http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/7/5/sarawak/6606183&sec=sarawak
Monday July 5, 2010
Memorial of the reconnaissance mission built in Bario
By YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
A MEMORIAL that commemorates the landing of Allied Force paratroopers in Borneo against the Japanese occupation has been erected in Bario.
Located on a foothill in the hinterland, which is about 50 minutes by flight from Miri, the memorial will become the start of an eco-tourism trail that will eventually stretch all the way to Sibu town.
The trail will retrace the route of the reconnaissance mission, Operation “Semut”, 65 years ago by the British and Australian army. While the memorial was launched last Saturday, the trail packages will proceed in stages due to the lack of infrastructure.
Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) Heritage Development Committee chairman Lim Kian Hock said without the success of Operation Semut, the founding of Malaysia may have been thwarted.
“When the Allied Forces landed, headed by Major Tom Harrison of the British Army, who later became the Sarawak Museum curator, the locals welcomed them. They did not report the troops’ presence to the Japanese,” Lim said.
Other Allied personnel, who landed across the border in Dutch Borneo (now Indonesia), were not so lucky. “They were reported and were beheaded,” Lim said.
“The people of Bario were intensely loyal to the Allied paratroopers. Bario paved the way for operation Semut towards the liberation of Borneo, and in particular, Sarawak.”
On the memorial, located on a foothill of undulating mountains, Lim said: “The design follows the theme on the spirit for freedom and unity. This is an artwork produced with stainless steel based on the form of the Orang Ulu musical instrument, “sape.”
STF president Wee Hong Seng said the new memorial at Bario has already created interest overseas.
“We have received communication from the descendants and friends of the former commandos, from as far as the UK and Australia,” Wee said.
“These tourists were keen to retrace their forefathers’ wartime footsteps, and to get to know the valuable assistance and friendship given by the local interior communities.”
Meanwhile, Tourism and Heritage Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said the memorial would be “a manifestation of what we can do in the future”.
Speaking at a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial, Dr Chan said the state government would continue to emphasise on tourism products that are owned by locals.
“I think local ownership and community based tourism is very important, because sometimes outsiders may not fully understand what should be done,” Dr Chan, who is also deputy chief minister, said.
“City planners may have other ideas, or worse, some may just run away after money is made. Furthermore, I’m convince that local communities will emphasise more on nature, which is where Sarawak’s tourism potential really is.”
Monday, July 5, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
All set for Pesta Nukenen
http://tribune.my/home/581-all-set-for-pesta-nukenen.html
All set for Pesta Nukenen
Friday, 02 July 2010 11:46
KUCHING: Day 2 of Pesta Nukenen started with a soft mist rising off the farms and festival site at Bario.
As the light cleared, preparations continued on the site with more materials being brought in from the farms and forests of the northern Kelabit Highlands - mainly from nearby secondary amug forest and kerangas paya forest.
Many of the stalls were being decorated with traditionally woven and folded palm leaves, split giant bamboo and tree bark. As far as possible, plastics were avoided in stall preparation and food presentation.
Utensils, cups, plates and pots are being made from bamboos and local rattans, including the beautiful uwe rabun - a long, smooth ground growing rattan common in the Pa Umor Valley of Singai Debpur.
The first craft items also began to appear. These included a variety of baskets, made by residents in the Highlands, working with traditions passed down over generations.
Members of the local Penan community - twice previous winners of the Pesta Nukenen Festival Stall Award - have arrived with backpacks and bracelets woven from uwe rabun and other thicker rattans, some stained with wood smoke to give two-tone patterns. Other examples of the traditional arts include traditional Kelabit Highland designs including the kalang basket, made by women for planting the seedlings of beras adan, and the bakang or Highland Backpack - a tapering lightweight rattan backpack made and used by men for hunting trips and long distance journeys, found also in the Maligan Highlands and Kerayan valleys.
Day 2 also saw many more foods appearing, including kassam / bua lam fermented wild meat and rice, senape the Highland snack bar [steamed sticky rice wrapped in da’un isip palm leaves], kikid luang rice porridge with fish and ginger, and bamboo steamed rice. Judging started for the Pesta Nukenen Food & Stall Awards, with the winners being announced on Saturday evening.
Refreshments came in the form of cinnamon coffee from Pa Mada, fresh Bario Pineapple juice and cinnamon tea.
A highlight in the middle of the day was the arrival of Pesta Nukenen’s Heart of Borneo FORMADAT guests. It had been hoped that they would arrive on Wednesday, but rain held them up and they camped overnight at Long Bekang, a former longhouse heritage site near the border. The new guests were welcomed at the Kedai Kopi with refreshments, before being registered as guests by the Imigresen office Bario.
“ It is a great honour to receive guests from the Kerayen villages from across the border in the transnational Heart of Borneo area. It was always one of our dreams to link up in this way and promote Heart of Borneo. It connects the remarkable cultural and forest heritage of the communities, with Ba Kelalan and Bario as Gateways in Sarawak.
Community owned sustainable development is a key part of the Heart of Borneo agreement and we hope to promote Bario and the Kelabit Highlands as the “Green” Heart of Borneo, with commitments to the protection of the beautiful valleys, farms and forests for community-based development, celebrating government support for rural entrepreneurship, renewable energy systems, rural ICT access, local cultural knowledge and the beautiful forests of the Sungai Debpur and Sungai Kelapang catchment areas - overlooked by the hills of Pulong Tau National Park.” After the reception for Heart of Borneo Guests, marked by the striking of new tubung bamboo gongs, everyone swung into action to welcome more festival and community guests at the airport: member of Parliament for Lawas, Henry Sum, State assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan, Nelson Balang Rining and Director of Immigration, Datuk Robert Lian Saging, flying in with MAS Wings Rural Air Service. The Highland offices for Polis and Imigresen provided an escort to the Festival site, where the Festival Guests were greeted by JKKK Bario, Festival goers and visitors with a cultural performance and a selection of Kelabit Highland foods.
As Thursday came to an end, still clear-skied, the Festival Site quietened, watched over by representatives of the local community RELA.
As the light went down, activities moved indoors, with tables being laid for this evening’s Community Dinner for today’s Festival Guests from the coast, Kerayan visitors, press and international visitors.
Friday - Day 3 - sees the Grand Opening and full celebration of the community, Heart of Borneo and Highland Foods at the Festival Site with PN 2010’s VIP Guest of Honour, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam. A key focus of the day will be PN 2010 Guest of Honour’s Tour of the village food stalls and celebration of Kelabit Highland food and forest heritage, and the unveiling of a new War Memorial in Bario. In Honour of Dr George Chan ‘s Hong Nam’s visit there will be a Community Dinner at Bario Asal longhouse.
Further Pesta Nukenen festivities continue at the Festival Site on Saturday, with a Blow Pipe Competition, judging and singing.
Saturday’s activities are rounded off by the Festival Feast or irau, generously sponsored by Rurum Kelabit Sarawak The Ministry of Tourism & Heritage, bringing together all the guests for PN 2010 for a final get together, with cultural performances, awards and presentations.
Day 5 is a day of Thanksgiving and Friendship on Sunday 4th July - a time for visitors to rest before leaving or embarking on more adventures in the Highland villages and forests - or, we hope, heading down to spend time in Miri and Kuching for the Rainforest World Music Festival.
All set for Pesta Nukenen
Friday, 02 July 2010 11:46
KUCHING: Day 2 of Pesta Nukenen started with a soft mist rising off the farms and festival site at Bario.
As the light cleared, preparations continued on the site with more materials being brought in from the farms and forests of the northern Kelabit Highlands - mainly from nearby secondary amug forest and kerangas paya forest.
Many of the stalls were being decorated with traditionally woven and folded palm leaves, split giant bamboo and tree bark. As far as possible, plastics were avoided in stall preparation and food presentation.
Utensils, cups, plates and pots are being made from bamboos and local rattans, including the beautiful uwe rabun - a long, smooth ground growing rattan common in the Pa Umor Valley of Singai Debpur.
The first craft items also began to appear. These included a variety of baskets, made by residents in the Highlands, working with traditions passed down over generations.
Members of the local Penan community - twice previous winners of the Pesta Nukenen Festival Stall Award - have arrived with backpacks and bracelets woven from uwe rabun and other thicker rattans, some stained with wood smoke to give two-tone patterns. Other examples of the traditional arts include traditional Kelabit Highland designs including the kalang basket, made by women for planting the seedlings of beras adan, and the bakang or Highland Backpack - a tapering lightweight rattan backpack made and used by men for hunting trips and long distance journeys, found also in the Maligan Highlands and Kerayan valleys.
Day 2 also saw many more foods appearing, including kassam / bua lam fermented wild meat and rice, senape the Highland snack bar [steamed sticky rice wrapped in da’un isip palm leaves], kikid luang rice porridge with fish and ginger, and bamboo steamed rice. Judging started for the Pesta Nukenen Food & Stall Awards, with the winners being announced on Saturday evening.
Refreshments came in the form of cinnamon coffee from Pa Mada, fresh Bario Pineapple juice and cinnamon tea.
A highlight in the middle of the day was the arrival of Pesta Nukenen’s Heart of Borneo FORMADAT guests. It had been hoped that they would arrive on Wednesday, but rain held them up and they camped overnight at Long Bekang, a former longhouse heritage site near the border. The new guests were welcomed at the Kedai Kopi with refreshments, before being registered as guests by the Imigresen office Bario.
“ It is a great honour to receive guests from the Kerayen villages from across the border in the transnational Heart of Borneo area. It was always one of our dreams to link up in this way and promote Heart of Borneo. It connects the remarkable cultural and forest heritage of the communities, with Ba Kelalan and Bario as Gateways in Sarawak.
Community owned sustainable development is a key part of the Heart of Borneo agreement and we hope to promote Bario and the Kelabit Highlands as the “Green” Heart of Borneo, with commitments to the protection of the beautiful valleys, farms and forests for community-based development, celebrating government support for rural entrepreneurship, renewable energy systems, rural ICT access, local cultural knowledge and the beautiful forests of the Sungai Debpur and Sungai Kelapang catchment areas - overlooked by the hills of Pulong Tau National Park.” After the reception for Heart of Borneo Guests, marked by the striking of new tubung bamboo gongs, everyone swung into action to welcome more festival and community guests at the airport: member of Parliament for Lawas, Henry Sum, State assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan, Nelson Balang Rining and Director of Immigration, Datuk Robert Lian Saging, flying in with MAS Wings Rural Air Service. The Highland offices for Polis and Imigresen provided an escort to the Festival site, where the Festival Guests were greeted by JKKK Bario, Festival goers and visitors with a cultural performance and a selection of Kelabit Highland foods.
As Thursday came to an end, still clear-skied, the Festival Site quietened, watched over by representatives of the local community RELA.
As the light went down, activities moved indoors, with tables being laid for this evening’s Community Dinner for today’s Festival Guests from the coast, Kerayan visitors, press and international visitors.
Friday - Day 3 - sees the Grand Opening and full celebration of the community, Heart of Borneo and Highland Foods at the Festival Site with PN 2010’s VIP Guest of Honour, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam. A key focus of the day will be PN 2010 Guest of Honour’s Tour of the village food stalls and celebration of Kelabit Highland food and forest heritage, and the unveiling of a new War Memorial in Bario. In Honour of Dr George Chan ‘s Hong Nam’s visit there will be a Community Dinner at Bario Asal longhouse.
Further Pesta Nukenen festivities continue at the Festival Site on Saturday, with a Blow Pipe Competition, judging and singing.
Saturday’s activities are rounded off by the Festival Feast or irau, generously sponsored by Rurum Kelabit Sarawak The Ministry of Tourism & Heritage, bringing together all the guests for PN 2010 for a final get together, with cultural performances, awards and presentations.
Day 5 is a day of Thanksgiving and Friendship on Sunday 4th July - a time for visitors to rest before leaving or embarking on more adventures in the Highland villages and forests - or, we hope, heading down to spend time in Miri and Kuching for the Rainforest World Music Festival.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Why the need to protect intellectual property?
http://tribune.my/prime/541-why-the-need-to-protect-intellectual-property.html
Why the need to protect intellectual property?
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:05
Abg Salfian
KUCHING: Greater awareness on the importance of registering one’s intellectual property is beneficial in the long run as it would foster a culture of respecting intellectual property, and would also stimulate creativity, creativity and innovation.
Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource management, Haji Mohd Noraden Haji Majais, said this when opening a one-day course on ‘Intellectual Property Awareness’ here yesterday.
“I am very optimistic that through this course, the participants’ knowledge on the importance of protecting intellectual property will be enhanced.
“According to research conducted worldwide by intellectual property organisations, small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs had been identified as the parties that had not fully exploited the benefits of intellectual property protection.
“These entrepreneurs are actually exposing themselves to the risk of infringing on intellectual property owned by other parties that could possibly lead to legal implications involving huge fines.” Among the main reasons why the entrepreneurs declined to register their intellectual properties, Naroden said, were their lack of knowledge on the matter and the perception that protecting their intellectual property was too cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive.
“The management of intellectual property should be the main and continuous activity of the owners, as each day, many new brand designs would enter the market which need to be protected.” Naroden said the registration of intellectual property would allow the products to be marketed convincingly with the usage of patents, industrial designs, trademarks or service marks.
“There are four components – geographical indications (GI), traditional knowledge (TK), genetic resources (GR) and traditional cultural expression (TCE) - in the new intellectual property which is less known. They are, however, very important for developing countries such as Malaysia which is rich in mineral resources.” “Sarawak has registered-products as GI such as Sarawak Pepper, Bario Rice, Bajong Biris Rice, and the latest is Dabai,” said Naroden, who also recommended that Tebaloi, Sarawak layer-cakes and many other products that are mainly cultivated or produced only in Sarawak undergo GI registration.
“Registration as a GI is not only important to get a premium in the market but also to protect intellectual property rights of local communities,” said Naroden, adding that intellectual property protection was territorial in nature and the registration should be done in every country where protection was needed.
“Many entrepreneurs, however, do not register the intellectual property of products or services outside the country on grounds that they have no intention to penetrate the international market. This perception should be corrected as many companies which started out as entrepreneurs of small and medium industries are starting to seek international market.” Noraden, later, revealed that the number of applications filed as intellectual property or intellectual property corporation registered in MyIPO had increased every year, indicating that more entrepreneurs were starting to realise the importance of registering their intellectual property.
The one-day course was organised for the first time by Entrepreneur Development Unit (EDU) in the Chief Minister’s Department, and Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). It was held at the auditorium of the state library in Petra Jaya here.
The course attracted 95-participants, comprising entrepreneurs, civil servants, businessmen, students from higher learning institutes, and even some individuals.
Earlier, EDU director Hajah Sutin Selamat in her opening speech said that the objectives of the course were to cultivate awareness and expose the participants on the importance of patenting their inventions, products, and protecting their copyright.
Also present at the opening ceremony was deputy director-general of MyIPO (Industrial Property) Shamsiah Kamaruddin.
Why the need to protect intellectual property?
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:05
Abg Salfian
KUCHING: Greater awareness on the importance of registering one’s intellectual property is beneficial in the long run as it would foster a culture of respecting intellectual property, and would also stimulate creativity, creativity and innovation.
Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource management, Haji Mohd Noraden Haji Majais, said this when opening a one-day course on ‘Intellectual Property Awareness’ here yesterday.
“I am very optimistic that through this course, the participants’ knowledge on the importance of protecting intellectual property will be enhanced.
“According to research conducted worldwide by intellectual property organisations, small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs had been identified as the parties that had not fully exploited the benefits of intellectual property protection.
“These entrepreneurs are actually exposing themselves to the risk of infringing on intellectual property owned by other parties that could possibly lead to legal implications involving huge fines.” Among the main reasons why the entrepreneurs declined to register their intellectual properties, Naroden said, were their lack of knowledge on the matter and the perception that protecting their intellectual property was too cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive.
“The management of intellectual property should be the main and continuous activity of the owners, as each day, many new brand designs would enter the market which need to be protected.” Naroden said the registration of intellectual property would allow the products to be marketed convincingly with the usage of patents, industrial designs, trademarks or service marks.
“There are four components – geographical indications (GI), traditional knowledge (TK), genetic resources (GR) and traditional cultural expression (TCE) - in the new intellectual property which is less known. They are, however, very important for developing countries such as Malaysia which is rich in mineral resources.” “Sarawak has registered-products as GI such as Sarawak Pepper, Bario Rice, Bajong Biris Rice, and the latest is Dabai,” said Naroden, who also recommended that Tebaloi, Sarawak layer-cakes and many other products that are mainly cultivated or produced only in Sarawak undergo GI registration.
“Registration as a GI is not only important to get a premium in the market but also to protect intellectual property rights of local communities,” said Naroden, adding that intellectual property protection was territorial in nature and the registration should be done in every country where protection was needed.
“Many entrepreneurs, however, do not register the intellectual property of products or services outside the country on grounds that they have no intention to penetrate the international market. This perception should be corrected as many companies which started out as entrepreneurs of small and medium industries are starting to seek international market.” Noraden, later, revealed that the number of applications filed as intellectual property or intellectual property corporation registered in MyIPO had increased every year, indicating that more entrepreneurs were starting to realise the importance of registering their intellectual property.
The one-day course was organised for the first time by Entrepreneur Development Unit (EDU) in the Chief Minister’s Department, and Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). It was held at the auditorium of the state library in Petra Jaya here.
The course attracted 95-participants, comprising entrepreneurs, civil servants, businessmen, students from higher learning institutes, and even some individuals.
Earlier, EDU director Hajah Sutin Selamat in her opening speech said that the objectives of the course were to cultivate awareness and expose the participants on the importance of patenting their inventions, products, and protecting their copyright.
Also present at the opening ceremony was deputy director-general of MyIPO (Industrial Property) Shamsiah Kamaruddin.
International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival
http://tribune.my/prime/548-international-tourists-flock-to-bario-highlands-festival.html
International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:39
Grace Balan-Law
KUCHING: The Pesta Nukenen Bario 2010, a celebration of food, farming and forest heritage of the Kelabit highlands, got off to a good start yesterday (June 30) in Bario.
While the official opening of the festival will be held tomorrow by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, preparations for the festival was well underway yesterday.
Site preparations continued at the Balai Community Centre in Bario where stalls have been constructed and village teams have set up and traded with displays of native highland foods. According to the Patron of Pesta Nukenen Bario, Lord Jason Gathorne, “Hardy, a policy of using natural materials is encouraged at the festival. An example is the Bued Main Beruh longhouse display of rare foods not seen in recent years, including the bua kiran - from the jackfruit family.” Rehearsals of traditional dances were also held at the festival site, with demonstrations of rice winnowing and pounding in conjunction with the festival theme of Beras Adan - the native rice of the highlands which had been awarded a Slow Food Presidium in 2003. It is a recognition by the foundation which funds projects to defend the world’s heritage of agricultural biodiversity.
“Our first international guests arrived today (yesterday) with visitors from France, Japan and the UK who have made the long journey here to experience this unique festival,” said Lord Jason via email from Bario.
He added,” There is great excitement in the air as the first guests from the Heart of Borneo Formadat Kerayane areas have started arriving.” Formadat stands for Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo which groups the people from Bario, Ba Kelalan, Long Pasia in Sabah and Kerayan in Kalimantan.
Penan Pesta Nukenen guests have also arrived in Bario bringing with them their crafts from Long Main, Long Lawai, Long Benalaih, Long Sabai, Long Latei, Long Kevok, Long Nen and Long Mada.
Samples of traditional cultural arts and crafts have also started arriving with a range of Highland tubung (wooden bells) and traditional baskets going to be on display.
The e-Nukenen Heart of Borneo workshop begins today.
The theme for July 1 is ‘Bario & the Kelabit Highlands: The Green Heart of Borneo’. The e-Nukenen workshop will celebrate community- based development in the HoB, bringing together cultural homelands, local foods, ICTs and renewable energy technologies.
The workshop features government themes including sustainable community owned eco-tourism, rural entrepreneurship, embedded power generation and the K-economy.
The ‘e’ in e-Nukenen stands for innovation based upon local knowledge, environment and energy. The workshop is sponsored by Alde Valley Food Adventures.
International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:39
Grace Balan-Law
KUCHING: The Pesta Nukenen Bario 2010, a celebration of food, farming and forest heritage of the Kelabit highlands, got off to a good start yesterday (June 30) in Bario.
While the official opening of the festival will be held tomorrow by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, preparations for the festival was well underway yesterday.
Site preparations continued at the Balai Community Centre in Bario where stalls have been constructed and village teams have set up and traded with displays of native highland foods. According to the Patron of Pesta Nukenen Bario, Lord Jason Gathorne, “Hardy, a policy of using natural materials is encouraged at the festival. An example is the Bued Main Beruh longhouse display of rare foods not seen in recent years, including the bua kiran - from the jackfruit family.” Rehearsals of traditional dances were also held at the festival site, with demonstrations of rice winnowing and pounding in conjunction with the festival theme of Beras Adan - the native rice of the highlands which had been awarded a Slow Food Presidium in 2003. It is a recognition by the foundation which funds projects to defend the world’s heritage of agricultural biodiversity.
“Our first international guests arrived today (yesterday) with visitors from France, Japan and the UK who have made the long journey here to experience this unique festival,” said Lord Jason via email from Bario.
He added,” There is great excitement in the air as the first guests from the Heart of Borneo Formadat Kerayane areas have started arriving.” Formadat stands for Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo which groups the people from Bario, Ba Kelalan, Long Pasia in Sabah and Kerayan in Kalimantan.
Penan Pesta Nukenen guests have also arrived in Bario bringing with them their crafts from Long Main, Long Lawai, Long Benalaih, Long Sabai, Long Latei, Long Kevok, Long Nen and Long Mada.
Samples of traditional cultural arts and crafts have also started arriving with a range of Highland tubung (wooden bells) and traditional baskets going to be on display.
The e-Nukenen Heart of Borneo workshop begins today.
The theme for July 1 is ‘Bario & the Kelabit Highlands: The Green Heart of Borneo’. The e-Nukenen workshop will celebrate community- based development in the HoB, bringing together cultural homelands, local foods, ICTs and renewable energy technologies.
The workshop features government themes including sustainable community owned eco-tourism, rural entrepreneurship, embedded power generation and the K-economy.
The ‘e’ in e-Nukenen stands for innovation based upon local knowledge, environment and energy. The workshop is sponsored by Alde Valley Food Adventures.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Joint project to expand Pulong Tau National Park by 24,000ha
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/28/sarawak/6533988&sec=sarawak
Monday June 28, 2010
Joint project to expand Pulong Tau National Park by 24,000ha
By VANES DEVINDRAN
vanes@thestar.com.my Photo courtesy of ITTO
A NURSERY is being set up at Pulong Tau National Park as part of a rehabilitation project for the park’s expansion.
Dr Paul Chai, a project manager with International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), said a joint rehabilitation project between ITTO, the Forest Department and Samling Timber was being initiated to rehabilitate a degraded area for the park’s expansion.
“The area had been cleared by the timber company for road construction, log landings and other purposes, so our intention is to replant the area.
“We are building a nursery and two field camps for our people to use. Once this is ready, they can move in to collect seedlings,” he said.
Dr Chai said his team would need to consult the timber company and locals to identify the species suitable for planting on the degraded area and have economic value, like fruit trees.
“The soil at degraded sites is compact due to constant use by lorries and tractors, and most of the top soil has been washed away, so we cannot just dig and plant,” he said.
The expansion was a pilot project as joint activities involving timber companies had never been attempted, he added.
The first phase would see the 60,000ha national park being increased by 24,000ha and encompass a prominent feature of the highlands, the twin peaks of Batu Lawi, he said.
The expansion was part of the state efforts in sustainable preservation of its flora and fauna, he added.
Dr Chai said, from the conservation point of view, the bigger the national park, the better, and in this case, Batu Lawi was said to be rich in flora and fauna.
Batu Lawi had social significance for the Lun Bawang and Kelabit people, given its unique landscape, he added.
“At one time, when the Alliance fought the Japanese army, the twin peaks were used as a landmark,” he said.
The area contained endemic species of orchids, pitcher plants and the oriolus hosei bird species, he said.
“It is the third location in Sarawak where this bird has been sighted. It is rare and endemic to the state,” he said.
In addition, he said a zoologist attached to a local university had identified three new species of frogs on Mount Murud.
ITTO research had shown that the dominant trees in the area were oaks, laurals, cinnamon and myrtles.
There are 16 species of mammals from 10 families, five of which are endemic to Borneo.
There are also 69 species birds from 29 families, nine of which are endemic.
Monday June 28, 2010
Joint project to expand Pulong Tau National Park by 24,000ha
By VANES DEVINDRAN
vanes@thestar.com.my Photo courtesy of ITTO
A NURSERY is being set up at Pulong Tau National Park as part of a rehabilitation project for the park’s expansion.
Dr Paul Chai, a project manager with International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), said a joint rehabilitation project between ITTO, the Forest Department and Samling Timber was being initiated to rehabilitate a degraded area for the park’s expansion.
“The area had been cleared by the timber company for road construction, log landings and other purposes, so our intention is to replant the area.
“We are building a nursery and two field camps for our people to use. Once this is ready, they can move in to collect seedlings,” he said.
Dr Chai said his team would need to consult the timber company and locals to identify the species suitable for planting on the degraded area and have economic value, like fruit trees.
“The soil at degraded sites is compact due to constant use by lorries and tractors, and most of the top soil has been washed away, so we cannot just dig and plant,” he said.
The expansion was a pilot project as joint activities involving timber companies had never been attempted, he added.
The first phase would see the 60,000ha national park being increased by 24,000ha and encompass a prominent feature of the highlands, the twin peaks of Batu Lawi, he said.
The expansion was part of the state efforts in sustainable preservation of its flora and fauna, he added.
Dr Chai said, from the conservation point of view, the bigger the national park, the better, and in this case, Batu Lawi was said to be rich in flora and fauna.
Batu Lawi had social significance for the Lun Bawang and Kelabit people, given its unique landscape, he added.
“At one time, when the Alliance fought the Japanese army, the twin peaks were used as a landmark,” he said.
The area contained endemic species of orchids, pitcher plants and the oriolus hosei bird species, he said.
“It is the third location in Sarawak where this bird has been sighted. It is rare and endemic to the state,” he said.
In addition, he said a zoologist attached to a local university had identified three new species of frogs on Mount Murud.
ITTO research had shown that the dominant trees in the area were oaks, laurals, cinnamon and myrtles.
There are 16 species of mammals from 10 families, five of which are endemic to Borneo.
There are also 69 species birds from 29 families, nine of which are endemic.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Bario to host five days indigenous food festival
http://sarawakupdate.com/home/local-news/bario-to-host-five-days-indigenous-food-festival/
Bario to host five days indigenous food festival
By Hazel Lee
Visitors to the Bario will be given a taste of indigenous food at a five day festival from June 30 – July 4.
It is the first overseas joint venture with The Alde Valley Food Adventures and the first community based indigenous food festival in East Malaysia.
Organising spokesperson, Counsillor John Tarawe today said the festival not only showcased the indigenous food of the community but also their cultural performances, handicrafts, sports and heritage.
The festival is organised by the local community in Bario with support from the Miri Resident’s Office, Sarawak Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism and Herritage.
Held for the fifth time in the highlands, the festival is aims to attract more tourists to the Bario.
John said they were expecting at least 21 stalls with the proceeds to be channelled to the Kelabit-Bario community fund and e-Bario project community.
He said the main objective of the festival was to liberate the knowledge and activities of highlanders as economic potential, through skills and forest protection by serving as a beacon to the highland areas.
“Pesta Nukenen Bario celebrates the remarkable farming, forest and cultural heritage of the Kelabit Highlands with a growing programme of events and activities,” he said.
Activities to take place include a village harvest homecoming for a family experience, highland food tasting at the Balai community hall and longhouses, forest talks and highland food fare and community feast.
Besides food, other activities such as blowpipe, jumping and tests of strength will take place under the Highlands games activity
For information on accommodation and tour guide services, refer to the Bario Food Festival flyer and visit e-Bario online website at www.ebario.com or contact John Tarawe at 019-438-1777 or 085-791056.
Bario to host five days indigenous food festival
By Hazel Lee
Visitors to the Bario will be given a taste of indigenous food at a five day festival from June 30 – July 4.
It is the first overseas joint venture with The Alde Valley Food Adventures and the first community based indigenous food festival in East Malaysia.
Organising spokesperson, Counsillor John Tarawe today said the festival not only showcased the indigenous food of the community but also their cultural performances, handicrafts, sports and heritage.
The festival is organised by the local community in Bario with support from the Miri Resident’s Office, Sarawak Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism and Herritage.
Held for the fifth time in the highlands, the festival is aims to attract more tourists to the Bario.
John said they were expecting at least 21 stalls with the proceeds to be channelled to the Kelabit-Bario community fund and e-Bario project community.
He said the main objective of the festival was to liberate the knowledge and activities of highlanders as economic potential, through skills and forest protection by serving as a beacon to the highland areas.
“Pesta Nukenen Bario celebrates the remarkable farming, forest and cultural heritage of the Kelabit Highlands with a growing programme of events and activities,” he said.
Activities to take place include a village harvest homecoming for a family experience, highland food tasting at the Balai community hall and longhouses, forest talks and highland food fare and community feast.
Besides food, other activities such as blowpipe, jumping and tests of strength will take place under the Highlands games activity
For information on accommodation and tour guide services, refer to the Bario Food Festival flyer and visit e-Bario online website at www.ebario.com or contact John Tarawe at 019-438-1777 or 085-791056.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Bario and Japanese children to communicate via webcam
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/5/sarawak/6405472&sec=sarawak
Saturday June 5, 2010
Bario and Japanese children to communicate via webcam
By SHARON LING
sharon@thestar.com.my
SCHOOLCHILDREN from Bario in Sarawak’s interior will communicate with children from Japan for the first time via webcam at the end of June.
This will be made possible under a programme, to be jointly implemented by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and a Japanese non-profit organisation as part of a universal playground programme.
Dubbed Pangaea, the programme will enable children around the globe to become friends by overcoming language and cultural barriers through information and communication technology (ICT).
It consists of local and webcam activities. During local activities, children use PangaeaNet to communicate with counterparts in different countries. They can share artwork such as pictures and animations through PangaeaNet besides exchanging feedback.
In webcam sessions, children from various Pangaea sites experience face-to-face communication via webcams and can even play online games with one another.
The Pangaea programme has been implemented in various sites in Japan, Korea, Austria and Kenya. Last year Unimas was selected to run the first Pangaea programme in Malaysia. The programme is now being carried out as a collaborative project between the university’s Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (COERI) and Pangaea Japan.
Unimas piloted the programme in Kota Samarahan last year with schoolchildren aged nine to 14.
This year, the university introduced Pangaea to schoolchildren in Bario, a remote village in the Kelabit Highlands accessible by Twin Otter plane from Miri.
The first Pangaea activity in Bario was conducted in January with 20 children aged nine to 13, facilitated by school teachers, parents and relatives of the participants, while a second activity was held in April.
On June 26, the children will participate in their first webcam day. The COERI-Pangaea team will set up an Internet connection at the Bario community hall to enable live-feed interaction via satellite with children in Japan.
A machine translation tool developed by researchers at Kyoto University will also be used during the interaction between both groups of children.
This is the first of future plans by COERI to connect children from remote communities with others in different locations.
COERI believes the project is not only about bridging the digital divide but providing innovative ways for children to use ICT to learn about other cultures, languages and traditions.
Saturday June 5, 2010
Bario and Japanese children to communicate via webcam
By SHARON LING
sharon@thestar.com.my
SCHOOLCHILDREN from Bario in Sarawak’s interior will communicate with children from Japan for the first time via webcam at the end of June.
This will be made possible under a programme, to be jointly implemented by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and a Japanese non-profit organisation as part of a universal playground programme.
Dubbed Pangaea, the programme will enable children around the globe to become friends by overcoming language and cultural barriers through information and communication technology (ICT).
It consists of local and webcam activities. During local activities, children use PangaeaNet to communicate with counterparts in different countries. They can share artwork such as pictures and animations through PangaeaNet besides exchanging feedback.
In webcam sessions, children from various Pangaea sites experience face-to-face communication via webcams and can even play online games with one another.
The Pangaea programme has been implemented in various sites in Japan, Korea, Austria and Kenya. Last year Unimas was selected to run the first Pangaea programme in Malaysia. The programme is now being carried out as a collaborative project between the university’s Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (COERI) and Pangaea Japan.
Unimas piloted the programme in Kota Samarahan last year with schoolchildren aged nine to 14.
This year, the university introduced Pangaea to schoolchildren in Bario, a remote village in the Kelabit Highlands accessible by Twin Otter plane from Miri.
The first Pangaea activity in Bario was conducted in January with 20 children aged nine to 13, facilitated by school teachers, parents and relatives of the participants, while a second activity was held in April.
On June 26, the children will participate in their first webcam day. The COERI-Pangaea team will set up an Internet connection at the Bario community hall to enable live-feed interaction via satellite with children in Japan.
A machine translation tool developed by researchers at Kyoto University will also be used during the interaction between both groups of children.
This is the first of future plans by COERI to connect children from remote communities with others in different locations.
COERI believes the project is not only about bridging the digital divide but providing innovative ways for children to use ICT to learn about other cultures, languages and traditions.
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