Tun Mustapha Park a potential game changer
KOTA KINABALU: With its unique biodiversity, the Tun Mustapha Park (TMP) is a potential game changer to help boost the tourism sector in Malaysia, particularly Sabah.
The 898,726.26 hectares TMP area has more than 50 islands and islets located in the Kudat, Pitas and Kota Marudu districts in the northern part of Sabah.
The TMP is also home to Sabah’s third largest volume of fishery products from coral reefs, bays and open waters, and the source of livelihood to 80,000 coastal inhabitants, with great potential for eco-tourism. The area’s unique biodiversity supports and link habitats and is home to endangered marine animals, such as green sea turtles and dugongs.
A small community of the distinctive Palauh (pelaut) or Sea Gypsy people are also found inhabiting the open sea area in TMP.
A team of scientists and researchers from local universities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have recently completed a five-week (from 15 April to 19 May) scientific expedition in TMP.
The findings of the research work were presented during a two-day seminar, organized by Sabah Parks, at a leading hotel in Kota Kinabalu, last month.
The expedition, organized by the Sabah Parks, was to collate information for the park management to focus on conservation activities and to have better control of the park.
Participants of the open sea and land expedition were from University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), UiTM, University College Yayasan Sabah (UCSF), Sabah Environmental Trust (SET), WWF Malaysia, Politeknik Sandakan and Sabah Parks.
The first scientific expedition was launched in the same area in 2012 to gather marine scientific data for gazetting of the park.
TMP was gazetted on May 19, 2016 under the Parks Enactment 1984 with an area of 898,726.76 ha, covering only the sea area.
According to WWF Malaysia, TMP is the largest marine protected area in Malaysia.
As a signatory to the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security, Malaysia has developed a National Plan of Action to protect its portion of the CTI area. Tun Mustapha Park is one of Malaysia’s CTI Priority Conservation Areas.
The focus of research during the recent scientific expedition include community inter-relation with forest eco-system services of the islands in TMP, tourism resources assessment, the role of TMP in the conservation of cultural heritage and conservation of TMP marine resources.
Some researchers used the expedition to update their earlier study on the land cover change in TMP’s three main islands – Banggi Island, Balambangan Island and Malawali Island.
It was suggested for inter-agency cooperation and collaborative management approach supported by remote sensing monitoring strategy as a means to ensure longterm sustainability of TMP.
Landsat images taken in 2000 and 2016 revealed that a significant reduction of forest in the land area, while mangroves had declined about 1,400 ha in 16 years.
Bird investigators recorded 102 bird species found in TMP, of which 17 species in 12 families are new additions. For marine species, researchers recorded 18 species of elasmobranches, comprising 11 sharks (Whaler Sharks) and 14 rays (Stingrays of the family Dasyatidae).
Researchers also raised concerns about poaching of the endangered marine species like sea turtle in TMP, citing a discovery of 19 rotting Green Turtles carcasses in the TMP area in 2015.
Ironically, most of the identified tourism attractions are located outside the TMP area.
According to Dr. Rahimatsah Amat, CEO of Sabah Environmental Trust, Tanjong Priok, which was gazetted as a cultural heritage site, is located at Pulau Balambangan.
He said, Pulau Guhauan, Pulau Balundangan Besar and Balundangan Kecil are known as sea turtles landing sites and Pulau Bangau is an important nesting site for egrets.
“All these potential tourism attractions are iconic and scarce, and possess added value in term of conservation as well as tourism attraction,” he said.
It was also observed that currently, tourism in TMP is limited to small lodging operators and adventure activities by private operators.
Sabah Parks on the other hand has yet to generate revenues from activities in places within TMP.
“Therefore, tourism can be used as a platform to generate as well as to promote sustainable development and conservation in TMP,” Dr Rahimatsah said.
He also suggested that Pulau Balambangan, Pulau Kalutan, Pulau Simanguak, Pulau Guhuan, Pulau Balundangan Besar and Balundangan Kecil and Pulau Bangau be integrated into TMP.
Dr. Rahim observed that Pulau Balambangan is an essential location for the purpose of establishing a station/post for Sabah Parks to manage TMP. In addition, Pulau Balambangan and its cluster are also suitable as concessionaire sites. It is important as it can generate revenue for TMP.
He said, there is also a need to improve and diversify tourists activities in TMP, especially in Kudat coastal areas.
Low impact water activities such as snorkeling, canoeing, banana boat and parasailing can also be promoted along the stretch from Pantai Terongkongan up to Simpang Mengayau and towards Kg Parapat Laut, in addition to attractions such as geological features, sea stack, marine mammals, aquaculture farm or for a sea gypsy life style experience.
“These resources can be promoted to diversify tourism activities and to promote trip packages (day trip or more) for a fee.
“These fee can be charged as conservation fee both to visitors and also tour operators (as concession fee for boats).
“Through these pro-active actions, sustainable financing can be generated for TMP and the responsibility to protect TMP can be shared with the tour operators,” he said.