REPORT ON THE FIELD TRIP TO OX-BOW LAKE NO.117, SUGUT, SANDAKAN
FROM 29-30 MARCH 2005
BY DEVELOPERS TASK FORCE, JOURNALISTS TASK FORCE AND
NON-ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs TASK FORCE
UNDER THE PUBLIC AWARENESS COMPONENT (PAC),
BBEC PROGRAMME

Introduction
The Developers Task Force along with the Journalists Task Force and Non Environmental NGOs Task Force, which all fall under the BBEC Programme Public Awareness Component (PAC), organised a field trip to Sugut in Sandakan, Sabah from 29 to 30 March, 2005.

The aim of the field trip was to obtain information on the management and conservation of an ox-bow lake, which is located within the jurisdiction of IJM Plantations Berhad, a company involved in planting oil palm. IJM Plantations Bhd is collaborating with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to conserve the lake, named Ox-bow 117. The lake and its surrounding areas covers 200 hectares.

The two-day trip was participated by members from the three task forces and PAC advisor for BBEC. Other participants were a senior officer from the Sabah Forestry Department and researchers from UMS.

Following is the list of participants:

1. Mr. Tagi Koji (PAC Advisor, BBEC Programme)
2. Ms Susan Pudin (Environment Protection Department)
3. Ms Daisy Aloysius (Environment Protection Department)
4. Ms Fiona Sandi (Science and Technology Unit)
5. Ms Lina Mohd Lin (Science and Technology Unit)
6. Ms Chai Hsieh Nee (Department of Environment)
7. Mr. Kamarulzaman (Department of Environment)
8. Mr. Ken Ang Kian Tiong (Sabah Tourism Association)
9. Ms Margaret Tong (Federation of Sabah Manufacturers)
10. Ms Jaswinder Kaur (New Straits Times/Sabah Journalists Association)
11. Ms Nur Adika Bujang (New Sabah Times)
12. Ms Leag Koon Lan (Overseas Chinese Daily News)
13. Ms Jawlinda Zeno - Daily Express (Sandakan)
14. Ms Angel Majanggil (Environmental Action Committee)
15. Mr. Paul Chong (Rotary Club of Kinabalu Sutera)
16. Ms Vera Celestine Mopilin (Junior Chamber nternational Malaysia)
17. Mr. Robert Ong (Sabah Forestry Department)
18. Mr. Charles Jannuzi (University Of Fukui, Japan)
19. Prof. Datin Dr. Ann Anton (UMS)
20. Ms Azimah Azmi (UMS)
21. Mr. Cede Prudente (North Borneo Safari)

IJM Plantations Bhd/Universiti Malaysia Sabah Ox-bow 117 Conservation Collaboration

i. Conservation of Ox-Bow 117 in Sugut, Sandakan.
An ox-bow is a crescent-shaped lake lying alongside a winding river. Ox-bow lakes are created over time as erosion and soil deposits change the river's course.

Prof. Datin Dr. Ann Anton of the Biotechnology Research Institute and School of Science and Technology UMS revealed some of the factors that threaten oxbow lakes. Some wetlands are destroyed by logging and land clearing for agriculture, resulting in loss of wildlife. Water contamination through the use of agricides and discharge of other pollutants reduce fish and prawn catch, thereby affecting the livelihood of local communities. She also elaborated on disadvantages of aquatic plants when they are not managed systematically. Larger plants such as Eichornia (water hyacinth) and Pistia (water cabbage), overgrow and cover the whole lake interfering with water transport. These plants reduce the amount of sunlight that is able to penetrate the surface of the water, therefore negatively affecting phytoplankton that provide food for fish.

The study revealed ox-bow lakes are valuable aquatic breeding grounds which are home to high-value fish and endemic fish species. Fish such as Ikan Ubi/Marbled Goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata) have commercial value. It is known to millions of Southeast Asians as 'Soon Hock' and is considered to be good for eating. This species can be found in live fish tanks in Chinese restaurants. Ikan Kaloi (Osphronemus goramy) also has commercial value and juveniles are commonly found for sale. This fish can grow extremely large and apart from its economic importance as a food source, it is also sought after as a pet fish. Ikan Haruan /Snakehead Murrel (Channa striata) fetch a good price. Larger species of snakeheads cost over USD100 (RM380) per fish, depending on size. Young individuals are priced at USD15 (RM57) or more.

Prof Ann also spoke about the potential ox-bow lakes have in the fast growing eco-tourism industry. It offers new opportunities for economic diversification for local communities and entrepreneurs. However, nature based tourism, agro-forestry and other ventures are dependent on effective environmental management. The collaborators are planning to come up with a management plan for sustainable conservation of ox-bow lakes in Sabah. The plan will be formulated on an integrated and interdependent approach based on results from Phase One of the study done at Ox-bow 117.

Phase Two of the study will assess eco-tourism potential and the result will help to evaluate priorities and target appropriate management strategies for sustainable conservation of ox-bow lakes.

IJM Plantations Berhad Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Velayuthan Tan said ox-bow lakes were areas of heritage and that being responsible to the environment is part of the company's philosophy.

To be noted is that IJM Plantations Berhad is a signatory to the Malaysian Palm Oil Association Environmental Charter and the multi-stakeholders Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Other Contributions And Efforts by IJM Plantations Bhd

i. Biocomposting Plant At Sabang Palm Oil Mill
IJM Plantations Berhad addresses pollution by banking on a zero wastage system introduced in 2004. It does biocomposting by using empty fruit bunches and palm oil mill effluents to produce organic fertiliser, a process which takes a maximum of three months. The end product although low in nutrients, is a good soil conditioner. The soil product is then packed and shipped to the storage house for plantation use.

ii. Legume Cover Plants And Mini Arboretum
The company is also planting a legume plant known as Mucuna bractaeta, to fix atmospheric nitrogen for the benefit of palms, reduce soil erosion and reduce competition from other weeds. It is also able to maintain soil moisture for three months, even during dry season. The species was imported from Kerala, India.

iii. Integrated Pest Management (Insectarium at the IJMP Quality Training and Research Centre)
In the control of the various pests of oil palm whereby some chemical, biological and cultural methods are involved, the combined process can be referred to as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In IJMP, the IPM concept was effected way back in 1993 when the oil palms in IJMP was about 5-7 years old.

In oil palm, some of the pests like leaf eating caterpillars/rhinoceros beetles and rats have natural enemies existing within an oil palm environment. Therefore, the estate management utilises naturally existing enemies as much as possible to help keep the pests in check.

Analysis

Both collaborators are working well to conserve the ox-bow lake concerned. Their efforts complement one another as the company is interested in conserving the lake while UMS gets to study an area that has been left untouched.

The company is probably looking at the long term impact of managing its plantation area in a sustainable manner. Should any requirement come into force in future for palm oil to come from sustainable plantations, IJM Plantations Berhad will be in the lead.

However, it is to be noted that at present there are no incentives for plantations to use environmentally sustainable methods.

Recommendations

To ensure any successful collaboration, the willingness to trust one another is one of the vital factors. It is also recommended that collaborations be done on a long term basis, or that a mechanism be put in place to ensure that conservation efforts do not stop once the project proper ends. In the case of the ox-bow lake, it is important for the developers to commit and to ensure that the lake is conserved for its values.

Another recommendation is that there is a need for further research on the use of introduced species for pest management. This is where academicians and researchers play a vital role. Participants also feel that associations which represent plantations to be more proactive, or in other words, take the lead in promoting sustainable practices.

Conclusion

During the visit, the IJM Plantations Bhd management took the opportunity to explain their efforts towards sustainability based on economic (profit), social (people) and environmental (planet) viability. IJM Plantations is using Best Management Practices (BMPs) in its day-to-day operations.

The collaborators have set a good example for biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism potentials. This project will ensure that ox-bow lakes can be better conserved and hopefully will encourage more plantation companies to become more aware and sensitive towards the environment.