Exploring Imbak Canyon biotech potential
TONGOD: The Imbak Canyon Studies Centre (ICSC) is poised to be a centre of excellence in tropical rainforest research, education and capacity building with an emphasis on Malaysian participation and contributions, said Yayasan Sabah director Datuk Jamalul Kiram Mohd Zakaria.
He said that against the unique backdrop of Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA), Yayasan Sabah Group envisaged ICSC to be developed as a research hub and for environmental research on biodiversity.
“As of December 2018, a total of 55 research initiatives has been conducted in ICCA, which will pave the way for Yayasan Sabah Group to intensify its exploration of pharmaceutical and biotechnology potential at ICCA,” he explained.
“The pharmaceutical and biotechnology potential of ICCA is widespread and needs to be explored.
“Research on the anti-microbial and antioxidant properties of medicinal plants found at ICCA by researchers from Monash University Malaysia is a step forward in this field,” Jamalul said at the opening ceremony of the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre (ICSC) in Tongod District on Tuesday, March 26.
The event was officiated by Chief Minister cum Chairman of Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd. Shafie Apdal.
Touching on biodiversity, Jamalul said, ICCA has a diverse range of flora and fauna, especially medicinal plants that makes it an important area as a botanical gene bank, and for the purpose of protecting the quality of the river system.
ICCA has diverse plant biodiversity, which is more than 600 species recorded today and that this number will increase through exploration and further investigations.
“The ICCA has recorded 82 species of mammals, including clouded leopard, marbled cat, proboscis monkey, orang utan, Bornean gibbon, banteng, sun bear and Bornean pygmy elephant.
“A total of 242 species of birds has been recorded consisting a combination of lowland and mountainous species, including six species of pitta, eight species of Borneo hornbill and 20 species of flycatcher,” he said.
Being a natural forest, ICCA has a key role as a gene bank for forest rehabilitation in the future.
“ICCA is also an important component of the biodiversity corridor, especially for mammal wildlife, connecting the Maliau Basin to the south and the Danum Valley to the east. It also serves as a water catchment area for the longest river system in Sabah, the Kinabatangan River,” he explained.
Located 30 kilometres or about 90 minutes drive on four-wheel drive vehicle from Kampung Imbak, Tongod, ICCA, which is a designated Class 1 (Protection) Forest, is located north of the Maliau Basin with a size of 27,599 hectares.
This area is one of the largest areas of unlogged lowland Dipterocarp forest in Sabah and is surrounded by high sandstone ridges. ICCA is also home to a multitude of beautiful waterfalls.
ICSC, which is the gateway to ICCA, has a total area of 27 hectares equipped with various facilities related to research, education, training and nature recreation.
There are six research stations, namely, Tampoi, Batu Timbang, Kangkawat, Kuli, Pinang-Pinang and Kapur, with one hydrology station, one weather station, and the availability of experienced and qualified research assistants supporting research programmes at ICCA.
ICSC was initiated from the collaboration between Yayasan Sabah Group and Petronas, which began in 2010, to develop this area as a basic learning centre for local communities in biodiversity conservation, genes bank conservation and exploration of pharmaceutical and biological potentials. The total amount of sponsorship from Petronas for ICCA is RM83 million.
“Among the key achievements of this collaboration is the establishment of the Imbak Canyon Porters and Guides Association, whose membership comprise of village youths living within Imbak Canyon and Tongod district.
The association was established with the aim of developing the capacity of youth by providing porters and guide services for visitors to Imbak Canyon,” said Jamalul.
“The Imbak Canyon Strategic Management Plan 2014-2023 has been published. This plan covers the framework of activities to be implemented in ICCA within ten years.
In addition, efforts to promote environmental education in ICCA have been intensified with the publication of the Environmental Education Module.
“This module is a guide for officers and rangers in carrying out environmental education activities, specifically in Imbak Canyon,” he added.
“I would also like to add that an illustrated book on Imbak Canyon entitled, Finding the Secrets of Imbak Canyon, is one of the outputs of this collaboration, and, hopefully, through this book, children will appreciate ICCA conservation efforts.
“In 2014, Petronas contributed fund totaling RM77 million to the Yayasan Sabah Group to realise the ICSC construction project covering an area of 27 hectares,” he said.
“With the facilities available at ICSC, it is able to accommodate more visitors and researchers at any one time. This is in view of the strategic location of the Imbak Canyon near Tongod, Telupid and Pinangah and is the gateway to the vast Ulu Kinabatangan area,” Jamalul added.
“More social and ethnographic research will be conducted besides scientific ones. ICSC is now a landmark for the Tongod district and is destined to be an ecotourism attraction.
“In addition, with the facilities provided at ICSC, locals, especially young people, can be given training and exposure on environmentally sound and systematic education,” he added.
In disclosing the role of Yayasan Sabah Group in improving the quality of life of Malaysians in Sabah, Jamalul said, “The construction of ICSC will open more jobs and business opportunities for communities living within the vicinity of Imbak Canyon area, especially in the field of hospitality, research, tourism and ranger work.”
“Indirectly, the construction of ICSC has reinforces the close cooperation between Yayasan Sabah Group and Petronas towards conservation efforts as well as the social development of Tongod and its residents, in particular, and Sabah, in general,” he explained.
In the quest of promoting research activities in ICCA, Datuk Haji Jamalul said, “Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2016 by the Imbak Canyon Management Committee, the Imbak Canyon Rainforest Training and Research Program (ICRTRP) was created to promote research activities in the ICCA. This programme is led by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. The focus of the programme is to increase the capacity of local scientists in physical study, landscape ecology and biodiversity of Malaysian rainforest.”
“As one of the leaders in sustainable forest management in the state, Yayasan Sabah Group has allocated five conservation areas, namely, Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon, Taliwas River and Silam Coast as a natural heritage for generations to come. Basically, these conservation areas are research destinations and a place for field training by individuals, institutions and local and foreign organisations,” said Jamalul.
In highlighting the loss of revenue due to conservation, Jamalul commented, “Indeed, these conservation areas are of great value if they are designated as logging areas. It is inevitably a huge loss to Yayasan Sabah Group when we refrain from logging the areas commercially.
“Nevertheless, the Yayasan Sabah Group is committed to ensuring that conservation in these areas continues for generations to come. Long-term benefits prioritised, not just shortterm gains.”
“Additionally, these conservation areas also have ecotourism potentials with the richness of flora and fauna biodiversity as well as complete accommodation facilities,” he added.
As of December 2018, a total of 913 research studies have been conducted in the conservation areas of Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon.
At the same time, 257 individuals successfully completed their doctorates; 219 postgraduates and 176 students with master's degree from research conducted in Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon.
A MoU between Yayasan Sabah Group and Yayasan Petronas, the corporate social responsibility arm of Petronas, was also inked during the event which sought to explore the potentials of sustainable development efforts in ICCA.
The MoU will undoubtedly enhance the collaboration amongst the relevant stakeholders in promoting sustainable development programmes in ICCA.