Silam boasts marine, terrestrial diversity
Published on: Friday, August 12, 2016
Lahad Datu: The Silam Coast Conservation Area (SCCA) near Lahad Datu in Sabah is literally a combination of marine and land based biodiversity epicentre waiting to be explored. The verdant Tumunong Hallu forest reserve on the mainland's coast, the two tranquil islands – Pulau Sarangga and Pulau Tabuan – and the rich marine biodiversity beneath the green sea water in total covers 2,770 hectares.The whole area borders the Darvel Gulf, one of the world's richest marine biodiversity areas, and it is the 'Priority Conservation Area of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Eco-region'.
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It is in fact the first land and marine conservation area to be managed by Kumpulan Yayasan Sabah (YS) and the forest in the two islands are classified as Amenity Forest Reserve (Class IV). YS Senior Manager for Conservation and Environmental Management Division Rita Stuel Galid told Bernama, SCCA is waiting to be researched not only for its rich fauna and flora but also its geological and ecological elements. The rock formations found in SCCA are the oldest sedimentation rock found in Sabah (pre-dating the Jurassic-Cretaceous era or 140-88 million years old). "SCCA has interesting landscape characteristics - a number of pristine beaches, stumps, cliffs eroded by waves and the coral reefs beneath the water," she said.
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According to her though a sizeable area of SCCA was once destroyed by human activities, but now living organisms are thriving again. Located 20 km from the Lahad Datu town, SCCA is rich in the mangrove species with 63 species identified.
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It also has 100 species of flora, other than the 14 Dipterocarp species. Several of the species are endemic, including the Shorea venulso and Camptostemon Philippinense (known locally as Gapas-Gapas) and Aegiceras Floridum. Rita pointed out 60 bird species have been recorded in SCCA. Among them the 'Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher' (Cyornis rufigastra) and the 'Black-naped Fruit Dove' (Pluvialis melanospilus). A total of 25 mammals including the ones listed as endangered have been recorded there, including the Proboscis Monkey, Tarsier and the Bornean Slow Loris (Nycticebus menagensis). The others include bats, rats, squirrel, mouse deer and fox. The new record shows SCCA is also the habitat to 12 butterfly species and 29 species of terrestrial snails. The SCCA also includes the coral reefs and marine life forms, with 57 genera of corals, 40 invertebrate species and 147 species of reef fishes. Rita shared that the Scientific Expedition to SCCA in May 2016 was participated by 100 scientists and others. Those in the expedition represented the Sabah Forestry Department, Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Sabah Development Studies Institute, Universiti Kolej Yayasan Sabah, WWF-Malaysia and Sabah Environmental Trust. Before SCCA was taken over by YS from SFD, villagers had encroached the forest to harvest forest resources, farm and hunt. Some event resorted too fish bombing, causing great damage to the reefs. However, after YS took over the management of the conservation area the illicit activities stopped and the forest and the reefs rejuvenated. In fact YS roped in the locals in the conservation efforts and this partly helped in reducing the illicit activities. "The community's needs were given attention especially for those who had settled there even long before SCCA was established and we sought their cooperation," she said adding that there are 800 locals residing at the fringes of the SCCA. While SFD allowed the locals to stay there, they would not be given ownership of the land that they on now. Rita said the conservation efforts in SCCA has not affected in anyway the lives of the community there. In fact it had helped uplift their living standards. With SCCA, they can expect many visitors that in turn provide them with economic opportunities, like providing accommodation or transportation for the visitors and even market their handicraft. SCCA could well turn out as an eco-recreation centre in Lahad Datu with among the activities that can be conducted being jungle trekking, bird watching, swimming and snorkelling, and other leisure activities. SCCA is already providing recreational equipment like diving sets, kayaks, tents and also boats for those who want to go the nearby islands. In the long term, Rita said YS has plans to turn the place as the first Marine Research Centre opened and operated by an agency under the state government. Inline with the efforts to promote SCCA, a reception and information building has been opened. It will be the gateway for research and conservation.Shell Malaysia contributed RM350,000 for the building that was officiated by Lahad Datu parliament member Datuk Nasrun Datu Mansur last April. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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