Sg Rawog conservation area: A beacon for biodiversity
SG RAWOG has been set aside as a conservation area by KTS Plantation Sdn Bhd, covering 3,118 ha along the Sungai Rawog valley in eastern Sabah. It serves as a wildlife corridor connecting Deramakot Forest Reserve and adjacent oil palm plantations.
The conservation area is located within the Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve (SLFR) - Forest Management Unit No. 19(B), with a total size of 57,247 ha.
To be effective, forest conservation must come together with research and dissemination of information.
In line with the objective of the Heart of Borneo Initiative that focuses on biodiversity conservation, a seminar was held on 21st February 2019 to disseminate research findings from a scientific expedition conducted in August 2018. It was the first biodiversity documentation and dissemination of information for this conservation area. Some 200 participants from more than 20 agencies in Sabah attended the one-day seminar in Kota Kinabalu, officiated by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Mashor Mohd Jaini.
KTS Plantation was represented by Kenny Law Hui Kong, Collin Goh and other senior officials.
A keynote presentation and 18 oral papers as well as 19 research posters on Sg Rawog forest ecosystems, physical sciences, plant and wildlife diversity and tourism potentials were presented.
This signifies a smart partnership between the state government through the Sabah Forestry Department and the private sector in sustainable forest management, working hand-in-hand with other agencies, as always advocated by the Chief Minister of Sabah.
In the keynote presentation, Dr Arthur Chung provided an overview of the Sg Rawog Scientific Expedition on behalf of Sabah Forestry Department and KTS Plantation Sdn Bhd (KTSP) that showcased the research activities of some 36 groups of researchers from Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), Sabah Parks (SP) and WWF-Malaysia. In Session I, Mohd Aminur Faiz and Dr Reuben Nilus talked about the forest structure and composition of the conservation area.
They highlighted that main vegetation in the area comprises four forest ecosystems, namely late secondary forest, lowland mixed dipterocarp forest, kerangas forest and Kapur Merah forest.
Eleven permanent sampling plots were established to monitor the status of the area with assistance from KTSP staff. Data on plant diversity survey and botanical collection were presented by John Sugau of the Sandakan Herbarium.
A total of 572 plant taxa were recorded, with 124 taxa endemic to Borneo and 11 endemic to Sabah.
Assoc Prof Monica Suleiman gave an overview of the 46 species of mosses sampled, with two new records to Sabah. Dr Miyabi Nakabayashi of Ryukyus University, Japan in collaboration with SFD, presented on fig diversity. Some 24 species were recorded, with two Bornean endemics.
Figs are an important source of food for frugivorous animals in the forests.
Assoc Prof Mahmud Sudin highlighted fungus diversity while Assoc Prof Andy Russel showcased 27 species of medicinal plants documented. Sandy Tsen talked about the commercial timber family, Dipterocarps, with 40 species documented and two of them are endemic to Sabah, namely Shorea symingtonii and Shorea waltonii.
Assoc Prof Kartini Saibeh reviewed that a rare aroid, Rhaphidophora fluminea, was encountered in Sg Rawog since its first collection in 1897 from Bonggaya.
In the last oral paper of Session I, Wilter Azwal discussed about visitors’ impact on vegetation and soil along selected trails in Sg Rawog area.
In Session II which focussed on wildlife diversity, Assoc Prof Henry Bernard and Dr Jephte Sompud of UMS, and Elyrice Alim of WWF Malaysia shared their findings procured from the expedition.
At least 32 mammal species were recorded, including the extremely rare Flat-headed Wild Cat, (Felis planiceps) that was captured through camera-trapping.
Among other mammals sighted were gibbon, orang-utan, grey-leaf monkey, bearded pig, Bornean pygmy elephant, Sambar deer, sun bear, tembadau, clouded leopard and the Sunda pangolin.
Hussien Muin of Wildlife Department talked about humanwildlife conflict and co-existence, especially elephants in Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve and its adjacent areas.
Prof Abdul Hamid Ahmad shared his findings on a catfish species that could tolerant to extreme environment in stagnant blackwater ponds in the conservation area.
Hubert Petol reported on the bird fauna, with 113 species documented.
Insect diversity was reported by Razy Japir. Nocturnal insect diversity was very high, with a Shannon Index of 4.52. A total of 13 Bornean endemic insect species were recorded.
Dr Liew Thor Seng who surveyed land snails mentioned that some 21 species were documented. Jarry Lajanga presented on potential ecotourism attractions and discussed about findings from SWOT analysis on the strength of flora and fauna diversity in Sg Rawog.
The research poster exhibition was also equally interesting and informative.
Esther Dyi showcased the soil assessment in the area which is mainly of the Sook and Brantian Associations.
Walter Lintangah put up two posters on ginger diversity and distribution of ‘Tuhau’ in the conservation area.
Suzana Sabran discussed about ornamental plants while Alviana Damit focussed on the pitcher plants, namely Nepenthes ampullaria, N. mirabilis and a hybrid of the two species, N. x kuchingensis. Some 30 species of ferns and lycophytes were showcased by Andi Maryani, including a Bornean endemic lycophyte, Selaginella conferta.
Viviannye Paul displayed a poster on macrofungi, including the interesting glowing mushroom, Filoboleus manipularis. Amirrah Amat showcased 14 species of bats in her poster while Ummu Safiyyah Daud highlighted bats’ obligate ectoparasite diversity from the captured bat specimens.
Assoc Prof Bakhtiar E. Yahya reported some 60 litter ant species while Assoc Prof Homathevi Rahman featured the termite fauna in her poster. Dg Fazrinah showcased 31 dragonfly and damselfly species, with three endemics. Paul Imbun reported some 22 anuran species and eight reptile species while Pg Sahlan mentioned that eight anuran species are endemic to Borneo. For fish, 28 species were recorded with seven endemic to Borneo, as reported by Nur Syafiqah.
In the bird poster, Alim Bium highlighted that Sg Rawog is home to some uncommon birds, including Bornean Necklace Patridge, Great Argus and Blueheaded Pitta.
The significant roles of salt licks for wildlife were showcased by Hennie Fitria in her poster, jointly prepared with Prof Baba Musta and Dr Sani Sarjani.
Such interesting diversity of flora and fauna in Sg Rawog Conservation Area as showcased in this seminar indicates that the area should continue to be conserved and protected towards betterment of a greener environment in Sabah.
The data provide the impetus for KTSP to excel in biodiversity conservation as well as nature tourism, working hand-in-hand with Sabah Forestry Department and other relevant agencies in sustainable forest management.
During the seminar, KTSP has moved a step further, announcing that a field research station will be established in Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve in the third quarter of 2019.