Pan Borneo a blow to jumbos’ survival
Published on: Friday, October 25, 2019
By: Neil Chan
Kota Kinabalu: The Pan Borneo Highway cutting through various parts of Northern Borneo have the potential to severely affect wildlife habitats, including Borneon elephants.According to Cynthia Ong, Board Chair & Chief Executive Facilitator of NGO, Leap Spiral, most of the projects either did not have an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports or yet to be approved.
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She said for example the Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1 which covers Ranau-Telupid-Sandakan (M32), the EIA report was not approved yet
“The issues and concerns here is the loss of connectivity for habitat and wildlife and elephant migration as the route will bisect Tawai Class 1 Protection Forest Reserve (FR) which is part of Heart of Borneo and Ulu Sapa Payau Class VI Virgin FR.
There is expected to be an increase in human-elephant conflicts, destruction of crops and potential loss of road workers’ lives. Additionally an increase in Forest Reserve encroachment and poaching is also to be expected.
Speaking about the social and economic cost, she also pointed out that the route bypassing Telupid town will also negatively impact the livelihood of locals.
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She said to mitigate this negative aspect, one of the recommendations is to realign the route to avoid the Tawai and Ulu Sapa Payau FRs and stick to expanding and improving the existing main road.
“Alternatively, another proposal is to have a new eco-friendly (route) alignment to the north of the Labuk River and also implement traffic speed reduction measures to mitigate wildlife being killed in road accidents.
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Borneon elephants roaming in Kinabatangan.
She said this as part of her presentation entitled “Infrastructure Development Projects of Concern in Sabah” by Coalition 3H to participants at the “Inclusive Dialogue between Stakeholders on Infrastructure Development in Sabah for the 12th Malaysia Plan” at the IDS Hall Wisma Sedia, Tuesday.
Likewise, she said the same also applies to the Pan Borneo Highway Phase 3 from Kalabakan to Sapulut which cuts through parts of Maliau Basin which does not have any EIA report.
“The proposed route bisects several Forest Reserves and also the Maliau Basin Buffer Zone 2 which are all wildlife rich areas, including 170km of known elephant habitats.
“This will lead to the fragmentation of the northern Heart of Borneo, including ecological connectivity with northern Kalimantan, and increased loss of connectivity between key protected areas.
She said enlarging the existing two-lane road to four-lane would increase the number of wildlife road accidents and also involve potential loss of workers’ lives during its construction. Likewise, increased accessibility will also lead to an increase in Forest Reserve encroachment and increase wildlife poaching is to be expected.
She said the recommendation for the Phase 3 route was to maintain the road as existing two-lane with passing points and improved maintenance.
“If it is to be enlarged to four lanes, then the road should be constructed to include over and under passes for wildlife to cross and involve speed reduction measures as well.”
She said the plans for a new bridge over Kinabatangan River and new road south of the river would also reduce the connectivity of elephants, orang utans and other wildlife species and serve to fragment the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary even more.
“The project will also lead to an increase in forest habitat encroachment and the resultant increase in poaching activities is expected.”Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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