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)

Leaves laden footpath

Zone D

Zone G

Zone D

Habitually yours....

The Tiong at bottom of tree is in its nest.  Another Tiong above scouts the horizon...

Hill Myna

 Speak to me.  And they did.  Telling me to protect their environment.  I woke up early to witness the Tiongs starting to bring materials to their nest.  A long grass blade tugged safely in its beak.  One of the Tiongs (Hill Myna) started the morning chores while another broadcast their familiar whistle over the neighbourhood.  It's gonna be a good day and off they went to hunt for food further away their nest.  The Dark-sided Flycatcher  waited for me as if our early morning appointment was not to be missed.  She was again at her favourite spot the first time I stumbled upon her.  These feathered friends of the park gave me so much inspiration and impetus to make the park a sanctuary for wildlife.  I look forward to what the rest of the day will hold.....

The faithful Dark-sided Flycatcher
Zone B

Butterfly garden....hoping to see more butterflies from today onwards since the Eugenia oleina trees are starting to flower all over the park.
Location : Zone C

Sustaining the forest beyond

Cultivation of oil palm (as means) to sustain the rainforest ecology built around the existing original lowland dipterocarp forest eco-systems.
View of Zone G from Zone C, looking south

Botanic Island Two in the background

 There are two M's that can help me make the forest ecology of Kambatik Park a success.  First M is a strong MIND, a will if you care.   Second M  is the MEANS, without which you cannot develop and later maintain a nature park.  The park was fortunate because from its inception the existing preserve of original vegetation was not totally destroyed.  They were isolated and preserved as botanic islands of which there are currently four.  The oil palm cultivation were integrated around the islands , streams, swamps, slopes, roads and hills in order  not to destroy the original land form exceedingly.  Income from the oil palm harvests is the principal means to sustain the operation and maintenance of the forest ecology.  It is important to bear in mind that the real beneficiaries of the park are the wildlife and plants ecological diversity  and we humans need to re-learn to co-exist with them to really benefit from natural world, be it in agricultural productivity, tourism-related business or recreational activities.  Today when I take walks in the park, I feel so much peace with myself for having positively contribute to the  understanding and standing for nature.  The Kambatik Park is a first step in my journey to really take care of nature by seeing beyond the trees.

Plain areas as fallback positions in time of flash floods due to torrential rains

Natural and man-made forest eco-system integration

Eastern Crimson Sunbird brave itself to come out of the jungle to search for food on the cultivated garden areas of the park

Mormon butterfly in the Botanic Island Two

A walk in the park is the simplest means to commune with nature

Flash floods again this morning

Looking east.  This is the start of the Kambatik stream

 The flash floods that occur at the park is an important part of the garden ecology.  The planning of the park takes great account of the need to have a fall back position in times of floods.  I am talking here about the flash foods that ravages the plain areas along the Kambatik stream.  This is an accepted fact at the park, a moment of great interest, excitement and play.  Here's today's views of the flash floods from the start of the Kambatik stream moving downriver.....

Passing part of Zone C

Passing part of Zone F, Provinsi Carpentaria area at left

Passing area between Zone C and Zone F

Passing Zone F

Passing Zone C

Passing Zone D

Passing Zone D, Provinsi Borneo area

Passing Zone F

Burnt earth

Add on clayey soil and other organic garden debris on top of the fire

Burnt earth ready for use

 A fallen dead tree that used to be a favourite perch for many birds fell down the other day due to a gust of strong wind.  The log is good burning or fuel material for the making of burnt earth.  By burning the timber we are producing also wood ash.  We have mountains of yellow clayey soils at the park.  These sticky clay are good material for burnt earth.  The sticky clay is put on top of the fire and with other organic garden debris.  Burnt earth cannot be used immediately because of the latent heat present after burning, may kill the plants. It is advisable to use  2-3 weeks after being produced.   Burnt earth sterilises the soil and reduces soil acidity.  Furthermore, it makes soil phosphorous and potash more readily available to plants.  The wood ashes also provide potassium to the soil, though in general our local soils are not seriously deficient in potassium.  On the other hand all local soils are deficient in phosphorous.  

Burnt earth and wood ashes

In Plain Sight - Provinsi Carpentaria (Part 1)

View of Provinsi Carpentaria - looking north
Location : Zone F

The Kambatik parkland has many interesting  geograpahical features.   A stream runs through the park for approximately half a kilometer distance.  The highest point of the stream is at the eastern part of the park and is approximately 150 feet above sea level.  From there the stream meanders towards the lowest point of the park located to the west in a 60 feet gradual drop.  The stream is surrounded on all sides by hills, spurs, rolling slopes and valleys.  However at its immediate surrounds i.e. on the banks of the stream are to be found many low-lying or flat areas which in geographical term I call 'plain'.  In developing the park I was very concerned from the beginning about retaining the natural direction and  flow of the stream.  By doing so I hoped to have many fallback positions especially in combating torrential rain and flash floods that are a natural phenomena at the park, restricted to limited hours as a result of heavy downpour.  There are eight of these plain areas and are named according to the specific palm species that are prevalent in the landscape.  Starting from the source of the stream, the  plain areas are fondly referred to as Provinsi ( Malay for province); thus Provinsi Pinang, Provinsi Yellow Palm, Provinsi Manila, Provinsi Carpentaria, Provinsi Lakka, Provinsi Borneo (Buah Nyiur - origin of the word Borneo, pronounced in Malay), Provinsi Lady Palm and Provinsi Rattan.  In this post I show the Provinsi Carpentaria with its iconic Carpentaria Palm.

View of Provinsi Carpentaria, looking north
Location : Zone F

Carpentaria acuminata - Carpentaria palm
Location : Provinsi Carpentaria, Zone F

 The above picture shows a line of the Carpentaria palms planted nearby the stream. Below is a picture that shows the stream in dry weather, thus the water level is low.  Carpentaria palms originate from Australia and are native to the Carpentaria Bay there.

Provinsi Carpentaria, view looking south.

Plain areas are important landscape features because they afford our eyes rest when scanning the natural landscape of hills and valleys. They provide optimum flat areas for leisure and recreational activities.  Finally they are significant for wildlife as scavenging and foraging grounds for birds, butterflies and dragonflies.  Birds especially need its 'free' flight space to dash around the park quickly and without much obstruction.

Walk on leaves

Partial view of Heliconia Valley, Zone D

 There is something earthly, energizing, romantic  and probably sexy walking on brown leaves.  The cracking noise of leaves squashed underneath the foot, step by step, reverberates through the peaceful jungle air.  They speak of country peace, balming one from earthly confusion, world's apart from the tense air of concrete jungle where urban souls sought to fight in the name of competition and success.  To live by nature comforts  my soul.  It prospers the plants and wildlife ( and hopefully prosper others). 

Footpath at Botanic Island One

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..