THE BORNEO JUNGLE SCHOOL 2004
VENUE: DANUM VALLEY, LAHAD DATU
DATE: 23RD - 27TH JULY 2004

Introduction:

The Borneo Jungle School was first organized six years ago, with the idea of bringing students, ages from 10-18 years old from Japan to Sabah, Malaysia to acquire first hand experiences of knowledge gained within a control environment amidst the rich tropical rainforest in Sabah. It is also the avenue to establish a closer relationship between two cultures (Malaysia-Japan) and to increase the international understanding amongst the younger generations concerning the importance of conserving the rich tropical rainforest. Malaysia is one of twelve mega-diversity countries in the world in where rich species and ecosystem diversities are recognized and Sabah was chosen due to its closest proximity to Japan.

The brainchild of this program is of Prof. Masao Kawai, a well known personality in Japan, who had observed that the younger generations are moving into a more sedentary lifestyle of whose interest lies merely a good 12 inches in front of a monitor or a television screen, instead of exploring the vast wonders that the world of nature has to offered. He shared his concern with Prof. Datin Dr. Maryati Mohamed, who concurred with him and took on the idea and expanded on it to include Malaysian students. An MOU was thus signed between Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Hyogo Museum, Japan.

Through the Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation Programme (BBEC), a joint programme by JICA, UMS and the State of Sabah that spans for 5 years and of which its principal objective is to establish comprehensive and sustainable conservation approaches of biodiversity and ecosystem in Sabah, the writer was selected to participate in this programme as one of the facilitator and an observer, being that The Environmental Action Committee Sabah (EAC) is a member in the BBEC Public Awareness Component.

On the 23rd July 2004, the writer, together with Mr. Tagi Kogi, advisor of the BBEC Public Awareness Component, Mr Sakai, advisor for the BBEC Park Management Component, Ms.Ken Katherina Khamis (UST), Mr Robert Francis & Ms Julia George Kunai of ITBC, UMS, we accompanied a group of Japanese students (27 Japanese students, 8 Japanese guardians, 1 nurse) as well as 8 Malaysian students from SM Sains Lahad Datu accompanied by 1 teacher and 2 primary students form Sk Tidung, Lower Segama, accompanied by 1 teacher as well as an observer from the village of Kg. Tidung, to Danum Valley, Lahad Datu.

The 5-days/4 nights programme (23rd July-27th July 2004) includes various activities as follows: -

(1) WELCOME CEREMONY AT SM SAINS LAHAD DATU, LAHAD DATU (23rd July 2004)

(2) DANUM VALLEY FIELD CENTRE (DVFC) (23rd ,24th & 25th July 2004)

• Bird watching: The students were divided into two groups to walk along the trekking trails to observe the various and numerous species of birds in the early morning. (6:30am-8:00am). Birds such as Eagle and Hornbills were observed.
• Nature Trails: The students were divided into two groups to venture into the jungle. There they were guided and shown various trees and plants such as Nyatoh, Gaharu, Mempisang etc. It is also in this trail that they were introduced to leeches and saw the biggest ants in the world.
• Video & Slide Show: A video introducing the conservation effort made at Danum Valley was shown at the SHELL Nature Interpretation & Environmental Education Building. Since the Japanese students are mostly not too well versed in English, Mr. Robert of UMS gave a talk of which it was duly translated into Japanese by showing slides show.
• Night Nature Trails: The students were exposed to the life/activity of species and plants during the night in the jungle (8:30pm-10:00pm) The students were shown the beauty and the uniqueness of a mushroom (Luminous Mushroom), which glows in the dark.
• EE Trails: The students were shown a termite nests, butterflies, a giant millipede, wild ginger plants, tiny leeches and Mangaris tree, tallest tree in Borneo. We ended up at the Observation tower.
• Drawing and Coloring: Students were encourage to draw and color what they have experience and observed onto paper.

(3) DANUM VALLEY BORNEO RAINFOREST LODGE (BRL) (25th, 26th & 27th July 2004)

• Morning walk: The students were separated into two groups and were guided by Naturalist Palin & Raffel. (6:30am-8:00am). The students have to opportunity to observe various species of birds along the nature trials.
• Nature Trails (06.km): The students observed Gibbons Monkeys and their families eating fruits high on a tree. A muddy puddle left by a wild boar was also observed.
• Night walk: Night mammals such as geckos, insects & frogs were observed. A 3horn beetle, a centipede and spiders and 'luminous mushroom' was also observed.
• Boardwalk: A short 45 minutes to one hour guided walk along the boardwalk enable students to walk safely into the jungle. Basic info on the lowland Dipterocarp forest at the Conservation area.
• Coffin Cliff Trails (3.0 km): A 3.0 km walk uphill towards a Cliff, which houses an ancient kadazandusun burial site. Mr Robert of UMS gave a brief historical background of the coffin and the burial site.
• Viewpoint Trails: From the Coffin Cliff Trail, the students hike up a further 100 m to the viewpoint. There the students were rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view of Danum Valley.
• Jacuzzi pool: The students refreshed themselves with a cool swim in the Jacuzzi pool after the long hike down from the viewpoint.
• Drawing and Coloring: Students were encourage to draw and color what they have experience and observed onto paper.
• Night Watch: Driving at night in an open jeep for spotting of nocturnal animals. The students observed flying squirrels, a tarantula, a mouse deer and two birds sleeping on a branch.

• Canopy Walk: The students experience the 107m-canopy walkway among the tall 'mengaris' and mighty 'majau' trees 27m above the ground to have an eye-to-eye contact with the tree top wildlife.
• Talk by Prof. Datin Dr. Maryati Mohamed, Director ITBC, UMS on what the students had experienced and learned these 5 days and how important the tropical rainforest is to mankind.
• Certificate of participation to the Malaysian students.

OBSERVATIONS

The Japanese Students

• Have a thorough detail programme booklet.
• Appreciate the jungle and its inhabitants more, in that they would take the time and effort to touch, see, feel and even taste minute details of everything that cross their paths.
• Would stop, analyze any insects or flowers and take notes of its details and even take pictures of it.
• Is equip with stet scope to enable them to listen to a tree 'sucking' in water through its roots.
• Are properly attire for trekking and have all the necessary gears such as whistle and flashlights.
• Have individual specialize in for example the study of plants, ecology, mammals, insects etc. to accompany the students. This would enrich the students of various knowledge in just one short walk through the jungle.
• Safety is the utmost in the mind of the Japanese entourage and even brought along a certified nurse in cases of emergency or in need of first aid.
• A health checklist was given to the students to check on their general health condition. The students have to check their own pulse and temperature everyday and night. The health checklist is then given to the nurse for record keeping. The rational of this is to find out how the students acclimatize themselves to the various activities and of their environment.

The Malaysian Students

• Were not given a book that gives information of the thorough detail programme. Students were at a loss as to what to expect next.
• The Malaysian students on the other hands seems disinterested and seems to be going through the motion of going from one activity to the next. They are in fact more interested in the gadgets that the Japanese students are carrying such as the miniature binoculars, magnifying glass, digital cameras and or cameras and palm tops.
• Would just walk by and seem to be bored and cannot wait for the trekking to be over.
• Shows Impatience when a group would stop to analyze something during the walk in the trails.
• Is not properly attire for jungle trekking. Female wearing the traditional tudung find it too hot and susceptible to leeches. One student had the unfortunate experience of having a leech, which had found a way into her tudung. The writer manages to assist her in ridding of it. Perhaps a tudung specifically for jungle trekking should be introduce in future programme.
• Does not have any insect repellent.
• Should have at least a proper trekking shoes or 'adidas kampung'. The trails are slippery.
• A teacher should accompany the students preferably one that can understand Japanese language. That way, knowledge can be pass onto the students when ever an explanation to the Japanese students by the professors during the numerous walks. It is also a form of positive psychology to the students that they are not alone or feel alienated.
• There was no health checklist given to the students. So we do not know the general health of the students during the programme. Areas of Improvement
• A book written in English, that includes a detail list of activities during the programmed be given to the Malaysian students and entourage. This would assist them in preparing themselves, be it mental or physical to the various and numerous activities.
• This book should also list out the names and particulars of the participants. It should also include their email address so as to encourage communication before and after the programme. This is a nice way to know more about the students and the participants.
• Students must be thoroughly informed as to the objectives of this programme.
• A do's & don'ts must be informed before the programme. For example, students must not venture into the jungle walk in the river or swim in it without informing the guides.
• Students & participants must be adequately attire for jungle trekking. Items such as flashlights, whistle, bag packs, trekking shoes, socks, leech socks hats, raincoats, windbreaker and insect repellents should be the norm.
• Sponsors should be source for items such as binoculars, digital camera, magnifying glass and kept at the respective school. These items can then be given to the students to be utilized and return to the school upon completion of the programmed. This would encourage the students to be responsible on items that do not belong to them.
• A dictionary of Japanese/Malaysian should be given to the students and the participants to encourage greater communication.
• A one to one ratio of Japanese and Malaysian students should be encouraged. For example, 20 Japanese Students and also 20 Malaysian students. That way, each student must be partner to their counterparts and should not be of the same. This would foster greater communication and understanding and would discourage having groups of Japanese students on one end and Malaysian students on the other end.
• A one to one ratio of Japanese/Malaysian guardians who are both specialize in the study of plants, animals, insects, ecology should also be included. It would also give impetus and opportunities for both to share their views and share of knowledge.
• The video show should have a Japanese translation or a sub title, thus giving greater promotion and understanding of the vast success of the conservation process done in Danum Valley.
• Given that the Borneo Jungle School have been in existence for the last six years, there should have a alumni gathering for the Malaysian students to gauge on their experiences since the programme. Sort of a feedback after the fact.
• That it was observed that the drivers of the Minibus that ferry the students to and from the venues were not environmentally informed. For example, it was verbally reported to the writer that the students witnessed that one of the drivers nonchalantly threw or discarded a cola tin and also cigarette butts out of his window. This act alone nullify all the various and numerous programme to instill and change the habit forming of littering and to have it occurred deep in the jungle, one which we tried so hard to preserve and conserve its pristine clean and green image, is a disaster in itself and a step back to the programme. Perhaps the tour company should advice the mini bus drivers on this.
• That The Borneo Jungle School should be open to various selected students throughout Sabah. The rational being that there are students throughout Sabah who have never being expose to the jungle through the avenue of Environmental Education. In doing so, this programme will have greater promotion of its existence.

Conclusion

The Borneo Jungle School 2004 is overall an eye opener and has created a greater care and love as well as understanding of the rich tropical forest that we have seemingly taken for granted. This rich tropical rainforest is our air that we breathe and clothes that cover us and food that feeds us. Mankind must learn to protect, conserve and preserve it, in order to survive, and the students of this programme must understand this fact for they are the leaders of our tomorrows. It is at this point that this writer would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have selected and approved of my participation in this said programme. The various observations and suggestion on areas of improvements are not meant to degrade or downgrade this said programme but rather as a form of making it more meaningful and educational for future students who will be participating. The experienced and knowledge gained, in The Borneo Jungle School 2004, is indeed priceless.

Reported by,

ANGEL MAJANGGIL
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE SABAH
MEMBER OF BBEC PUBLIC AWARENESS COMPONENT