Our Objectives:

To promote the conservation of

wetlands in Sabah and the variety

of plants, birds and other kinds of

organisms found in them.

~

To raise public awareness and ap-

preciation of wetlands and public

involvement in protecting wet-

lands.

~

To manage Kota Kinabalu Wet-

lands (KK Wetlands) as a model

wetlands centre for the purpose of

conservation, education, recrea-

tion, tourism and research.

Sabah Wetlands Newsletter

August 2011

Sabah Wetlands

Conservation Society (SWCS)

/ Pertubuhan Pemuliharaan Tanah

Lembap Sabah,

was established on

22 August 2005

If you have any enquiries regarding Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society, please e-mail us at swcs@sabahwetlands.org.

Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre, Off Jln Bukit Bendera Upper, 88400 Likas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Tel: +60 88 246 955 Fax: +60 88 247 955 Website: www.sabahwetlands.org

“WETLANDS OUTREACH AND BEYOND” ENGAGES YOUTHS IN SCHOOLS

FOR WETLANDS CONSERVATION

SWCS, in collaboration with CIMB Bank Malaysia officially unveiled on 5

August the CIMB ―Wetlands Outreach and Beyond‖ program for primary

and secondary schools in Kota Kinabalu. SWCS President, Haji Zainie Ab-

dul Aucasa with Mr Joseph Wong, CIMB Kota Kinabalu Branch Manager,

officiated the program at KK Wetlands along with the participation of 20

secondary schools students from SMK Limbanak, Penampang.

This ongoing program targets a total of 15 primary and secondary schools

in Kota Kinabalu throughout the month of July through September 2011.

Through this program, SWCS seeks to engage the students in learning

about sustainability of wetlands and its conservation for the future. It fea-

tures talk, exhibition and interactive presentation through a life-sized envi-

ronmental board game in schools.

Ultimately, the goal of this program is to help young people to under-

stand the importance of conserving and be actively involved in protect-

ing wetlands.

(Right to left) Bobby Alex, George

Bandusena, SWCS‘ Deputy President,

and Lee Yoon Ling gave an interpreta-

tive walk to the guests from CIMB Bank

around the mangrove forest of KK

Wetlands.

Unveiling of the Program (Left pix) Haji Zainie Abdul Aucasa (SWCS President) and Mr. Jo-

seph Wong reveal the sticker that states the program publicly. Thereafter (right pix) a group

photo taken with staff of SWCS and CIMB Bank together with SMK Limbanak students to

commemorate the occasion.

Life-Sized Board Game!

Haji Zainie

Aucasa (top

left pix, stand-

ing at right)

joins the

crowd as the

rules of the

game is

meted out by

Jocelyn

Maluda, KK

Wetlands Edu-

cation Officer.

(Right pix) Mr.

Joseph Wong

kicked off the

game with the

roll of an over-

sized dice.

August 2011 Page 2

AUGUST’S MANGROVE REPLANTING MARKS THE END OF YEAR 2

20 August 2011 replanting closes Year 2 of the Mullion mangrove restora-

tion program with much to cheer about. Not only was the target of the

year achieved, it was exceeded by an astounding 1,342 saplings planted

(Target: 4,400). They were three different groups of people who volun-

teered to do the replanting this time, which were 12 staff from Cargill

Feed, Kolombong, 6 students from Unitar , Kota Kinabalu, plus 17 students

and 2 teachers from SM St. Michael, Penampang.

This was the second time that Cargill Feed had volunteered and being

the ‗veterans‘, they cheered on the rest who were first timers which

made the air and mood lighter and as a result, 850 mangrove saplings

managed to be planted!

SWCS would like to extend its heartfelt and deep gratitude to all volun-

teers who are teachers, lecturers, secondary and tertiary students and

other members of the public who have kindly come forward and spared

their time and energy towards making this replanting a huge success! It is

now time to look forward to another year of replanting – for Year 3 –

which begins in September 2011!

― This is my first time participating in this

activity and I must say that I am very

grateful for this experience. Usually, I

learn about environmental care only in

classroom and now to actually get

down and do it, I feel good and useful.

I feel that I have given something back

to nature and I urge that every student

should do this at least once in their

lifetime.‖ Carlson Paddy, Form 2, SM St

Michael, Penampang

― I have done several volunteering work at

Kota Kinabalu Wetlands previously but this is

my first time doing this mangrove replanting

here in Sulaman. It is such a gratifying experi-

ence and even though it is a hot day, time

seems to fly when you are doing something

good for the environment. We all had a

great time and nobody complained about

anything. I would surely volunteer for more

work in the future.‖ Alanda Bandusena, Uni-

tar Kota Kinabalu student (right at left pix)

―I feel delighted that we have the opportunity

to participate in this replanting activity and I

can tell that our students are truly into it by

the way the carry out their work in a system-

atic and industrious way. Many were scream-

ing out of excitement as they work, obviously

having lots of funs with their friends. This is the

real thing, one that can drive home all the

facts that they have learned in class.‖ Clarice

Hee, Teacher, SM St Michael, Penampang

(left)

―Being in form two, this is the younger

group of the secondary school stu-

dents and this is an age where it is eas-

ier to deeply instill awareness on envi-

ronmental care. I‘m sure they will walk

out of what they have done today with

even more appreciation for nature. I

am thankful and excited for this out-

door experience for myself and for the

students.‖ Jennifer Asing, Teacher, SM

St Michael, Penampang (right)

Thumbs-up from

staff of Cargill Feed.

Most, if not all, are

second time plant-

ers. They expressed

the value of strength

in numbers stating

that the presence of

the secondary and

tertiary students

certainly made the

struggle and burden

of planting much

lighter and easier to

bear especially un-

der the scorching-

hot sun.

The end result—850 saplings planted!

...in a nature(al) state of

euphoria!

After a successful replanting...

August 2011 Page 3

GUESTS’ COMMENTS

―Very informative centre. Saw

birds plus lots of wildlife within

the wetlands. Staffs are very

helpful plus have new ideas on

waste resources! Many thanks.‖

James (standing right) and Ra-

chel (seated left), Britain,

UP AND COMING EVENTS IN KKWC — September 2011

2 Mud walk and mangrove replanting tour by HIS Tour

7 Environmental Voluntary Work by SM All Saints, Likas

Environmental Education Program for Seri Mengasih

School and assisted by Kinabalu International School

students

8 Staff visit to Kg. Penimbauan, Kota Belud, a man-

grove village community

9 Water Monitoring Training for WWF by KKWC

10 (Finnish) Mangrove Use Workshop for SMK Bahang

11 Japan University recce visit

13 Waste Water Management Workshop for SM Stella

Maris

14 Waste Water Management Workshop for SM La Salle

15 Waste Water Management Workshop for SMK Ba-

hang, Penampang

16 - Tour by Exotic Adventure

- Mud walk and mangrove replanting tour by HIS

Tour

17 Tour by Exotic Adventure

18 Mangrove replanting at Sulaman Lake Forest Re-

serve

20 CIMB Outreach & Beyond at SRK St. Agnes, Likas

21 Environmental Education Program for SK Datuk

Simon Fung

23 Environmental Education Program for KK Japanese

School

26 CIMB Outreach & Beyond at SK Sacred Heart

30 CIMB Outreach & Beyond at SK Bahang

*List is not exhaustive; new events occur from time to time.

―It‘s simply a magnifi-

cent bird watching

place. And the peo-

ple are very friendly

and helpful. I like to

come again.‖

Judy .Y, 4/8/2011,

Australia

―A World Class Exhibi-

tion on ―Water &

Wetlands‖ that brings

together all of the

elements of a great

educational display. I

was very impressed by the strength and integrity of the message, and the

extension into everyday life. The exhibits are easily read at all levels of

participants. Congratulations to all involved. I hope that displays such as

these could be used everywhere to increase awareness and action on

wetlands issues.‖

Andrew Murray (Botanist), 4/8/2011, Australia

A group of 39 students was hand-picked by the Home

Affairs Bureau (HAB) and Commission on Youth (COY),

Hong Kong, to participate in the specially organized

―Ecology Conservation Tour‖ in Sabah in order to

enlighten these youth on this subject matter. These fluent

English-speaking group (important criteria for selection)

were keen to learn about wetlands and mangroves and

while still in Hong Kong, they have specifically requested

their tour coordinator to arrange for a visit in KK Wetlands

— and their visit proved to exceed their expectation and

hope of what they can learn from KK Wetlands. Ques-

tions posed were varied and wide-ranged and staff were

on hand to answer their every enquiry. The tour around

the mangrove forest became a tour of the inquisitive minds which was highly engrossing that the students

went beyond their strictly pre-set time to be in KK Wetlands — by 1½ hours! Students and teachers com-

mented that it was a time well spent despite the fact that they have now lagged behind in their study tour

schedule for the day.

SELECTED HONG KONG STUDENTS CHOSE KK WETLANDS AS PART OF THEIR “ECOLOGY CONSERVATION TOUR”

Taking place in the out-

door classroom amidst the

mangrove forest, Conser-

vation and Science Officer,

Lee Ka Han, holds up a

Rhizophora seedling and

explains the amazing trait

of a mangrove seedling

that starts to germinate

and grow even while still

attach to its parent trees.

O f f i c e r - I n - C h a r g e ,

Bobby Alex, takes the

lead in one of the four

groups. Leaving no

stones unturned, the

students eagerly put up

a string of questions

throughout the tour. The

ambience of a tranquil

natural forest facilitates

the learning process

and the students were

thankful that they got

more than what they

could bargain for!

Editor-in-Chief: Bobby Alex of KKWC, Supported by Team at KKWC and SWCS; Images property of SWCS

All donations made to the Society are exempted from tax under Subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967.

KK Wetlands became a choice spot for

upgraded learning for this group of stu-

dents from Mukogawa Women University

High School, Japan, as an avenue to

maintain their status of being a super

science high school. Every so number of

years, the school is re-assessed for

‗fitness‘ for keeping this status and as

such, teachers and students must main-

tain a high level of education achieve-

ment and knowledge. Thus, this visit car-

ries a mission to learn the role of man-

grove forest, wetlands and the connec-

tion between Borneo and Japan, which is, having common species of migrating

birds. The young ladies are also exposed to roles that female Japanese Overseas

Corporation Volunteers play outside of Japan as this might inspire those who might

want to take this path in the future. Ms. Tomoko Ichikawa of JICA-BBEC who coordi-

nated this visit, focussed on Ramsar topics and mangrove ecosystem and stated

that these were new discoveries for the students, and, KK Wetlands, being a living

laboratory, was an ideal place to conduct teaching on these subjects.

August 2011 Page 4

STUDY VISIT FROM MUKOGAWA WOMEN UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL - HYOGO PREFECTURE, JAPAN

Ms. Tomoko IIchikawa (right) is being assisted

by Ms. Mari Sakaguchi in conducting the entire

study visit.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM — OGUCHI TOWN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Seigo Murakami of KK

Wetlands conducts the

food web game with

the youngsters.

Students prepare the

tools for scooping up

soils.

Filling soil into poly bags. Forming a human chain

to transfer filled poly

bags to nursery plot.

Accomplished! New rows

of poly bags with soil

ready for seedlings inser-

tion.

Outreaching further

under the CIMB Wet-

lands Outreach and

Beyond program,

Education Officer,

Ms. Jocelyn Maluda

takes it further by

reaching out to SMK

Tun Fuad, located in

Tamparuli-Kiulu,

about 40 minutes

away from KK Wet-

lands. In an effort to

spread more aware-

ness on the impor-

tance of mangrove,

KK Wetlands/SWCS

include as many

schools as possible

so as to ‘touch‘

more and more of

students‘ minds. The

encouraging re-

sponse by teachers

and students

through their active

and involved partici-

pation made the

effort worth all the

whiles.

FILMING FOR RTM TV2

A West Malaysian based

production house dropped

by at KK Wetlands on

26/8/2011 to film a section

on birds of wetlands. A Ru-

fous Night Heron rose to the

occasion by– without warn-

ing – appearing out of no-

where and then perching on

the boardwalk‘s railing right

in front of the rolling camera.

Its timing could not have

been better! This program

entitled ―Travelog — Desti-

nasi Borneo‖ is scheduled to

be aired in RTM TV2 by early

2012.