Global Conservation Mission to the Heart of Borneo, Sabah Malaysia

Photos by Paul Hilton

DaMaI Rainforest Complex - Proposed UNESCO World Heritage

Global Conservation is funding a multi-year program to help establish a single management unit known as DaMaI Rainforest Complex for protection and law enforcement, which could eventually be nominated as UNESCO World Heritage.

The primary objectives of the program are to help establish a UNESCO World Heritage Park in Sabah Borneo Malaysia to shutdown wildlife poaching of endangered Pygmy Elephants, Bantengs, Orangutans and other primates, Rhinoceros and other Hornbills, and Clouded Leopards, forest cats and their prey.

Danum Valley – Maliau Basin – Imbak Canyon (DaMaI) contains one of the last intact primary forests and wildlife habitats in Asia for endangered megafauna species including elephants, clouded leopard and orangutans to co-exist together in the wild.

It lies within the Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative, and it is a unique initiative led by government and NGO-supported programme that was initiated by a joint Declaration by the governments of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia in 2007. DaMaI is one of the last intact primary forests and wildlife habitats in Asia for endangered megafauna species including elephants, clouded leopard and orangutans to co-exist together in the wild.

Michael Finley, former US Park Superintendent of Yellowstone and GC Board member joins team to review 2018 progress to establish the area into a single management unit, i.e. Danum – Maliau – Imbak (DaMaI) Rainforest Complex - a one million hectares terrestrial protected area.

Global Park Defense is being deployed in DaMaI by Sabah Environmental Trust (SET), working with Sabah Department of Forestry (SFD) and Sabah Foundation under a MOU signed during the Heart of Borneo International Conference in October, 2017. This MOU supports the first dedicated Ranger Patrol Teams for DaMaI Park and Wildlife Protection.

DaMaI Rangers together with Sabah Forestry Department and Sabah Foundation setting up roadblock for interdiction of wildlife poachers.

Progress in 2018 - Global Conservation Primary Goals

Global Conservation has funded Global Park Defense deployment achieving critical goals over the past 18 months:

1. Establish the first dedicated DaMaI Ranger Teams -  Increasing ranger patrolling coverage and arrests

2. Deploy Global Park Defense System – Surveillance Equipment and Training

3. Support DaMaI’s as a single management unit

2018 Progress Summary

1. Establish the first dedicated DaMaI Ranger Teams

In 2018, we established the first DaMaI Ranger teams and secured government approvals to grow DaMaI Team to 12 persons full-time, as well as completing four (4) trainings.Key managers visited GC Projects in the Leuser Ecosystem, Indonesia and Thap Lan, Thailand World Heritage parks to see firsthand deployment of Global Park Defense against wildlife poaching and illegal logging.

With almost no dedicated park or wildlife patrols when we started in the Fall of 2017, DaMaI was highly vulnerable to illegal activities. Global Conservation funding, training and oversight is helping to ensure the highest quality training and equipment for Park Rangers.

Global Park Defense includes Threat Assessment, Patrol Support, a dedicated Master Ranger, and secured support across Park, Wildlife, Forestry and Law Enforcement for increasing targeted patrol coverage to 80% of DaMaI three core wildlife areas within 4 years.

2. Deploy the Global Park Defense System – Equipment and Training

In 2018, we successfully deployed Global Park Defense systems resulting in over 26 arrests. Twelve Cellular Trailcams were deployed in high threat areas, and a new dedicated DaMaI Command and Control Center was outfitted with software and communications to rapidly respond to illegal incursions and reports of wildlife poaching.

Global Conservation is funding deployment of Global Park Defense against wildlife poaching and illegal land clearing through an integrated system, technologies and training:

  Park-wide Communications

  Cellular Trailcams

  SMART Ranger Patrols

  Training and Equipment

Our goal is to achieve ‘No Cut, No Kill’ Protection in 3 core wildlife habitats – Danum-Maliau-Imbak (DaMaI)- within 4 years.

3. Support the UNESCO World Heritage Nomination

3. Support the process towards a single management unit

Global Conservation provided funding to advance the management and governance of the area as a single management unit under the Forest Enactment 1968 through rules that will be created by the state government. This single management unit will facilitate another initiative by the state government in nominating DaMaI Rainforest Complex into the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage site.

We are proposing a single management structure with an estimated area of 1.0 million hectares including the following conservation areas:

  Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA)

  Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA)

  Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA)

  Class 1 Forest Reserves between DaMaI Core Areas

Elephant pit trap found by DaMaI Rangers 2018.

Over the past 18 months, Global Conservations substantial targeted investment in park and wildlife protection, nearly $300,000, resulting in a number of critical successes:

• An increase of law enforcement cases for wildlife poaching and arrests - over 30 in the first year.

• Major increase in patrol frequency and coverage by park rangers, resulting in a reduction in wildlife poaching and illegal removal of Agar wood.

• Improved ranger effectiveness and morale, while ensuring support from park authorities and law enforcement.  Many guns were seized along with snares, and poacher camps destroyed.

• SMART Patrol systems have been partially implemented and Cellular Trailcams have significantly improved the law enforcement efforts. We now need to scale up patrols and surveillance coverage in the coming year.

• A total of 26 wildlife poachers were arrested over the past 18 months.

• DaMaI Initiative has received new commitments for government investment in terms of park rangers and patrol operations funding. The rangers conduct more intensive patrol by extending longer patrol days and patrol distance to give better protection.

In the past year, we have achieved National and State Approvals for DaMaI Rainforest Compex process towards UNESCO World Heritage nomination, completed UNESCO Nomination Dossier with all stakeholders, and the submission for Nomination to UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List is in process.   

Primary Expected Outcomes– 2019-2022

1. Full deployment of Global Park Defense systems

2. Increase of Ranger Patrolling Coverage to 80%; Command and Control systems and joint patrolling with law enforcement agencies

3. Multiply Arrests and Prosecutions by 5 times

4. Training of Rangers, Wildlife and Park Staff in Global Park Defense

5. World-Class Master Plan for DaMaI World Heritage Park

7. Single Management Unit and governance for DaMaI Rainforest Complex

Deploying Global Park Defense

Global Park Defense equipment, systems and training is being funded to support newly dedicated Park Ranger Teams focused on anti-poaching and law enforcement in DaMaI core conservation areas.

Training and deployment of Global Park Defense will help DaMaI Ranger effectiveness and provide critical communications, cellular trailcams, transport, training, equipment and systems for newly dedicated park ranger patrols.

Illegal hunting and wildlife poaching has rapidly increased over the past 10 years, resulting in the extinction of the last last Sumatran Rhino in the wild and depleted populations of both megafauna and their prey.

Armed gangs and organized syndicates are aggressively hunting endangered wildlife for commercial profit including overseas trade and wildlife eateries in Sabah frequented by foreign tourists in the Heart of Borneo in Sabah.

DaMaI Rainforest Complex World Heritage will protect one of the last major primary forest ecosystems in Asia, including critical lowland forests protecting endangered elephants, orangutans, leopards, bear, hornbills and other species facing extinction in other parts of Malaysia and across Asia.

Due to its importance and outstanding value for mankind and biodiversity, Global Conservation is investing heavily to deploy Global Park Defense systems in partnership with Sabah Environmental Trust, Sabah Forestry Department and Sabah Foundation, working closely with the Paramilitary Police and local law enforcement authorities.

Maliau Basin watershed.

A Model for Sustainability – DaMaI World Heritage

Global Conservation and our partners will achieve long-term protection and financial sustainability for conservation of DaMaI World Heritage through growing world heritage tourism by assisting Sabah with UNESCO World Heritage park planning and design, finance and investment, and organizational development to support park and wildlife protection.

The DaMaI UNESCO World Heritage Park will require extensive work by Sabah Environmental Trust and Global Conservation to support all key agencies and NGOs working for the nomination and protection, management and planning, as well as achieve financial sustainability through responsible tourism development.

We expect Sabah Foundation, the Sabah Department of Forestry, and Malaysian wealthy families and corporations to embrace the proposed DaMaI World Heritage Park and provide matching co-funding, as well as significant investment in infrastructure and operations including roads, facilities, staffing, transport and operational costs during this project. Petronas, Malaysia's oil company has donated over $10 million to build the Imbak Canyon Studies Center.

Imbak Canyon Falls - a treasure.

Our financing goal over 4 years is to cover one half of the costs for Park and Wildlife Protection, with the other half funded by Sabah Foundation, the Department of Forestry, along with the Malaysian private sector and wealthy families. We will also be approaching foundations and international and multilateral donors including the EU, Norway, Netherlands, and other countries to support DaMaI park and wildlife protection.

2018 Benchmarks – DaMaI World Heritage

1.0 million hectares of forest under legal protection

60% forested area under threat – wildlife poaching

Some Buffer Zone Forest conversion to agriculture

Unsustainable harvesting of timbers

Wildlife poaching – 100s of poachers

Patrolling by vehicle in 2018 – 30,350 kilometers

Patrolling by foot patrol – 210 kilometers

Arrests - 11 Serious Violations;  26 Lesser Violations

Training - Honorary Forest Ranger (HFR), SMART, Global Park Defense Training

Established first Joint Operations Command Center (JOCC)

Study Visit to Thap Lan National Park in Thailand for Senior DaMaI Management

DaMaI Ranger attachment to Leuser Ecosystem, Sumatra

About DaMaI World Heritage

DaMaI (Danum-Maliau-Imbak) is highly threatened by organized domestic and foreign commercial wildlife poaching, as well as rampant community hunting. Without effective park and wildlife protection, we will further lose critical endangered species and wildlife habitats in one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Already, the rhino has become extinct across Sabah and Borneo.

The proposed DaMaI World Heritage Park has the potential to bring millions of visitors in the coming decades which provides a powerful financial model for long-term protection and sustainability. Few other rainforest wildlife areas offer this opportunity.  Already Sabah has millions of visitors to their other parks, marine areas and wildlife sanctuaries.

Above: Illegal wildlife poaching and hunting in Sabah and DaMaI has ‘reached pandemic proportions’ according the Department of Forestry.

Conservation Success through Partnerships

Global Conservation is working with leading NGOs in Sabah including the Sabah Environmental Trust (SET), along with Sabah Forestry, Sabah Foundation, and the Sabah Department of Wildlife on the planning and design of Global Park Defense for the DaMai World Heritage to establish an effective park and wildlife protection program.

Training of DaMaI Ranger Team 2018.

Primary Goals

1. Deploy Global Park Defense against wildlife poaching and illegal land clearing through an integrated system, technologies and training including park-wide communications, Cellular Trailcams, aerial surveillance, SMART Patrols and the Vulcan Domain Awareness System (DAS), ranger and community ecoguard training, as well as improved visitor security. Goal is to achieve ‘No Cut, No Kill’ Protection in 3 core wildlife habitats within 4-5 years.

2. Increase Ranger Patrolling Coverage.  With almost no dedicated park or wildlife patrols today, DaMaI is highly vulnerable to illegal activities. Initially Global Conservation funding, training and oversight will be critical to ensure the highest quality training and equipment for Park Rangers including Threat Assessment, Patrol Support, a dedicated Master Ranger, and secured support across Park, Wildlife, Forestry and Law Enforcement for increasing targeted patrol coverage to 80% of core wildlife areas within 4 years.

3. Establish the DaMaI Rainforest Complex as a single management unit – working with the Sabah and Malaysian national government, we will move the nomination process forward while improving planning for protection, conservation and sustainable tourism. We are proposing new buffer zones, a single management structure and increasing the total area under state-level protection to over 1.0 million hectares including:

  The Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA)

  The Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA)

  The Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA)

Expected Outcomes - Global Park Defense Program 

  Deployment of Global Park Defense systems

  Increase Ranger Patrolling Coverage

  Multiply Arrests and Prosecutions

  Training of Rangers, Wildlife and Park Staff in Global Park Defense

  World-Class Master Plan for DaMaI World Heritage Park

  Redesign of management as a single unit

  Single management committee for DaMaI Rainforest Complex

About DaMaI World Heritage

DaMaI Rainforest Complex is considered a ‘Jewel’ and one of the last major forests and wildlife sanctuaries (elephant, orangutan, bateng, clouded leopard, others) remaining in Asia.

DaMaI Rainforest Complex protects 3 core wildlife and primary forest conservation areas amounting of 130,238 ha, combined with new buffer zones which will total to 598,025 ha.

Situated in the East Malaysian state of Sabah, on the island of Borneo, DaMaI Rainforest Complex comprises three protected areas: the Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA), Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA) and Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA), which are today legally designated Class I (Protection) Forest Reserves.

DaMaI’s unique and rich biodiversity includes Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio), Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi borneensis) and other large cats, Borneo pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) and all eight species of Bornean hornbills (Bucerotidae), species which are highly threatened and in other areas largely absent outside of DaMaI.

DaMaI World Heritage Park is proposed to “be an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals”

Under Criterion (x), DaMaI World Heritage “contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-site conservation biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation”.

Partners in Global Park Defense

Sabah Environmental Trust (SET) is led by Dr. Rahimatsah Amat, FASc, FMSA, Chief Executive Officer & Founder. 

SET works in capacity building, support and scientific studies related to the environment, and manage wildlife conservation and environmental activities in Sabah including training of rangers, scientific research and wildlife baseline populations studies.

Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) is entrusted to manage forests and regulate forestry activities in Sabah, the second largest state in Malaysia. SFD is a strong partner against illegal deforestation, and forest rehabilitation and management.

Sabah Foundation (SF) is the manager of the three conservation areas in DaMaI, ie. Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA), Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA) and Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA).