The lowland rainforest ecology.

 The lowland rainforest ecology.

The preservation of lowland tropical rainforest at the park while at the same time being integrated into agro-forestry practice in the Kambatik tradition has for the last 15 years brought renewed hope in an ecological oil palm farming model.  This model is sustainable even without any government help or subsidy and goes a long way to prove that competitive posture by small holders is a better bet for the preservation of ecological diversity in Sarawak.  

The richness of the flora quality here even at lowland level i.e. about 30 meters above sea level (baseline= mouth of Kemena River) amazes me.  The resulting freshness in the air is beyond description when compared to the air quality in Bintulu town.  The hiatus of music from the birds at any time of day and the company of small animals (tree shrews, frogs, crickets, squirrels etc) are a boon to normal living.

Though the trees have been the main reason for preservation of the evergreen jungle,  other plants like epiphytes, climbers, stranglers or lianas add much needed interest.  Orchids (especially the ground ones), tree ferns, bird's nest ferns, fungi and herbs ( e.g. wild gingers species) excite me when exploring the jungle.

 The biggest animal that still roam the forest (at night ) is the Sambar Deer.  Monkeys are very rare now but squirrels, snakes and monitor lizards are constantly being encountered.  Carpenter bees and colourful butterflies spring many surprises in the park.

I believe the presence of water as in the swampy locations of the valleys and the frequent rains have life-sustaining qualities ans as such are not to be disturbed. The swamps and tall grasses mix well with the shrubby dillenia treelets and become increasing attractive to small birds that establish their nests in their thickets.

 I observe too that the Ong Lumok trees seem to thrive better now that they are transplanted in many locations where the ground is wet and dry at the same time.  It is like saying that the Ong Lumok tree prefers to have one foot in water and the other on dry land.

Living in the Kambatik Park over the last 12 years have given me a rare opportunity to intervene in nature's development, while at the same time enjoying its presence for the air it produces and the company of its noisy and sometimes stealthy denizens that depend on the forest to thrive.  The lowland rainforest ecology is a jewel to keep for posterity. 

Re-connecting with nature again

The Tiongs ( Hill Myna birds) at Licuala Hill

Physalis minia - showing more ripe
fruits

 It is so good to be back at the nature park.  It is a place to re-connect with nature after having been away for two weeks in Kuching,  The first thing I checked out in the late afternoon was the Tiong birds.  I have left them for about two weeks and today they assured me of their confidence in the safety of  the park.  I saw a pair moving about the tall branches at one of tallest perches at Licuala Hill.  From the distance I observed that the birds looked somewhat bigger now.  Having encountered them I then proceeded to get back home sooner, consoled by the thought that the nature park has passed a stringent litmus test as a wildlife sanctuary with the continued and uninterrupted presence of the Hill Myna birds.

Licuala palms at Licuala Hill, just below the tall tree where the Tiongs perched this afternoon.

Close-up of the Tiong birds (Hill Myna)

The versatile and functional 'Simpoh Air'

'Simpoh Air' thickets at Pipit Wetlands in mixed planting

'Simpoh Air' thickets at Kruak Wetlands

Long shot view of 'Simpoh Air' thickets at Pipit Wetlands

'Simpoh Air' thickets at the foreground
Location: Pipit Wetlands

The 'Simpoh Air' or Shrubby dillenia (Dillenia suffructicosa) is grown here in mass planting scheme or thickets.  It has characteristic broad leaves and prodices fruits much-liked by the Sambar deer.  Thus the shrub  is purposely planted to attract the coming of Sambar deers to the park especially during and a few days after every full moon of the month.  They provide cover for many other animals especially those grown near wetlands e.g. monitor lizards, civet cats, squirrels and nesting grounds for birds.  Many insects are attracted to its flowers and birds to its juicy red seeds.  The 'Simpoh Air' grows well on wet grounds as well as dry areas and thus is a versatile and no-maintenance plant.  Grown as thickets, they reduce much maintenance work e.g. grass cutting and thus minimise costs of care of the park yet attract a  diversity of wildlife.  Young leaves of the 'Simpoh Air' can be eaten as salad and older leaves are used as natural wrappers for food.  In other parts of Sarawak, the long straight stems of the plant are used for pepper posts.

The Pipit Wetlands

View of Pipit Wetlands, taken from Zone A looking south east.
The landscape consists of tall grasses at the ground floor level and as the land scales up the slope and surrounding hill, the thickets of Shrubby dillenia, are intermixed with natural stands of trees. At the far back the original jungle is retained for its ecological diversity.  The intermediate storey is filled up with introduced oil palm cultivation.

Pipit Rawa (Malay) - Chestnut munia

 There are two areas of wetlands at the park called the Kruak Wetlands and the Pipit Wetlands. The former is located between Zone B and A, while the latter is sand-witched between Zone A and G. The Pipit Wetlands is named after the 'Pipit' bird (Chestnut Munia)which frequent the area and build homes at the location. Other species of wildlife seen in the area are Snipe, Little Green Pigeon, Bulbul, Squirrel, Prinia, Butterfly, Waterhen,  Frog and Snakes. The Waterhen and Snipe occupy the ground areas , the Pipit and Prinia  birds forage among the tall grasses.  The Bulbul and Pigeon birds  build homes among the thickets of mixed vegetation at the edge of the wetlands.  The wetlands ecology is important for the park because it absorb and contain excess runoff that function as an essential reserve source of water for the natural trees and shrubbery growing in the area including the grasses and ferns. The thickets of ferns are a renewable source of 'Miding' and 'Paku Uban' ferns which are edible and can be plucked on everyday basis.  The Pipit Wetlands is thus retained due to its wildlife promoting value and ecological diversity. 

'Miding' ferns need the tall grasses to help them scramble and obtain necessary sunlight for maximum growth. Note: Young 'Miding' leaves appear light red in colour and turn green as they age.
Location : Pipit wetlands

A groovy kind of dillenia

Brown-throated Sunbird, female of the species at the Simpoh Air branch
Location : Wetlands between Zone G and Zone A

Female of the Pink-necked Pigeon

A groove of Shrubby Dillenia

Its a beautiful groove of broad leafy thicket.  A natural mass of deep green beauty amidst a jungle surrounding and open grassland where wildlife abound.  It is a groovy kind of landscape, soft green in the foreground and dark green washes at the back.  It's a place where the pigeons, sunbirds and bulbuls visit everyday for the tiny juicy seeds of the Shrubby Dillenia or 'Simpoh Air'. It is of vital importance to keep this groove for the many attractions it provides - fruits and seeds to many species of birds, flowers for insects and small animals.  The young flushes of the dillenia are edible as salad and during nights when the moon is high the Sambar Deer would occasion the pebbled-sized fruits of the dillenia as part of its regular diet.  There are many dillenia grooves at the park that are home for the buzzing wildlife.  And I never stop to learn and appreciate how a little sanctuary we build here has given us so much love for nature and a passion for simple living and happiness it brings. The falling leaves, November rain, the fresh winds and the walks in the park. Come what, come may.  It's a groovy kind of love.

Yellow-vented Bulbul against the clear blue sky of  November

A pair of Pink-necked Pigeon 

The female of the Brown-throated Sunbird having a mouthful of the red juicy seed of the Shrubby Dillenia.

The Simpoh Air in a mixed natural landscape scenery, interspersed with oil palm trees.
Zone G.

Two rare jungle fruits at Botanic Island One

Pandanus affinis with spiky fruits
Location : Botanic Island One

Pandanus affinis at front and in the background is the Anisophyllea disticha.
Location : Botanic Island One

At Botanic Island One recently are seen two species of jungle plants that exhibited their rare fruits.  One is the Pandanus affinis and and secondly the Anisophyllea disticha which the Penans of Sarawak call " Kayu Penahan Badan". I have elsewhere written about the use of the Kayu Penahan Badan as a plant for bodily welfare here.  

Anisophyllea disticha - "Kayu Penahan Badan" ( Penan)

View inside out from Botanic Island Two

Oil palm integration with Botanic Island

After shedding , its time for a show of true colours

After shedding all of its leaves, this jungle tree species is starting to show its true colours- very bright yellow colours.
Zone C

 What a unique jungle tree.  After shedding its leaves, it is starting to regenerate with new flushes.  Colour diversity in the landscape is arresting to the eyes.  It is picturesque and at the same time gives an added ecological interest.  While the jungle green is as it is generally known evergreen, there can be a few jungle tree species that does not enter into the evergreen category.  Others could be a variant of a semi-deciduous type where the shedding is partial.

View of jungle tree in flushes as seen from Zone B.

Flushes of the Eugenia oleina, Zone G and F
2 July'15

Less is more

 I am a fortunate guy.  The park is my lab for understanding nature in my private time and place.  Living in a lowland dipterocarp forest environment has provided me with the opportunity to internalize the global concerns of global warming, rainforest destruction, disappearing natural wildlife and untoward corporate greed.  For example the capitalist model of massive consumption has brought much destruction of nature.  In oil palm monoculture, whole original forests in Sarawak are stripped to ground zero only to be replanted with a single oil palm crop.  This unimaginative capitalist urge in corporations is largely driven by quantitative results in the name of  maximum profits.   But in the Kambatik philosophy less is more.  Here oil palm is well-integrated into the existing agro-forestry practices that resulted in increased bio-diversity, more value to the land as in potential economic spinoff in eco-tourism.  In particular this concept can uplift Sarawak into the only state in the world to possess a string of  park lands and nature reserves that can sustain itself through oil palm integration.  Imagine the total length of 800 km of Sarawak's country side situated along the trunk road turned into a continuous  band of wildlife, rainforest biodiversity, eco-tourism centers and the longest learning lab in the world.  This is my hope.

Oil-palm integration into native agro-forestry practices...

A pair of Brown -throated Sunbird finds home at the Kambatik Park...

Kambatik Park - an appreciation (Part 2)

The future happens here at the Kambatik Park

Eight years in days and nights of rain, sunshine, humidity and drought have gradually brought the park to its envisioned state.  It has become a sanctuary of wildlife.  A place where work is fun and joy to be.  A lowland dipterocarp forest environmental habitat enhanced with ecological diversity where oil palm farming is well-integrated into the culturally inspired native  agro-forestry practices.  It is here that I learn the meaning of ecopreneurship.  I am not the conventional planter  because I forever aim to  harvest 'green gold' together with a wealth of teeming wildlife every week in a month for the next 20 golden years (economic life of the oil palm trees) and more.   And this is made possible even without any single loan from the banking or financial institution in the development of the park since day one.  It is a fine example of where there is a will there is a way. 

I have answered the question that bugs and begs me. 
What is your contribution to the future, especially its environment and climate?  Is your contribution unique and of consequence?  I am getting ready to handover an environment where nature thrives ecologically and able at the same time to sustain itself commercially.  When all  the mainstream media currently report about  oil palm farming is the prevalence of  monoculture cultivation  and in its wake the destruction of whole forests, my experience has taught the contrary.  At the park oil palm farming is carried out in an eco-friendly manner.  It has passed the acid test of ecological diversity.  It is my hope that the authorities will see the model experimented here as iconic of the contribution of smallholders in the state in their safe practice of oil palm cultivation.  This model can make Sarawak into a destination with the broadest band of park lands and nature reserves  in Malaysia, if only leaders have the political will.

Overview of oil palm and agro-forestry integration - many more golden years ahead...

 This blog is testimonial enough on the practice of oil palm cultivation the eco-way, something that I would be pleased to pass on to my children and grandchildren and lovers of nature for posterity.  The future happens here at the Kambatik Park.

Potent thoughts for the park

View of the park @ Zone F, showcasing the stream bank area at left.

Hippeastrum hybrid

 You easily get inspired by just having a short walk in the park early Sunday morning.  Some plants are just exciting for curiosity.  Some strike you with an alarming colour, red for danger but are lovely flushes too.  Many flowers bear pollen on long stamens while the pollens of the oil palm gives out a sharp vanilla-like scent.  The Botanic islands of which there are currently four are  kept intact as nature's passageway and reserve for many jungle species and wildlife.  The point is these plant species are part of an intriguing network of the food chain supply so important to wildlife and our lunch plate.  The Kambatik Park is my answer to nature's sustainability, green transparency, sanctuary for wildlife, a way to re-connect myself to nature's wilderness and a commitment to hope for the future of our children and grandchildren.  Here is a will with a way. 

Red lushes of a jungle tree species at Botanic island Two

Jungles flushes

Flushes of a jungle creeper

Male flowers of the oil palm tree (Elaies guineensis)

Gardenia jasminoides or Cape Jasmine

A walk in the park at Zone F

Bright orange leaf sheath of the Pinang Lakka (Cyrtostachys renda).
This palm has many common names to describe its many uses e.g. Sealing Wax Palm, Lipstick Palm, Maharajah Palm, Pinang Rajah etc..