL

 Kota Kinabalu Wetlands is a model wetland centre for the purpose
of conservation, education, recreation and research

 One of the residential birds, the starling,
 has glossy black plumage and bright red eyes

 A pristine patch of mangrove in Kota Kinabalu Wetlands

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to NYL and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

Between the high and low tide marks lies a unique ecosystem that is regularly covered and uncovered by the ebb and flow of the tides. This meeting ground between land and sea is called the intertidal zone. It is rich in nutrients and oxygen and is home to a wide variety of organisms.

During my recent visit to Sabah, I went to Kota Kinabalu Wetlands situated just two kilometres north-east of Kota Kinabalu in Likas. Formerly known as Likas Mangrove and later Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary, this site is the only remains of 24 hectares of mangrove forest that once existed extensively along the coastal region of Kota Kinabalu. Today, it is used primarily as a model wetland centre for the purpose of conservation, education, recreation and research.

The visitor centre at the park headquarters is where tourists can enquire about information on attractions and activities available to them inside the park.

A 1.5-kilometre-long boardwalk adjacent to the information centre sheds light on mangrove forest and its brackish environment. Signs along the trail with drawings, photos and the history of the plants, birds and aquatic life that reside there, educating visitors on the economic and ecological importance of maintaining mangrove forests.

In addition, an observation tower allows visitors to view the tree canopy and observe birdlife.

During the cold months from the end of October to early February, migratory birds flee harsh winter in China and Siberia to find shelter in this resource-rich area, making the site a haven for birdwatchers.

To date, almost 80 species of bird have been identified at the sanctuary. Commonly sighted birds include migratory species like the Chinese egrets and herons as well as canopy birds such as collared kingfisher and stork-billed kingfisher. Other species available on view include plovers, magpies, starlings, painted storks, grey herons, cormorants, waterfowls and eagles.

Apart from providing food and shelter for both resident and migratory species of wildlife, the centre also prevents salt build-up in surrounding freshwater supplies, stabilising sedimentation, storing nutrients and removing toxins.

In the past, wetlands were mostly considered to be wastelands - uninhabited areas useless for cultivation. This understanding has since changed, with the value of wetlands gaining increasing recognition.

Lush habitats like the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands continue to provide a haven and nursery for many species, some of which contribute to the food chain, increasing the population of fish for human consumption.

Acting as a reserve, these spots also allow previously barren sites to be re-populated again. Newly-found chemicals produced by some species like the horseshoe crabs, are proving to be invaluable in the search for new medicines and drugs.

Although efforts have started to allow for the regeneration of wetlands in Sabah, either through natural growth or active reforestation efforts, areas are still being cleared for various purposes, such as development of commercial and residential areas. Now, Kota Kinabalu Wetlands and a few other isolated spots of marine shelter are all that remain against a modernised and sterile coastline.

There are many reasons for protecting Kota Kinabalu Wetlands. For most visitors, stepping out on dry land in the middle of the open sea with the beauty of a thriving, teeming world beneath and uncluttered skies above, such an experience speaks volumes of its value.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Sunday
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Why Kota Kinabalu should be in your 2012 travel list

The modern city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, the Malaysian Borneo, offers travellers a wide variety of landscapes from beaches and virgin coral reefs to lush tropical rainforests. Here are five reasons why the city should be in your travel list this year:

1. Mount Kinabalu

Southeast Asia’s highest peak and the 20th most prominent mountain in the world, Mount Kinabalu, is located only 30 minutes away by bus from the city center. The  mountain stands 4,095 meters or 13,435 feet in the middle of Kinabalu National Park, the first Malaysian Unesco World Heritage Site. Kinabalu National Park is one of the most popular ecotourist destinations in the region and is considered an important biodiversity site with over 4,500 species.

Mount Kinabalu offers climbers a challenging trek or a relaxing hike for those who prefer a more leisurely pace. It is the venue for ‘the world’s toughest mountain race’, the Mount Kinabalu International Marathon, which will be held this year on Oct. 14.

2. Exotic wildlife

Developed by the Sabah Wildlife and Forestry Department, the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Kota Kinabalu has devoted 70 hectares to the preservation of the endangered animals of Borneo, as well as the education of the public on the importance of wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. It has a “primate zone” which features exotic wildlife including orangutans and proboscis monkeys (named so for their prominent bulbous noses). The park also houses an aviary where a variety of endemic bird species has called it their home.

For birdwatchers, the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Center, located just a mile away from the city center, has recorded sightings of more than 80 species of birds.

3. Diving

Only 15 minutes away from the city via speedboat, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is composed of five small islands and undamaged coral reefs and is popular among tourists and locals alike for snorkelling, diving and relaxation. Lying in shallow waters with gentle currents, the reefs are ideal for novice divers, and the rare marine creatures that inhabit them will interest even the most experienced divers and underwater photographers.  Among the marine life that have been spotted here include the scorpion fish, blue-spotted rays, cuttlefish, mantis shrimps, green or hawksbill turtle, and sometimes the exotic harlequin ghost pipefish and mandarin fish.

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Sabah To Push For Ramsar Site Status For Kota Kinabalu Wetland

KOTA KINABALU -- The Sabah government is pushing for Ramsar Site status for Kota Kinabalu Wetland, one of the eco-tourism attractions in the state.

Ramsar Sites are designated under the Ramsar Convention, also known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. The Convention has the unique distinction of being the first modern treaty between nations aimed at conserving natural resources. The Convention was signed in 1971 at the small Iranian town of Ramsar, and hence is also known as the Ramsar Convention.

Disclosing this, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the state government was also in the process of consulting relevant stakeholders to register the Crocker Range Park for Unesco's Man and Biosphere programme.

"I am pleased to learn that the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention is scheduled to visit Kota Kinabalu Wetland tomorrow. I hope the representatives from Unesco will get an opportunity to visit Crocker Range Park which is only about an hour's drive from here," he said in his opening speech at the Asian Wetland Symposium, here Monday.

The text of his speech was read out by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai.

Musa hoped that the Sabah Declaration, the expected outcome of this symposium, would become a catalyst for future integration of efforts in ensuring the protection and wise use of the state's natural resources.

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Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre a popular site for bird watching

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC) is one of the city’s most popular sites for bird watching and for a good reason too.

According to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) School of International Tropical Forestry lecturer, Andy Russel Mojiol, a study conducted by the university unveiled that there are some 3,526 birds residing within the mangrove area.

He said to the New Sabah Times that the most common birds found at KKWC are Waders, Herons, Storks, Bitterns, Raptors and Bulbuls.

He added that studies done in 2005 indicated that there were about 135 bird species at KKWC.

“Waders, Herons, Storks and Bitterns, being ‘water birds’ are generally associated with areas that are swampy, mudflats such as mangroves. These includes the Common Greenshank (Tringa Nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Actitis Hypoleucos), Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus Cinnamomeus), Purple Heron (Ardea Purpurea), Little Egret (Egretta Garzetta) and so on, that eat small fishes and crustaceans,” he explained.

Raptors, on the other hand, consist of the Lesser Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga Humilis), Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus), Brahimy Kite (Haliastur Indus). These species of birds thrive near the seaside or river mouth and predates fishes and small mammals.

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