40 trees planted at forest reserve
By Achong Tanjong in Temburong
Dr David S. Edwards, President of the Brunei Nature Society, planting a local fruit tree at the forest reserve. Photos: Achong Tanjong
Students of the Sultan Hassan Secondary School and members of the Brunei Nature Society at yesterday's function.
More than 30 students from Sultan Hassan Secondary School Forestry Club and Brunei Nature Society led by Director of Forestry, Awg. Haji Abdul Rahman yesterday morning planted 40 "Petai," "Tarap," and "Cempadak" local fruit trees at Bukit Peradayan Forest Reserve in Temburong. The President of the Brunei Nature Society, Dr. David S. Edwards, said, the development of Bukit Patoi Trail represents several months of work by some of the members of the Brunei Nature Society, together with staff of the Forestry Department.
He said Bukit Patoi is one of the jewels in Brunei's forest crown. It is one of the few untouched forests easily accessible from the capital, and offers visitors the opportunity to see the tropical forest in all its glory within a single day's journey from Bandar.
The forest is almost completely pristine and two of the main types are represented -Mixed Dipterocarp Forest on the slopes and Health (or Kerangas) forests on the flat summit.
He said it is difficult to underestimate the value of such a forest so close to the capital and there can be few countries in South East Asia or indeed the world that are so fortunate.
He said the launch of the new trail will extend opportunities for visitors and for possible educational visits by schoolchildren and others.
The Brunei Nature Society is pleased to be associated with the initiative and look forward to assisting with its further development, he said.
The society can assist the Forestry Department through making available the expertise of its members towards the production of educational materials in the form of leaflets and guidebooks, he said.
He added the Brunei Nature Society was formed nearly 26 years ago with the object of promoting an interesting in natural history. It generally holds a meeting, usually an illustrated talk and an outing, each month.
In the past, it has taken part in many projects of the Forestry Department, such as mass tree planting and Princess Rashidah Young Nature Scientist Award (PRYNSA). It has adopted a 3- hectare plot of burnt forest for rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, The Sultan Hassan Secondary School in the Temburong district is one of the first schools to form a Forestry Club as an extra curricular activity. The club has attracted a large number of members, which at one stage numbered well over 400 students. This probably makes it the biggest Forestry Club among schools in the country.
The school won the inaugural Princess Rashidah Young Nature Scientist Award (PRYNSA). It repeated the feat last year to be the first and only school to win this prestigious Award twice. PRYNSA is a nationwide competition held among secondary schools organised by the Forestry Department.
The function was attended by head of Government Departments in Temburong district as well as community leaders and Forestry department senior officials.
The project was jointly hosted by the Forestry Department, the Sultan Hassan Secondary School (Forests Club) and Brunei Nature Society.
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