HUTAN REFORESTATION EFFORTS HUTAN REFORESTATION EFFORTS HUTAN REFORESTATION EFFORTS HUTAN REFORESTATION EFFORTS

IN KINABATANGAN IN KINABATANGAN IN KINABATANGAN IN KINABATANGAN ––––2010201020102010

Report authored by Marc Ancrenaz

Data contributed by Hamidin Braim, Asmidah Kassim, Zaiton Salleh, Dariana, Norina Braim

Kota Kinabalu, 01.02.2011

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Content

Executive summary p. 2

Project background p. 2

Project goals and objectives p. 3

Project activities p. 4

• The team p. 4

• The sites p. 5

• Monitoring tree growth and survival rate p. 7

• Community tree nurseries p. 10

• Education and awareness p. 10

2011 Proposed activities and outcomes p. 12

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Project background

Forest degradation and fragmentation is a major threat to the long-term maintenance of

biodiversity in the Kinabatangan floodplain. More than 80% of the original forests have been

converted to oil palm plantations over the past three decades. Today, less than 50,000 ha of

non-contiguous patches of natural and degraded habitat is left along the Kinabatangan River

(Map 1). In addition, forest regeneration processes are hampered by past events of forest fires

(man-made as well as natural) and logging activities; These aggressions have resulted in soil

compaction, destruction of the original seed bank and shortage of mother trees.

In January 2008, Hutan established the “KOCP Forest Restoration Unit”. This Unit works to

recreate forest linkages with the general aim of reconnecting isolated patches of natural

habitat. In turn, these corridors will provide shelter, food and dispersal paths for orang-utans

and many other animal species.

Map 1: Map of the forests left in the Kinabatangan floodplain (the pink

areas are predominantly oil palm plantations)

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Project goals and objectives

The overarching goal of the Reforestation Project is to recreate a functional forest ecosystem

along the Kinabatangan River. With this goal, we are pursuing several objectives:

• Establish physical linkages between patches of forest key to wildlife

• Increase fruit productivity in the Kinabatangan forests for orang-utans and other

species belonging to the fruit-eater guilds

• Determine tree species that are suitable for future reforestation program in

Kinabatangan

• Provide recommendations that will be useful to undertake similar reforestation

projects in other areas throughout Sabah

• Provide employment and financial incentives to members of the local communities

for protecting and managing their natural resources

• Improve local capacity in project development and management, reforestation

techniques, and seedling production

• Raise local awareness about the importance and value of the forest

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Project activities

THE TEAM

In 2010, the team was made up with four women working full-time for KOCP, all hired from

the village of Sukau:

• Norina Braim

• Zaiton Salleh

• Asmidah Kassim

• Dariana

To increase participation and entend the reach of the program, KOCP created a one-month

paid internship position open to women from Sukau and surrounding villages. The interns

work with the Reforestation Unit and learn the basics of tree planting and seedling care. In

2010, seven women participated in the program: Rathna Bingsin; Dayang Elahan; Saldiah

Sawang; Hamsiah Merhaban; Misliha Usop; Fatimah Adari and Masni Etin.

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THE SITES

In 2010, the team was in charge of four different planting sites with a total surface area of

15.5 acres. Three sites close to the village of Sukau are used for awareness building (see

below) and experimental research (study on tree mortality and tree growth). Reforestation at a

new site begun this year, a half hour downriver from Sukau. Part of the Sanctuary, this site of

9.4 acres had previously been encroached upon by VK Plantation, an oil palm estate. The

bare grassland site was cleared by the team and planted with seedlings.

Preparation of the planting site at VK Plantation

The process of site preparation consist first of mapping the area and clearing it of tall grasses

and bushes that prevent seedling growth. Then seedlings are planted in a grid pattern, with 3

meters between each plant. Selection of seedling species depends on site quality, sunlight

availability and water availability.

Site established at VK Plantation

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Previous tree planting experiments conducted by Hutan showed that, if left unattended, the

vast majority of seedlings will suffocate and die from entanglement by climbing weeds and

grasses. Regular site maintenance is necessary to prevent seedling’s death. During the first

year, regular weeding is conducted on a monthly basis. When the seedlings reach a minimum

height of 1 to 1.5 meters, weeding can be undertaken at longer time-intervals. Regular

maintenance is needed for a period of about three years. Additional causes of mortality

include wildlife depredation. Seedlings are regularly trampled by elephants or uprooted by

wild boars. Deers also eat young buds resulting in delayed tree growth. Protecting the

planting sites with electrical fences has been found to be the best option to mitigate these

conflicts. These fences are erected for the first two to three years of reforestation before being

removed. Last but not least, the leaves of seedlings can be eaten by invertebrates such as

caterpillars, snails, and insects, delaying plant growth, potentially causing seedling mortality.

Even so, tree planting efforts by KOCP do not use pesticides or chemicals to control these

attacks. For each site, our target is to achieve a minimum of 80% survival rate from the initial

seedling population after a three-year period.

Overall, the costs for efficient forest rehabilitation in Kinabatangan is much higher than

the mere cost of purchasing and planting the seedlings. Indeed, a significant part of the

budget is spent on the maintenance of the planting sites for a minimum of 2-3 years.

These costs include worker’s salaries, boats and petrol to access to the plots, electric

fences, field equipment, etc. The economic benefits to local community members

participating in forest restoration activities can be significant.

Site maintenance includes regular weeding against creepers and

maintenance of electrical fence against large mammals

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MONITORING TREE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL RATE

In 2010, the team planted more than 4,000 new seedlings in the different experimental plots.

All species used for our experiments are native to the Kinabatangan floodplain. Seeds and

seedlings are collected from nearby forests by local people and purchased by the project.

Only species that are commonly found in the forest are purchased by KOCP to not put

additional pressure on already rare tree species. To date, we have used a total of 22 different

tree species in our experimental plots.

Every month, the team estimates the species specific survival rate in all plots, and monitors

the diameter and linear growth for a subset of seedlings. Major results are summarised in

Table 1.

Scientific Name Local name OU

Food

Soil conditions

Growth rate Wet SI Dry

Octomeles sumatrana Benuang -

Fast Anisophylla disticha Payung-payung -

Mallotus muticus Melotus +

Neonauclea Bangkal ++

Colona serratifolia Colona +

Microcos sp. Kerodong +++

Medium Eugenia sp. Obah ++

Ficus sp. Ficus – Kayu ara +++

Dracontomelon dao Sengkuang +++

Sandoricum koetjape +++

Slow

Alstonia sp.

Aquilaria malaccensis Gaharu -

Pterospermum sp. Bayur +

Vitex pinnata Kulimpapa +

Dillenia sp. Simpor +

Durio sp. Durian +++

Excoecaria indica

Dimocarpus longan Mata kucing +++

Nephelium mutabile Longan +++

Diospyros sp. Kayu malam +++

Vatica sp. Rasak -

Legend: OU Food: Orang-utan food (-: no; +; Occasional; ++: regular; +++: major) / Soil conditions: Wet:

water present more than six months per year; SI=Semi-inundated (water between 3 and 6 months per year);

Dry (water less than three months per year)

Table 1: Growth rate, tolerance to water-level conditions and potential

as orang-utan food sources for 22 species of trees included in the KOCP

experiment (green boxes indicate good survival rates)

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Our experiments showed that most tree species that provide important sources of food for

orang-utan have a medium or slow growth rate (averaging less than 15 cm height per month:

see Table 2). They also do not cope well with wet soil conditions and prefer drier areas. In

addition, these seedlings are not very robust and they die relatively easily, increasing the need

for heavy maintenance. For example, strong winds can break stems, resulting in the seedling

death or delayed growth.

Tree Species Average Height Growth Average Diameter Growth

Octomeles sumatrana 35-45 cm 1.6-2.7 cm

Dracontomelon dao 17-19 cm 0.4-0.8 cm

Diospyros sp. 9-16 cm 0.4-0.5 cm

Microccos sp. 10-15 cm 0.6-0.7 cm

Sandoricum sp. 12-14 cm 0.8-0/9 cm

Mytragena speciosa 13-17 cm 0.4-0.6 cm

Table 2: Average monthly diameter and linear growth of several tree

species used by KOCP for reforestation experiments

On the other hand, some light-demanding pioneer tree species

grow very fast especially in the wettest areas, conditions that are

often encountered at our planting sites. Some of these trees (e.g.

Octomeles sumatrana) can reach a height of more than 15

meters in less than 3 years. They over-compete creepers and

grasses in a mere few months. Therefore, these species require

less maintenance than slow-growing species. Their fast growth

also means that they provide shade rapidly, reducing the amount

of sunlight available on the ground. These micro-environmental

conditions minimize the growth of light-demanding creepers

and grasses that hamper the growth and survival of slow-

growing seedlings. However these tree species do not contribute

significantly to the diet of orang-utans and of the fruit-eater

community.

Results of our experiments are essential for designing efficient replanting strategies to

be undertaken in 2011 and subsequent years (see below).

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Regular monitoring of the seedlings at the KOCP Experimental plots

Partial view of the VK site at the end of 2010

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COMMUNITY TREE NURSERIES

All seedlings used for KOCP reforestation programs are sourced from two tree nurseries that

are operated by the villagers of Abai (village located downriver: Map 1) and Sukau. This

approach seeks to maximize the economic benefits generated by reforestation activities for

local communities. Payung-payung and Melotus seedlings are purchased from Abai, while

the other species are originating from the “Sukau Tree Nursery”.

The “Sukau Tree Nursery” was initiated in early 2009 by Hamidin Braim, given an initial

loan of RM15,000 by KOCP as seed-money. For the last two years, the Nursery has

purchased more than 20,000 seedlings from fifteen different villagers in Sukau. Over a two-

year period, about 15,000 seedlings have been purchased by various buyers: KOCP (7,000

seedlings); Sabah Forestry Department (7,000 seedlings); other clients (Red Ape Encounters;

WOX; etc). More than 5,000 seedlings are currently available at the Nursery. We expect that

the Sukau Tree Nursery will be able to completely reimburse the KOCP loan in 2011.

Seedlings available at the “Sukau Tree Nursery”

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Throughout the year, the Reforestation Team welcomes international travellers through the

“Red Ape Encouters” project, as well as youth and students from local and international

schools. In 2010, more than 250 people from Malysia and overseas were briefed by the

KOCP Reforestation Unit about the value and the challenges of recreating natural forest.

Each participant was offered the opportunity to plant a young tree in our educational plots. In

addition, the reforestation efforts were highlighted during the “Environmental Education

Race” (EERace) organised by the “Sabah Environmental Education Network”, and also

during the “Environmental Day” organised by KOCP and the Sabah Wildlife Department in

June. Last but not least, members of the Tree Planting Unit take regularly part to the various

education programs organised by the “Hutan Education and Awareness Program” and the

Sabah Wildlife Department in the primary schools of Kinabatangan.

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Briefing and tree planting by a group of foreign tourists

Tree planting activities organized during the EERace

Education activities with school children highlighting reforestation

needs during a HEAP program

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Research undertaken by KOCP and Cardiff University found that the majority of the isolated

orang-utan sub-populations found in Lower Kinabatangan are facing a high risk of extinction

unless contiguous corridors of forests are recreated urgently. Results of this study were

published in 2010 in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal (“Endangered Species

Research”). These findings were also highlighted in several local and national newspapers to

increase awareness of the general public in Sabah and nationally about the needs to recreate

forest corridors in Kinabatangan.

The expertise and knowledge gained by KOCP about tree planting as well as areas in

Kinabatangan in dire need of rehabilitation was shared with local partners (i.e. WWF-

Malaysia, Sabah Forestry Department SFD, Sabah Wildlife Department SWD) during a

series of meetings. The output of these meetings was the development of a document: “Forest

Restoration and Habitat Management Strategy for the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life”

produced by WWF. This document is expected to be presented to the State Cabinet in 2011.

2011 proposed activities and outcomes

The KOCP Tree Planting Program is supported by various KOCP’s partners, such as World

Women Work, World Land Trust, Zoo Victoria, Philadelphia Zoo, Shinng Hope, Fondation

Ensemble and many others. In 2011, we decided to expand the team and hired four new team

members in January. To reach more communities through this program, two women were

hired from Abai, while the other two were from Sukau.

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In addition to maintaining the existing plots, the team aims to reforest an area of more than 56

acres (more than 20 ha) located in Lot 1 of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (Map

2). This site borders the Kinabatangan River. It was cleared in the past by Malbumi

Plantations for oil palm conversion before the Sabah Wildlife Department reclaimed it for

conservation purposes a few years ago. Today, the site is completely bare and is in dire need

of being reforested to recreate a contiguous corridor along the River. We estimate that more

than 20,000 seedlings will be planted in this plot. In order to investigate the value of different

planting approaches, the team will divide this plot in three sections that will be submitted to

three different planting regimes: total weeding vs line-weeding in two plots planted

alternatively by lines of fast- and slow-growing trees; square planting (i.e. clutches of five

seedlings will be planted every ten meters and only these small squares will be regularly

weeded). Seedling survival rate, growth and manpower needs will be monitored over the next

couple of years. By monitoring the pros and cons of these three approaches, an optimal

approach for human and financial resource use can be determined for future restoration plots.

The final goal for the KOCP team is to plant a minimum of 100 ha every year. This goal can

be achieved by identifying methods requiring less seedling maintenance.

Map showing the location of the new Reforestation Plot opened by the

KOCP Restoration Unit in 2011

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Partial views of the Malbumi planting site at the end of 2010

During the first part of 2011, KOCP also aims to produce a policy document presenting major

results of our experiments, and detailing effective strategies to incorporate both the needs of

wildlife (fruit-trees) and local communities involvement in large-scale reforestation exercises.

This document will be discussed with the Sabah Forestry Department and other partners

involved in similar projects in Sabah.

The needs for rehabilitating the Kinabatangan forests are tremendous. There is an urgent need

to identify innovative ways to generate financial resources to conduct these exercises. Over

the past couple of years, Hutan and Philadelphia Zoo have developed a project where funds

are sourced from the zoo visitors and allocated for reforestation in Kinabatangan (“Footprint

Initiative”). This successfull program could be replicated by other KOCP’s partners in the

future.

Last but not least, Nicky Abram (a PhD candidate registered at Dice University, UK, and

supervised by KOCP and Danau Girang Field Center) will produce a Carbon Map for

Kinabatangan. This information will become part of the tool kit currently being developed in

Sabah (by SFD, SWD, LEAP, Hutan, etc) investigating the possibilities of obtaining funding

from international initiatives linked to carbon credit, payments for ecosystem services,

REDD+, etc.

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In 2010, KOCP activities were supported by the following partners:

Above 150,000 USD

Arcus Foundation

Above 50,000 USD

Chester Zoo (North England Zoological Society )

Above 20,000 USD

Abraham Foundation

BOS-NL

Columbus Zoo

Elephant Family

Fondation Ensemble

Houston Zoo

Philadelphia Zoo

Saint Louis Zoo

Shared Earth Foundation

Shining Hope

US Fish and Wildlife Services

WoodTiger Foundation

World Women Work

World Land Trust

Zoo Boise

Above 10,000 USD

Australian Orangutan Project

Hogle Zoo Utah

Mohamed bin Zhayed

Woodland Park Zoo

Zoo Parc de Beauval

Zoo la Palmyre

Above 5,000 USD

Borneo Conservation Trust Japan

Cheyenne Zoo

Cleveland Zoological Society

GCMK Foundation

Oregon Zoo

Wildlife Conservation Network

Above 1,000 USD

Phoenix Zoo

Kansas City Zoo

Tampa Keeper Association

Rasa Riya