sandakan rainforest park - forest.sabah.gov.my. xii. sandakan rainforest... · presentation of...
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Sandakan Rainforest Park
The development of the park began when the National Landscape Department approved an allocation of RM2 million in response to the request by the Sandakan Municipal Council for this purpose during the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001-2005). After the forest was gazetted as Kebun Cina Amenity Forest (Class IV) Reserve in January 2007, it was handed over to the Sabah Forestry Department, which has secured an allocation of RM 3 million from the Federal Ministry of Tourism for the development of the park during the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010). The present phase of this development project began in late 2006, and is scheduled to be completed in 2009. At present, the Sabah Forestry Department takes the lead in the management of the park, with support by the Sandakan Municipal Council.
The park has been promoted as an icon of Sandakan, the Nature City, with emphasis on the following attractive features: • Biodiversity conservation The forest is the home to a high diversity of plants and
animals including many rare and endemic species.
• Botanical science The forest is a very important site for research on plant
diversity in Borneo because some of the earliest botanical explorations in Borneo were carried out here. It is the collection locality of about 115 type specimens.
By Y.F. Lee & Alviana Damit
• History The name “Kebun Cina (meaning Chinese Farm or
Orchard) Forest Reserve” has its origin in the early suburban settlement known as “Kebun Cina” which was established immediately after the founding of Sandakan by William B Pryer on June 21st, 1879. Historical Kebun Cina played an important role in the development of Sandakan. In the Kebun Cina Gallery, important events in this Chinese settlement dominated by the Hakka community are displayed.
• Outdoor recreation Facilities such as the jogging track and children playground
are provided in the park for promoting healthy lifestyle. Nature trails have been established to provide access to the undisturbed core area of the park for adventurous nature lovers.
• Nature Education Kebun Cina Gallery is the exhibition centre where visitors
can learn about nature. The exhibition covers many aspects of nature exemplifi ed by Kebun Cina such as pitcher plants, insects, fern and dipterocarps. Furthermore, many trees and shrubs along trails have been labelled for visitors to learn more about them.
Sandakan Rainforest Park (SRFP) covers an area of 148.6 hectares.
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Special Features
Proposed MasterplanA masterplan for ecotourism development in Sandakan Rainforest Park has been prepared. The main theme of the masterplan is “Living with nature in the context of Sabahan culture”. The sub-themes include knowledge, cultural, jungle play, health, jungle, etc, each of which consists of facilities and/or activities, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The layout of the planned facilities is as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 1: Strategic Tourism Image Plan showing the components of the masterplan for development of Sandakan Rainforest Park
Figure 2: Facilities to be provided under the sub-themes
Living With Nature&
Sabahan CultureTHEME
SUB-THEME
Jungle Play
Knowledge
Cultural
Water Park
Shopping
Health
Research
Dining
Sandakan Rainforest Park
Marketing
1. Local Residents, Sabahans & Malaysians 2. Foreign Tourists
Traffi c Lines
Main Asphalt Road
Nature Trail
Jungle Trail
Lake Trail
Topotype Trail
Strategic Tourism Image Plan
Tarzan world, children play world, forest paintball game yard,archery yard.Tarzan world, children play world, forest paintball game yard,archery yard.
SUB-THEME
Health
Shopping
Food
Water Park
Research
Cultural
Knowledge
Jungle Play
Jungle survival training centre, various gardens along nature trail, forest interpretation stations along nature trail and jungle trail, topotype trail, wetland garden and exhibition of forest products adjacent to handicraft village
Handicraft village, bajau horseman as a guard, cultural show at main entrance plaza and restaurant, traditional costumes for the staff in the park, “Sunday Tamu” at main entrance plaza which local ethnic wear traditional costumes sell local product
Forest research station
Water park, boating and fi shing
Restaurant, cafe, food and beverage shops
Shops at the main entrance plaza and commercial kiosk
Health rehabilitation centre
Jungle survival training centre, various gardens along nature trail, forest interpretation stations along nature trail and jungle trail, topotype trail, wetland garden and exhibition of forest products adjacent to handicraft village
Handicraft village, bajau horseman as a guard, cultural show at main entrance plaza and restaurant, traditional costumes for the staff in the park, “Sunday Tamu” at main entrance plaza which local ethnic wear traditional costumes sell local product
Water park, boating and fi shing
Restaurant, cafe, food and beverage shops
Shops at the main entrance plaza and commercial kiosk
Health rehabilitation centre
Forest research station
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Figure 3: Masterplan
Sandakan Rainforest Park
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Special Features
The development according to the masterplan will be implemented in three phases as follows.
Phase Period Budget Components
1. Short term 2008 – 2010 RM 2.5 million • Main entrance plaza• Nature trail• Observation tower• Tarzan world
• Children play world• Fencing• Canopy walkway• Shops
2. Medium term
2010 – 2014 RM 17.8 million • Decorative fencing• Service road• Electric car terminal• Electric cars• Shops• Restaurant• Car park• Lamp post• Handicraft village• Kebun Cina Resort• Archery yard• Forest paintball yard• Jungle survival training centre• Nature trail entrance plaza• Wetland garden• Jetty
• Water park• Boat• Second observation tower• Jungle trail entrance plaza• Jungle trail• Fishing corner• Forest interpretation stations• Security guard house• Commercial kiosks• Toilets• Sign boards• Plant name labels• Lake trail & jogging tracks• Lake trail entrance plaza• Theme gardens• Second entrance plaza• Second entrance car park
3. Long term 2015 – 2020 RM 8 million • New asphalt road• Fencing around the boundary• Third entrance plaza• Third entrance car park
• Forest research stations• Health rehabilitation centre• Forest interpretations stations• Upgrading phase one and two facilities
The main entrance plaza is the most important facility of the park because it is the point of convergence of visitors. The perspective plan of the entrance plaza is given in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Main entrance plaza: perspective plan
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Interesting Plants
An ant about to be captured by a pitcher plant (Nepenthes rafflesiana)
Karamunting (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) flower. The place “Karamunting” in Sandakan is named after this shrub.
A living topotype of Pandanus sandakanensis can be found along the nature trail.
Melastoma malabathricum (Sendudok): a common shrub along the jogging track. It is a medicinal plant used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery; cuts and wounds; it reduces blood pressure and relieves a toothaches.
Rosette of Nepenthes ampularia pitchersSeraya timbau (Shorea smithiana) (left) and Banjutan (Shorea multiflora) are among the common giant dipterocarps found within the Kebun Cina
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Sandakan Rainforest Park
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Special Features
Activities 2007It has been estimated that more than 50 recreationists visit SRFP every day. During public holidays and weekends, the number may exceed 400.
The main activities organized by the Sabah Forestry Department during 2007 are as follows:-• Survey of the Boundary of Kebun Cina Forest Reserve (14th June 07)The launching of the forest reserve boundary survey project and the formation of the Survey Team of the Sabah Forestry Department was officiated by the Director of Sabah Forestry, Datuk Sam Mannan, in Sandakan Rainforest Park on 14th June, 2007. The survey of the boundary of Kebun Cina Forest Reserve was the first assignment of the team.
• Study on Visitors to SRFP (May & June 2007)The study was conducted by a few volunteers and supervised by a researcher in the Forest Research Centre. There were 256 respondents. The results of the study were as follows:-
Visitors Profile Category Percentage (%)
Age
Below 20 years old20 to 30 years old40 to 50 years old30 to 40 years oldAbove 50 years old
29 26191412
GenderMaleFemale
65 35
Race
ChineseMalaySabahan/Sarawakian NativeIndianOthers
6920722
Occupation
StudentProfesional / TechnicalBusinessmanSales / ClericalManagement / AdministrationHousewifeRetiredOthers
3018151211545
Purpose of Visit Category Percentage (%)
Main Purpose Outing and exercisingFamily recreational activityEnjoy the beauty of natureGain knowledge on natureOthers
7112728
Frequency & Time Of Visit Category Percentage (%)
Frequency OthersTwice a weekOnce a weekEverydayOnce a monthTwice a month
322823764
Visit time WeekendsOtherSchool holidaysPublic holidaysWeekdays
52201774
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Visitor’s View Of Facilities To Be Provided
Facilities Importance
Future facilities
Observation TowerCamping site / picnic groundPlant gardenJungle trekking trailExhibition centreCycling trackStreet lamp along jogging tracksWebsite Canopy walkway
Important
Cafeteria Less important
Language Preferred
Language preferred to be used on signboard/interpretation materials in this park
EnglishBahasa MalaysiaChineseJapaneseArabicOther
Most preferredPreferredPreferred
Less preferredLess preferredLess preferred
Attraction
Main attraction of SRFP Suitable LocationViewFacilitiesOther
Main attractionAdditional attractionsAdditional attractionsAdditional attractions
Presentation Of Information
Mode of presentation of information the visitors prefer
Signboards Most preferred
ExhibitionWebsiteVideo/Slide showBrochureGuidebookOther
Preferred
Other Feedback Category Percentage (%)
Entrance Fee Suggestion Free RM 1RM 2RM 3RM 5
5331961
Do the visitors agree if a Nepenthes Garden, to be opened in this park?
YesNo
8911
Do the visitors know there are a lot of unique plants such as pitcher plants and Karamunting tree in this park?
Yes No
4555
Do the visitors agree if a Nepenthes Garden, to be opened in this park?
YesNo
8911
Are the visitors interested in the uniqueness and the natural beauty of this park
YesNo
973
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Sandakan Rainforest Park
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Special Features
Cleanliness Campaign (25th August 07) More than 100 participants joined the cleaning up activity (or gotong-royong) in SRFP on 25th August, 2007. It was participated by staff of the Forestry Department staff and the Sandakan Municipal Council, members of the Sandakan Branch of the Sabah Society and the general public. The gotong-rotong was held mainly as a campaign to promote public awareness of the importance of keeping the Sandakan Rainforest Park clean. After the campaign, littering and vandalism were noticeably reduced.
Seminar: “Introduction to a New Eco-tourist Destination: Sandakan Rainforest Park” (15th December 2007)The seminar was held in the Auditorium of the Sabah Forestry Department in Sandakan in the morning on 15 December, 2007. It was attended by about 115 participants comprising tour operators, tourist guides, hotel managers and other stakeholders of nature-based tourism in Sandakan. In the afternoon, more than half of the participants took part in a guided tour of the Sandakan Rainforest Park.
Cleaning up activity in SRFP
About 115 participants of the seminar
As of the end of 2007, the facilities in the Sandakan Rainforest Park which were open to the general public are shown below.
Main facilities in Sandakan Rainforest Park
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Sandakan Rainforest Park Website (www.sandakanrfp.com)The website of the Sandakan Rainforest Park was launched in September, 2007. The website contains comprehensive information on the park, and has been updated regularly.
Screen shot of Sandakan Rainforest Park website
Datuk Sam Mannan’s Visit To Kebun Cina On 8th December 2007
At the Kebun Cina Gallery At the Pitcher Plant Garden
Sandakan Rainforest Park
Leadership involves fi nding a parade and getting in front of it.– John Naisbitt
Annual Report 2007
Interesting Fauna
A delicate damselfly (Odonata) Some handsome fungus beetles on the underside of the bracket fungus.
The barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak)
The Spiny hill turtle (Heosemys spinosa) generally stays under leaf litter.
The golden web spider (Nephila maculata)
White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster).Photo by Yap Tshun Fong.
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Special Features