Malaysian Nature Society Miri

Forest Tree Cover 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 06:21:00 +0000

Tree cover 2018, pink shows loss of trees as of 2018. The trees are not going anywhere fast except to the mills obviously.

Gunung Buda National Park

Possibly the last pristine old growth forest left in Sarawak's northern region.

Samalaju Industrial Park, south of Kuala Nyalau, north of Similajau NP.

Similajau NP, top left corner by the estuary where crocodiles bask.

Niah NP, Loagan Bunut NP and surroundings.

Loagan Bunut NP.

Similaju NP and Samalaju Industrial Park.

Lambir Hills NP.

Sungai Miri Fireflies Revisit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 10:47:00 +0000

Sungai Miri Revisit : Survey of 17Km of Sungai Miri from Taniku Ferry to Piasau Utara

Display trees along a section of Sungai Miri.

The first ever firefly reconnaisance at Sungai Miri was carried out between Pujut Corner up until the section where the Bakun Power Line crosses Sungai Miri. I found rows of synchronous fireflies display trees on both sides of the river. I took some samples and several specimens were preserved. At the time, I did not yet know how to conduct a firefly survey, it was my first congregating firefly survey.With me doing this recee were Suria Timon, Nazeri Jaraee and Pak Par the boat man.

This is one of the sample preserved from the area

Sungai Miri WPTs and display trees from 2010.

After attending a firefly symposium and identification course for two weeks in KL, I executed Miri's first (if not Northern Sarawak) proper firefly survey for the main section of Miri river of about 15 kms from Taniku ferry point to Mat Shah Jetty on the 10th July 2010. A good survey record was achieved together with several Curtin students, Faye Othman (MNS Miri member). The students from Curtin were Aju, Salam, Faiz Nasir, and Faiz Djamil. These young students were very observant, we recorded a total of 283 congregating firefly trees along survey’s length.

Sungai Miri survey route.

The second survey was executed by a group of firefly symposium attendees from Kuala Lumpur. They were made up of several firefly experts coming to Miri to see what I have told them about Miri river fireflies during the symposium. They were Lynn Faust from the United States, while Luis Vasconcelos, Maria and Jose were from Portugal. We carried out the survey again on the 10th Aug 2010. At the end of it, we recorded 101 congregating firefly trees along 16 km of Sungai Miri. The number of trees marked were less this time around. This was due to some gps waypoints not being properly logged when overexcitement at seeing so many display trees overcame all of us.

Most of the river bank still contain a good Display trees

Due to many new commitments I have not carried out any firefly surveys since late 2011, it has been almost 8 years now. Recently I felt that I had to do a factfinding firefly boat trip rather than a full survey over the same section of Sungai Miri.

I called Ian of Coco-dive to sponsor a boat, which he kindly agreed to. I was so excited at the prospect of being able to go back to Sungai Miri and seeing the fireflies again. With the help of MNS members, Jacey and Brain, I acquired new batteries for my night vision scope and a new aquarium thermometer to get water temperature readings ready for night out on the river with fireflies.

All was set to take place on the 6th of January 2019, deemed the best day for this which correlated well with the feeding window of fish and other animals. During this dark moon period all faunas are active feeding and fireflies should be in the same state.

New measurement

Tide table for Miri for the day.

Jacey Yap was assigned as a recorder, and I as coordinator. Anis Lee was tasked with logging waypoints, while Achmed was tasked with locating distant firefly trees using the nightvision scope to warn us in advance of any approaching display trees. Brain was given the job of taking sample fireflies within reach of the scoop net that we used for collecting samples.

Checking our survey gear.

Unfortunately late during the day of the survey Achmed called to cancel his participation due to an unforeseen emergency at his worksite. I called two other interested MNS Members who were on the list for the survey but both individuals were not contactable at the time.

By 5pm, the others and I gathered at the jetty. Jimmy Yong the Coco-dive Boat Manager with his daughter Isabelle came to the jetty to see us depart. We took a group photo and later handed out the instruments to the participants fitting the preassigned tasks. During the trip I discovered that my GPS unit had an issue with problem with unstable battery contact, so it was decided to just leave it on the boat bench. Brain was reassigned to get water samples and pH readings.

Group photo with Jimmy the Coco-dive manager

We left the Piasau Utara jetty at 17:25hrs using a powerful and quiet 140HP four strokes Suzuki outboard engine. We cruised fast towards Taniku ferry point some 17 kilometres away and reached the site at 18:19hrs. While waiting for darkness to fall we took water samples to read pH and specific gravity. Water was light brown having Sg of 1 and pH of 5.

Before set sail to Taniku Ferry

What surprised us while cruising along the river was that there seemed to be no birds flying. Only the sounds made by two frog species and a White Breasted Waterhen were heard. We did not hear any splashes of fish on the water feeding, we also saw several moths.

Brain has a beautiful note given to me as follows.

"As an observer invited on last nights evening boat trip with Musa, I found the river devoid of any form of life. Any healthy stretch of water anywhere the size of Miri river, should, at that time in the evening and night should be alive with natural sound, fish jumping, insects and creatures. Any type of reptile surviving in this river would probably be scavenging the stuff thrown away by the human inhabitants living alongside the banks.”

Brain reading pH

At 19:08hrs we started to move. It has been long time since I used the nightvision scope. I mistook sparkles of light in the trees and thought they were fireflies, which later turned out to be stars fleeting between the leaves. After moving some 100 meters, I started to sense that something was not quite right. There were no congregating fireflies observed along the stretch of familiar display trees of several years back.

The first lone firefly seen and first WPT433 was logged. All along the way we only see single firefly fleeting about. Thus I came to the conclusion they are rovers, a single flying firefly. Only after nine WPTs we saw rovers. At this section we saw a single crocodile yearling and logged WPT448.

Jacey getting ready to log and take notes

All the way after WPT 449 we did not see any congregating fireflies though many familiar congregating trees were spotted, not a single firefly was seen.

I readjusted the night vision scope I and looked hard, but not avail. There were no fireflies spotted.
It was clear that the best rows of congregating fireflies at Sonneratia caseolaris and hibiscus bush along the river bank trees were supposed to have very good display of synchronizing firefly of the Pteroptyx tener (Olivier, 1907) specie. As my sample of Miri-13 was taken from this area. This area was well lit by a swift farm security lighting.

You can you imagine trying to hear your partner speaking while someone else is playing very loud music. Firefly needs darkness to communicate, this section was definitely not ideal for them. The water quality in the vicinity could also be another contributing factor.

Where are the fireflies display

I was devastated that I nearly cried. Passing Pujut settlement area, even Pujut 7 bridge area was supposed to have congregation of fireflies. There were no fireflies on the previously logged display trees.

Passing Kpg Pengkalan, the waterfront was lighted so brightly it seemed like it was daytime. The display trees as well were devoid of fireflies. My hope was another area next of Lutong Bridge where another synchronous group display at a low Sonneratia caseolaris. It was unfortunately bright there too. A brightly lit disco faces right into the riverfront.

2019 Survey route and WPTs.

I had high hopes for the area near the old Lutong Airport and the Piasau Nature Reserve on the river side. “Wouldn’t it be great for the PNR to have a stretch of river with congregating fireflies alongside it?”, I wishfully thought. From afar I saw through my night vision the lights of Bayshore and Kpg Piasau Utara residential area dominated the entire area, my high hopes quickly dashed. There were no displaying fireflies.

Where have all the fireflies gone? It is very sad to think that these indicator species have all moved away from their 2010 locations which incidentally could be described as being well within Miri Resort city limits.

Clearly we need to study this section again … it would be the saddest thing if indeed all the fireflies had left Sungai Miri … could their departure be telling us something more ominous?

Text and images by Musa Musbah, Jan 2019.
Please visit Sarawak Fireflies for more.

Waderwatching in Miri City back in Feb-March 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 15:55:00 +0000

Organised birdwatching in Miri probably started already way back when during the early days of MNS Miri Branch with Meh Jabeen, Gek Lan, Charlie, Selva, Hans, Mario, Rhett and other founding members of the branch most of whom are either researchers from Kyoto University based in Lambir Hills National Park or employees of Shell; either those posted from overseas or West Malaysia to Sarawak who happened to be birdwatchers previously.

Slowly avid birders consolidated to include local born and bred Mirians, Sarawak Forestry staffers and consultants. John Parr, Zaidi, Kamal, Bor Seng and Mr Tan were the few who started the Asian Wetland Census in Miri which in time became an annual affair for the Branch.

The person who opened most of our eyes to birdwatching in Miri has got to be John Parr, then a consultant with Sarawak Forestry. One other person I think who instrumentally introduced us to waders has got to be a localised retired Shell expat (married to a local) who alerted us to those "big eyed" brown little birds out at the old Miri River. Over the years Dave Bakewell were in Miri to conduct classes for Branch members as well as SFC staffers.

The photos posted here were taken in Feb-Mar 2008. At the time Sg Miri was already under refurbishment by the Jabatan Pengairan with input from several local environmental consultants based in Kuching. Today this site is now where the apartments, shop blocks and Pullman Miri are standing.

These images are just for record of the birds that used to make their pitstop in Miri on their way south during the Autumn migration, or north during their Spring Migration. On one or more occasions, Mr Tan and Bor Seng were with me when these images were made.

Wood Sandpiper

Pacific Golden Plover

Greenshank

Pacific Golden Plover

Wood Sandpiper

Kentish Plover

Long toed Stint

Little ringed Plover

Kentish Plover

White-breasted Waterhen

Original text from 2008:

"The Miri River used to meander along the mangrove lined banks of Kampung Pulau Melayu and eventually end up on an estuary right in front on the ex-Hilton Hotel location (now Park Everly Hotel) before flowing into the South China Sea.

There used to be an extensive area of mudflats during low tide from the old Miri ferry point to the sea. Sometime around 1999 the Resort City project started off with massive land reclamation efforts along the South China Sea onwards from the Miri Golf course all the way to the Miri estuary and beyond.

Today the whole section is now known as the Miri Marina, old mangrooves has been replaced with ornamental causarinas. Forward planning for the newly developed area included an esplanade winding along the beach side of the reclaimed area as well as a new exclusive seaside bungalow lots around the Marina towards the city center.

The old Miri River mudflats is now no more ..."

How it was March 2008, it looks nothing like this in Jul 2018 ... the price of progress.

Would be great if someone could make a similar panoramic picture of the area as it stands now ... perhaps it's not possible with all the big buildings blocking your line of sight.

Images and text by Nazeri Abghani, Dec 2018.
(All images were captured using digiscope set-up Sony DSC touch screen compact and Leica Televid AVO 70)

There's a Rang-utan in my bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 10:40:00 +0000

Narrated by Emma Thompson, the not-so-festive advert starts with a cute Dora the Explorer-style cartoon about a baby orangutan called Rang-Tan who is creating havoc in a young girl's bedroom.

Link : Rang-utan in my bedroom

Livestock and Climate Change

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 11:24:00 +0000

Worldwatch Report 2009 Livestock Impact on Climate Change

Meet Up with President of MNS, Prof Maketab‏

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 13:54:00 +0000

Prof. Maketab, the President of Malaysian Nature Society will be visiting us in Miri on 18th - 20th January. You're cordially invited to meet Prof Maketab at the following events:

Piasau Camp Walk

Date : 18 January 2014

Time : 4.00 pm

Venue : Meet at ex-Tenby school carpark

If you haven't participated in the Piasau Camp walks, do drop by for an easy stroll at the camp and discover its potential as a Nature Reserve. This walk is organised by the Piasau Camp Miri Nature Park Society (PCMNPS). Also, here's an opportunity to catch up with Prof and learn about projects, campaigns and other issues that MNS is involved in at a national level.

MNS Miri Social - Dinner

Date : 18 January 2014

Time : 7.00 pm

We'll adjourn for dinner after the Piasau Walk for an informal dinner. All members are cordially invited.

However, to manage headcount, please contact Joyce (mnsmiri@yahoo.com) for further details.

Trek at Lambir National Park

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:46:00 +0000

We'll be going for a trek at Lambir National Park this Saturday. It'll be a half day thing. Details below:

Date: 11 January 2014 (Saturday)
Time : 0700 hrs (to meet at Taman Awam Carpark)

As usual, please come prepared with water, proper shoes, park fees and light energy snacks in case you need them. Those interested please contact Joyce (mnsmiri@yahoo.com) by 4pm on Friday.

Public Outreach on Piasau Hornbills - Boulevard Shopping Complex

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 07:48:00 +0000

MNS Miri will be having a public awareness event on the Piasau Hornbills at Pujut Boulevard between 14 - 16th Sept 2013. We will be there between 10 am to 10 pm. Please do show your support and drop by. There will be a presentation about Piasau Hornbill on the 16th Sept noon at Level 4 Also, we are looking for volunteers to man our booth at this event. It will be much appreciated if volunteers can commit 2 hours per person. Please contact Musa (sammua@yahoo.com) or Mairead (maireadgboland@gmail.com) for further information.

Camping at Bungai Beach

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:53:00 +0000

www.wilsonchin.blogspot.com

Date : 28 -29 September 2013
Venue : Bungai Beach, Kg. Bungai (Approx 40 mins drive from Miri)

You'll need your own camping equipment and food. We only provide camaraderie.
Those interested, please e-mail us at mnsmiri@yahoo.com

Night Trek at Lambir

noreply@blogger.com (MNS_Miri_Branch) — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 07:21:00 +0000

Date : 21 August 2013

Time : 6.30 pm (Meet at Park Entrance)

Please remember to wear proper shoes, bring a torchlight, raincoat and your drinking water. Those interested, please contact sammua@yahoo.com.

MNS Miri Branch Committee 2013/2014

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:31:00 +0000

MNS Miri Branch successfully conducted its Annual General Meeting this afternoon at Lambir National Park. Here's the new (well not so new...) committee for the new term.

Please do e-mail us at mnsmiri@yahoo.com should you have any suggestions for improvement for the betterment of our branch.

LIES ABOUT OIL PALM : 12 REPLIES

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 10:49:00 +0000

Focusing on the claims made by the oil palm industry to “sell” their industrial plantations, the World Rainforest Movement (WRM) has produced a new booklet which is available in English at http://wrm.org.uy/publications/12_replies_to_12_lies_about_oil_palm.pdf (Also available in Spanish, Portuguese and French).

The report aims at strengthening the struggles of all those who are opposing large-scale oil palm plantations in the global South. After expanding in Indonesia and Malaysia for decades, large expansions have more recently been occurring in rural areas in countries in Africa and Latin America. These expansions of industrial oil palm plantations once and again preclude the way of life of rural communities as well as their proposals for how land be used in ways that improve their well-being. The purpose of showing the lies behind the oil palm industry’s claims adds to the efforts towards dismantling a socially and environmentally destructive model of production, commercialization and consumption.
The booklet focuses on twelve lies, namely:

1. Oil palm companies use land in remote areas or in areas not effectively used, or so called marginal lands.
Soil fertility and availability of water are key factors that determine where oil palm companies will establish their plantations. Hence, lands used for agriculture and cattle raising, and even forests are taken over by oil palm plantations.

2. The compensation paid to people for losing access to land is adequate.
Many people in the global South hold customary rights to the land they use and on which they have often lived for many generations. When they lose access to land as a result of the establishing of a large scale oil palm plantation, the rules established by the national government for how to calculate such “compensation” often exclude lands under customary use. So, in most cases they do not receive any compensation at all or are paid very low amounts and sometimes only for the crops grown on part of the territory used by a community.

3.The palm oil industry contributes to food security.
Malaysian and Indonesian rural communities can tell otherwise. Apart from outright loss of the land, decrease in local food production occurs when indigenous peoples and peasants stop producing crops for local markets because they start to work for oil palm companies and do not have time to work on their lands. Also, rising prices of staple foods is common, linked to a more general trend of speculation. These are some of the trends that undermine the livelihoods and thus the food security, and in general, the food sovereignty of thousands of rural communities where oil palm companies have been expanding their plantations.

4. Oil palm plantations have a minimal need for water and for chemical inputs.
How “minimal” can the impact of a large scale plantation be for local inhabitants? Oil palm plantations often cover thousands and thousands of hectares, and the “minimal needs” become large amounts of agrotoxins and fertilizers, applied to guarantee the high production that the companies pursue. Together with the effluent of the mills where oil palm fruit is processed to obtain the crude palm oil, the pesticides and fertilizers, too, pollute rivers and streams used by people to obtain drinking water, for bathing and washing clothes.

5. Oil palm plantations conserve the environment and contribute to reducing global warming.
How can a notorious driver of deforestation contribute to reducing global warming? Indonesia and Malaysia, where most of the world´s oil palm plantations are located, are the evidence for the destruction of forests by oil palm plantations while the same is happening in Africa and Latin America with the increasing expansion of oil palm plantations.

6. Companies say they are committed to listening to communities that will be affected by the plantations or that are already affected by oil palm plantations, and address their demands.
Top-down projects leaving no option to say no, pressure, promises of jobs and/or some social project are some of the strategies of the companies. When companies are contacting communities, it is usual for them to come to inform the community about the company plans so communities will not hinder but rather support them.

7. Oil palm plantations create many jobs and thus contribute to employment in the region.
The jobs in oil palm plantations are usually badly paid and it is common for workers on oil palm plantations to work as day laborers, without contract or any additional benefits. In some countries, outsourcing of labor is a way of evading legal social obligations while it is also an anti-trade union tool that promotes informal and precarious labor. Furthermore, workers have to carry out hazardous activities like applying pesticides, with severe negative impacts on their health, often lacking access to safety equipment. Communities complain that most of the jobs are in the first years when the oil palm plantations are established and that afterwards few jobs remain. In the case of female workers, besides facing a double work load, harassment by foremen or security guards from the companies is also a common reality.

8. Involving peasant farmers in planting oil palm in expansion regions offers additional benefits and is an excellent alternative for them.
In the case of the smallholders, such as in Indonesia, they are seldom consulted about the oil palm project by which on the one hand they are forced to give up their customary lands, including forest lands they often depend on in many ways, while on the other hand, they get in return a 2-hectare plot of oil palm with a sort of “land title”. Apart from assuming a debt to establish the plantations that they often have difficulties to pay back, this means a violation of their customary land rights and often results in conflicts, of which hundreds exist today in Indonesia.

9. Oil palm plantations improve the supply of basic services to the residents (roads, clinics, schools).
Though often a network of roads throughout the plantations is set up by the oil palm company, its routing is mainly to facilitate the transport of the harvested fruits. The road can thus either benefit the communities or jeopardize them, for example when the company changes the course of roads traditionally used by communities. When it comes to building and offering schools and health services, communities often complain that these promises are delayed or not fulfilled.
At the end of the day, it is much more the company that benefits from government measures to ´help´ them – getting concessions for low or no fees and other advantages such as tax breaks, subsidies, loans with low interest rates, etc. - than that communities benefit from the company´s initiatives to support communities.

10. Oil palm companies contribute to sustainable development of countries.
India and China are the main global importers of palm oil, followed by the European Union. However, Europe remains by far the biggest per capita consumer of palm oil and vegetable oil in general, due to its excessive consumption pattern that includes the use of oil palm in a large range of different supermarket products, different from China´s and India´s use which is largely related to basic use for cooking purposes. The present expansion of oil palm plantations in Africa and also in Latin America is most often about supplying outside markets like the European Union (EU), where refining of the crude oil and transforming it into final products takes place. The jobs and wealth created around these activities do not benefit people in the producing countries.

11. The palm oil industry is committed to a number of high standards like ethical conduct.
The reality of the conduct of the palm oil sector in countries like Indonesia fails to substantiate these claims. To the contrary, the sector has been involved in cases of corruption, graft, and bribery as well as rent-seeking by politicians, public and government officials. Furthermore, many cases of violence have been reported in the hundreds of conflicts with local communities that companies are involved with.

12. RSPO guarantees sustainable oil palm.
RSPO suffers from structural problems that make it impossible to deliver this promise: the huge majority of its members are the big global players in the palm oil sector who maintain and fuel a model that guarantees huge quantities of “cheap” palm oil, mainly to fulfill demand in industrialized countries and for emerging markets, and generates enormous profits for them.
Another problem is that RSPO does not differentiate between different scales of operation, applying the same criteria to small plantations and to monocultures of tens or hundreds of thousands of hectares that per definition are never sustainable for local people and nature.

Much closer to a sustainable way of producing palm oil and many products based on it are the traditional systems of growing oil palm and processing palm oil for products sold on local and regional markets. These traditional oil palm economies are still practiced in many western and central African countries and in a specific region in Brazil. These diversified traditional palm oil systems, where palm oil is grown in agroforestry or intercropping schemes provide significantly more benefits for local and national economies in these countries, at a much lower environmental cost. RSPO just serves as a form of “greenwashing” of oil palm plantations and their image.

The booklet concludes that the presented claims of the palm oil industry are not only misleading, many times they are also false, including the statement that they improve the wellbeing of local communities. For most people life indeed changes dramatically with the invasion of oil palm plantations in their territory, but for the worse.

Hundreds of resistance struggles taking place in oil palm expansion areas in Latin America, Africa and Asia are testimony that communities do not easily accept all these impacts imposed on them. They struggle for recognition of their land rights and territories, and demand support for their alternatives to large scale plantation development.

Stronger alliances among communities and organizations in consumer countries and countries with large oil palm plantations are needed to more effectively challenge the ongoing expansion of oil palm plantations.

Besides exposing the lies and empty promises of oil palm companies, this will need solidarity with those defending the territories and forests on which communities in Asia, African and Latin American countries depend and that are at risk of being taken over by oil palm plantations. Solidarity is also needed with those working towards different production and consumption models which are not based on further destruction of forests and peoples’ livelihoods in the global South.

World Rainforest Movement
July 3rd, 2013

MNS Miri Annual General Meeting 2013

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:01:00 +0000

Date : 13 July 2013 (Saturday)
Time : 2.00 - 4.00 pm
Venue : Lambir National Park

Here's your opportunity to get involved in your local branch and have a say in the type of activities you'd like to see offered in the next term. The success of the Branch is very much dependent on its committee. Nominations for the following positions are welcomed.

1.Branch Chairperson
2.Branch Vice Chairperson
3.Branch Honorary Secretary
4.Branch Honorary Treasurer
5.Ordinary Committee Members
(At least one and not more than 6 members can be elected.)

Only valid members with paid-up memberships up to 31st July 2013 are eligible to attend, stand for election and vote at the AGM. The AGM requires a quorum to proceed therefore please inform us if you're able to attend for us to do a headcount. Please e-mail us at mnsmiri@yahoo.com.

A little dose of attention to our garden birds

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:34:00 +0000

Join Malaysia's Garden Bird Survey this weekend (15 - 16 June). It's so simple, anyone can do it. It'll be a fantastic family event and one that will get kids excited about nature.

HOW TO TAKE PART

STEP 1
On either 15th or 16th June 2013, spend 30 minutes (no more, no less!) at a green patch (e.g. park, garden or playground) near you and jot down the birds that you see.

STEP 2

Submit your data on the My Garden Bird Watch website (http://www.mygardenbirdwatch.com/index.php) within 2 weeks of the count date. That’s it. Check this website for the survey results in August/ September. By the way, submissions which are considered valid (e.g. meets the time and date requirement, acceptable list of birds) will be in the running for special prizes! Prizes include, 3 winners X One pair binoculars & MNS membership subscription for a year AND 2 winners X Guide to Birds of Johor & Suara Enggang subscription for a year. Winners will be notified via email or phone in September.

MY GARDEN BIRDWATCH is a non-profit project run by the Bird Conservation Council (BCC) of the Malaysian Nature Society and sustained by volunteers of various backgrounds who care for birds and their habitat. MYGB is grateful for the financial assistance from Wild Asia (2010), Tan Kean Cheong Bird Conservation Memorial Fund (2011 & 2012) and Schmidt Marketing, Malaysia (2012 & 2013).

Wanna learn about Frogs ???

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:59:00 +0000

MNS Miri has the rare opportunity to join the staff of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) for a frog survey that is currently being done at Lambir National Park. Limited space available as we are tagging along during the survey.

Date : 17 April 2013
Venue: Lambir National Park
Time : 1830 hrs (meet at ticketing office)

Please come prepared with appropriate footwear, rain coat and a torchlight.

Those interested, please contact us at mnsmiri@yahoo.com.

Reschedule - Earth Day Beach and Reef Clean Up

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:41:00 +0000

Please be informed that the Earth Day Beach and Reef Clean Up jointly organised by Shell and Sarawak Forestry has been rescheduled to 22nd June 2013. Please refer to the message from the organisers below:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In consultation with the MD/CEO of Sarawak Forestry, the Reef and Beach Cleaning committee would like to inform you that the date of the event have been rescheduled to 22nd June 2013, instead of the original date of 20th April 2013. Kindly note that the launching venue of the event remains unchanged. We have rescheduled the above activity due to the current turn of events in the state.

Please note that participants who have already pre-registered will not be requested to repeat the registration process. However, subject to your availability, please confirm your participation in the first week of June by emailing to me. If another person is taking part in your place, they will need to undertake the full registration process.

We apologize for any possible inconvenience this rescheduling may cause. Should you require any further information or clarification, please contact us via email or call me at 017-8590724.
Thank you and warmest regards,

Samantha.

Calling for Volunteers !

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:13:00 +0000

Dear Members,

MNS Miri have been invited to participate in two upcoming events:

1. 15 April 2013 (Monday) - Curtin Earth Day 2013 Celebration, 10 am - 3 pm @ Curtin University
2. 20 April 2013 (Saturday) - Shell and SFC Earth Day Beach and Reef Clean Up, 7 am - 1 pm @ Piasau Boat Club

These events are ideal opportunities to spread the message of conservation and to get more people excited about nature. There will be at least one committee member at these events to man the stalls but we certainly appreciate any volunteers to help out where your time permits. Needless to say it also enables visitors to know more about our activities from fellow members.

At both this events, MNS Miri will be setting up a small booth/stall to display posters, distribute membership forms and sell our t-shirts. Volunteers will be expected to help man the booths/stall together with one of our committee member, chit-chat with visitors, collect membership form/fee and just flash the occasional cheery smile in case our committee member falls short in that area.

Please contact Joyce @ mnsmiri@yahoo.com to register your support or if you have questions.

Nature Appreciation Walk

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:15:00 +0000

Hill Myna sighted at Piasau Camp
Image by Musa Musbah

Thanks to the family of Oriental Pied Hornbills, we've been rediscovering what little gems mother nature has in store at Piasau Camp. Join us for a relaxing stroll this Saturday and find out what this little enclave has to offer.

Date : 6th April 2013
Venue : Piasau Camp (Meet at Piasau Boat Club)
Time : 1600 hrs - 1730 hrs

Those interested, please contact Musa - sammua@yahoo.com.

New MNS Miri T-Shirts - While Stocks Lasts

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:19:00 +0000

Get your MNS Miri T-shirt now !

Night Photography at Lambir National Park

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:46:00 +0000

Join Musa and other avid photographers for a night walk in Lambir National Park.

Date: 8th March 2013

Time :6:30pm - 9:00 pm

Meeting Place : Meet at Lambir National Park @6.20 pm

All park fees apply. Please come prepared with your torchlight, water, proper shoes and a raincoat. RM5 will be imposed for non-MNS Members.

Those interested, please sign up with Musa (sammua@yahoo.com)

Earth Hour, 23 March 2013 - Switch OFF!

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:20:00 +0000

Earth Hour, the global environmental initiative, began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses switched off their lights for one hour to take a stand against climate change.This year, Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, 23 March from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

All MNS Miri members are urged to switch off non-essential lights for the hour. If you're stumped as to what can you do to amuse yourself in this hour of darkness... join us for a night, camping outdoors as we commemorate Earth Hour.

Date: 23 - 24 March 2013
Venue : Baraya Laut Resort (See Map below)

Tentative Itinerary (will be fine tuned):
23 March, 2013
3.00 pm onwards - Arrive at Baraya Laut and pitch your tents
6.00 to 10.00 pm - BBQ, Earth Hour and Astronomy Appreciation (led by Musa)

24 March, 2013
Free and easy in the morning
Check out by 12.00 pm

Source: www.miricommunity.net

Costs for accommodation/BBQ pit (rental of bungalow which is a must for the use of the campsite) will be equally shared. We're suggesting a group BBQ so any costs incurred for the group BBQ shall be split as well (will be communicated over mail). For those without tents, there are rooms available at the bungalow so first come, first serve. And if you don't fancy camping, don't hesitate to join us for BBQ/Earth Hour and make your way back to Miri.

Those interested, please sign up with Joyce (jvsivalingam@hotmail.com / mnsmiri@yahoo.com).

Non-members are more then welcomed with a token fee of RM5.00 on top of the shared costs.

Cycling and Birding at Sg. Tujuh Road

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:32:00 +0000

Image courtesy of Peter Pillai

Anyone fancy a cycle ride on the Sungai Tujuh Road on a Saturday morning? It will be more of a birding exercise but of course, cycling up the ASEAN bridge will provide enough cardio for the day.

Things you need: cycle, sunscreen and helmet.

Date: 2nd March, 2013.
Route: Car park (just before the ASEAN bridge, to the left)- Kuala Baram Sungai Tujuh Road
Time: Be at the car park/ shed at 6.45 am. Should wrap up by 10 am.

All of the above is of course dependent on the weather. Fingers crossed.

Those interested please e-mail Miriam Chacko (chacko.miriam@gmail.com)

Trekking at Similajau

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:11:00 +0000

Date : 29th - 31st March 2013

Venue : Similajau National Park, Bintulu

Tentative Itinerary:

29th March : Drive to Similajau National Park (own arrangements). Overnight at park accomodation.

30th March : Trek along the coast. Overnight either at the park or Bintulu town.

31st March : Return to Miri

The beauty of Similajau National Park is its coastline, a chain of golden sandy beaches, punctuated by small rocky headlands and jungle streams, and bordered by dense green forest. Similajau was gazetted as a park in 1976, to provide a conservation zone for the unique geographical features of the coast and to protect the flora and fauna of the surrounding area. The park covers an area of 8,996 hectares, and the main trekking trail hugs the coast so that visitors are never far away from the main attractions of Similajau - Sarawak Forestry

Those interested, please e-mail Amer (amer3d@gmail.com).

Earth Day Beach and Reef Clean Up

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:10:00 +0000

In conjunction with Earth Day this year, Sarawak Forestry Corporation together with Shell Malaysia is organizing a beach and reef clean up in Miri.

Date : 20 April 2013 (Saturday)
Venue : Piasau Beach and Miri-Sibuti Marine National Park
Time : 0730 - 1300 hrs
* Light refreshments will be served

Those interested to volunteer, please register with Samantha Kwan (samanthak@sarawakforestry.com).

Birdwatching at Curtin Lakes

noreply@blogger.com (jvsivalingam) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:05:00 +0000

Join us for a morning of birding at the Curtin Lakes.

Date : 16 March 2013
Time : 0700 - 0900hrs
Venue : Curtin Campus

Here are some links to previous visits to Curtin to gauge what may be in store:
http://miribirding.blogspot.com/2012/01/awc-curtin-university.html
http://miribirding.blogspot.com/2010/07/birds-on-campus-curtin-university-miri.html

Those interested please register with Musa at sammua@yahoo.com.