No Plan To Build Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary following mangrove clearance in Brunei

BruneiDirect.com 11 Jun 10;

Share Written by Amir Noor Friday, 11 June 2010 07:28
Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei has no plans to build a sanctuary for proboscis monkeys which might get displaced due to the clearing of their habitat along Sungai Damuan to make way for a project to widen the river.

Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohammed, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Brunei Tourism Board in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday said project to clear the mangroves along the river's coast by the Public Works Department (PWD) has not drastically affected the safety and number of proboscis monkeys there.

Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohammed said that at this time, there are no plans to construct the Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in the Sultanate similar to those in Sarawak and Sabah, "but I would suggest it in terms of keeping the interest of having them as one of the main tourist attractions to Brunei Darussalam."

Sheikh Jamaluddin considers the proboscis monkeys and the mangrove forest in the Sultanate both as important assets to the tourism industry as well as the country.

Commenting on the project undertaken by PWD on Sungai Damuan, Sheikh Jamaluddin said that Brunei has a vast amount of mangrove forests, but he nevertheless was disappointed at losing one per cent of the total 9.5 square kilometres of mangrove which had to be cleared in the process.

"It was a shame really when we heard about it through the media because we were surprised that it happened without us knowing it the first place," said Sheikh Jamaluddin.

"Thankfully the logging of the mangrove trees stopped once we had an official meeting with the other departments involved."

With adequate amount of mangrove forest still available along Sungai Damuan as well as the Brunei River, Sheikh Jamaluddin pointed out that the proboscis monkeys have the alternative to move to more vegetation in the area or even others similar to this.

"What we have to ask now is, 'was this done the right way?' similar to when you are asked to go into surgery by the doctor, you've got to ask for a second opinion," he said.

Sungai Damuan is under construction to widen and deepen the river to prevent floodings which is common occurancse in the area.

During flooding seasons, Kg Bunut, Kg Bengkurong, Kg Tasek Meradun, Kg Bebatek, Kg Mulaut and Kg Kilanas are badly affected, with the residents left displeased and concerned for their homestead.

Under the project, a large section of the mangrove forest in the area was cleared to make way for thewidening of the river. This has drawn attention of those who are concerned with the habitat and well-being of the proboscis monkeys which, as claimed by the PWD, were unharmed and safely moved to another pan of the existing mangrove forest. The project is estimated to take 15 months to complete due to the required exacavation of 250,000 metres of silty sand.

The Brunei Times