Committee formed to manage eco-tourism at Gunung Lesong National Park
LINGGA: The nine predominantly-Iban villages around the newly- gazetted Gunung Lesong National Park, about 200km from Kuching, have formed a development committee for Gunung Lesong Community Based Eco-Tourism (GLCBET).
The objectives for the establishment of this body include to protect the socio- cultural traditional and natural heritage resources in and around Gunung Lesong National Park; to provide alternative sources of income through responsible tourism in order to address poverty issues affecting the local community, who relies heavily on forest produce; and to instil awareness of conservation of biodiversity and environment in members of the community and also in tourists.
The meeting on forming the committee was held at Kampung Engkeranji here recently, which was attended by local community leaders and 24 headmen from the nine villages.
Bukit Begunan assemblyman Datuk Mong Dagang, Sri Aman Resident Indit Bangai, as well as representatives of the state Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry, the state Forest Department and World Wide Fund for Nature ( WWF) Sarawak were also present.
Both Mong and Indit expressed their full support to the said objectives.
Based on the explanation given by the village headmen who attended the meeting, Gunung Lesong National Park is regarded as the treasure trove of many key socio- cultural and natural heritage resources.
Many legends such as ‘Kumang and Keling of Panggau Libau’, ‘Ijau Berani’, ‘Ijau’s Fig Tree and ‘ Telaga Kumang’ are claimed to have originated from there. The park also has an orangutan population and magnificent waterfalls – it also tells the notorious stories about the crocodiles along the Batang (River) Lupar and Batang Seterap.
Moreover, the meeting attendees also discussed issues related to the hunting of wildlife, infrastructure, encroachment and the respect for each village’s ‘ pemakai menoa’ (territorial/ communal domain).