1. Executive Summary
for Progress Report No. 5

1.1 Background Framework
1.2 Inputs

1.2.1 Malaysian Inputs
1.2.2 Japanese Inputs

1.3 Progresses and Acievement

1.3.1 Monitoring and Management Systems
1.3.2 Research and Education
1.3.3 Park Management
1.3.4 Habitat Management
1.3.5 Public Awareness
1.3.6 Integration for Comprehensive Conservation
1.3.7 Publicity

1.4 Challenges

1.1 Background and Framework

The "Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation (BBEC) Programme in Sabah, Malaysia" is a joint endeavor among the Sabah State Government (SSG), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) of the Japanese Government. Comprehensive and sustainable co

To achieve its purpose that is "Comprehensive and sustainable conservation approaches of biodiversity and ecosystem are established," the BBEC programme has been implemented since February 2002 and will be on until January 2007 , a period of five years. The BBEC programme is operated based on the framework and programme design agreed in October 2001 as the result of numerous workshops and meeting conducted in seven places in Sabah and participated by over 300 people during the preparatory period of one and a half years. The programme design and the project designs of four (4) components were modified and improved in April 2003 through a participatory evaluation after a one-year implementation period.

The BBEC programme is supervised and managed by its Programme Steering Committree (PgSC) consisting of thirteen (13) representatives from federal and Sabah State Government, and Japanese Advisors. The State Secretary of Sabah tekes the chairmanship of the PgSC. It has been decided that one more federal departmental director from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment join the PgSC from October 2003.

Initially, seven (7) Sabah state agencies, eight (8) district offices, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and one (1) NGO, the Sabah Environmental Actoin Committee together with JICA , commenced the implementation of the BBEC Programme by seeking effectiveness and efficiency for conservation by integrating their efforts through these four projects under the same programme. Recently , it was joined by two (2) more state and one (1) federal agencies,. The Programme seeks the participation of two (2) more district offices covering the newly proposed Lower Segama Widlife Conservation Area. The activities such as expedition, exhibitions, workshops, seminars, trainings, and community based workshop and surveys have been jointly organized by various local and international NGOs, and universities and institutions overseas.

There are four (4) components thet from the BBEC Programme. They are Research & Education. Park Management, Habitat Management and Public Awareness Components. The BBEC Programme has five project sites: Crocker Range Park, Tabin and Kulamba Wildlife Reserves and the newly proposed Lower Segama Wildlife Conservation Area in between the two reserves, Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (proposed) and Maliau Basin Forest Reserver.Its four (4) components are managed and implemented by the respective Working Groups (WGs) whose members vary in each and is participated by several different agencies and NGOs.

The BBEC Programme is presently in the first half of its second Annual Plan of Operation. This report describes the monitoring results of its progress until September 2003.

1.2 Inputs

1.2.1 Malaysian Inputs

A total of 98 officials and researchers of the PgSC members and implementing organizations have been involved in planning, implementing and reviewing the BBEC Programme. 51 administrative and clerical staff are supporting the BBEC Programme.

The Drainage and Irrigation Department, Sabah Chief Minister' Department and the Tourism Unit of the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment have joined the WG of the Park Management Component. The Federal Education Department for Sabah has joined the WG of Public Awareness Component.

The Malaysian side particularly the Leading Agencies of the four (4) components have spent RM 333,126 for operating coasts during the last six (6) months between April and September 2003. This makes the total input from the Malaysian side to RM 1,003,639 since the beginning of the BBEC Programme.

1.2.2 Japanese Inputs

JICA dispatched two (2) new Japanese experts as advisors to the Research & Education Component during this operation period. A total of nineteen (19) Japanese advisors have served the BBEC Programme since its commencement. One Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) volunteer is now assigned to the Public Awareness Component. Two (2) more JOCV volunteers partially participate in the activities of the Habitat Management Component.

JICA sponsored nine new (9) trainings/study tours of Malaysians in Japan during this period. Twenty five (25) Malaysians have received training in Japan under the BBEC Programme. One UMS staff is presently pursuing his Ph. D. degree in Kagoshima University under the scholarship given by the Japanese Ministry of Education & Science by the arrangement of JICA. Equipment value approximately RM 0.4 million was donated by JICA during this period. All the equipment provided by JICA to the BBEC Implementing Agencies costs about RM 8.3 million.

JICA has contributed over RM 0.4 million to support local operations such as workshops, training courses, seminars, field surveys, publications and construction of facilities. Since BBEC's beginning, JICA's input towards the programme's local operation totals to 1.95 million. This excludes the cost of Japanese advisors and training in Japan.

JICA has sent a 5-member consultation mission in June 2003 to evaluate the progress and consult the plan, then accorded with the PgSC a revised programme and four (4) project design matrices and plans of operation.

1.3 Progresses and Achievement

1.3.1 Monitoring & Management Systems

The Programme Design matrix (PgDM), Project Design Matrices (PDMs) of four (4) components together with their Plans of Operation (Pos) for achieving seven (7) expected outputs, have been revised in April 2003 after evaluating one year of implementation. During the visit of the JICA Consultation Mission in June 2003, the revised PgDM, PDMs and Pos were adopted as a part of the new official agreement of the technical cooperation between Malaysian and Japanese side. The a mended BBEC Programme has now been implemented according to the second Annual Plans of Operation (APOs) developed after the POs.

The Component Head Meetings have been regulary held and they served very well to facilitate the coordination and integration of activities among the 4 components. The 4 Working Groups met twice during this period. A modified APOs cum Monitoring Sheets with a minor change after the 4th monitoring were used for the 5th monitoring. The results are as shown in the monitoring sheets attached to this report. The next monitoring will be carried on in March and April 2004.

The monitoring and management system of the BBEC Programme has now been established and came into effect. The challenge is whether this system can be adopted and be sustainable for more comprehensive natural resources management of Sabah State.

1.3.2 Research & Education

Linkages between implementing and related organization were further enhanced and developed through the various activities. These include updating of web pages, organization and attendance of biweekly seminars, expeditions to Lower Segama and exhibitions at Lower Segama, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and State Assembly building. These activities were jointly organised and participated by other components of BBEC Programme.

The various facilities provided for Research and Education component are fully used. Training courses for GIS and DNA equipment were carried out. SEM has been used regulary for research and training. ITBC and IA's staff were trained in Malaysia and Japan.

Number of research at BBEC sites is increased. Specimen collected from Kinabatangan, CRP and Lower Segama were curated and identified and kept at BORNEENSIS. Several publication have been produced.

Inventory and database system (Musebase) has been established at ITBC. Currently, data is being logged. It is envisioned that in due course scientist within Sabah and Malaysia will be retrieving the data. Eventually scientist from outside Malaysia will also able to view the data. When the database is more established, perhaps other state agencies will want to networked.

1.3.3 Park Management

Surveys on the socio-economic situation in and around the Crocker Range Park (CRP) have been progressed and have brought useful information to the Working Group of this component. The pilot efforts to involve local communities in conservation have taken place by introducing will be promoted during the next period. The disputed areas at boundaries continue to be the major challenge to this component.

Drafting the CRP Management Plan has progressed by incorporating the results of several seminars and workshops attended by various stakeholders. The workshops on "Tourism Development" and "Social Issues" will be held during the next period.

The Mahua Visitor & Research Sub-station was officially opened IN JUNE 2003. The Crocker Nature Centre in Keningau was constructed and will be officially opened in December 2003. Two more sub-station will built during the next period.

1.3.4 Habitat Management

Habitat Management Component (HMC) has progressed well to identify key species that is important for habitat management and also for local community. Effort to gazette Lower Segama area as a Conservation Area under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 is making progress. Social survey indicated willingness of local people to participate in conservation efforts. As a result of our study tour representing 30 youths to Sukau it has generate interest by these youths to organize eco-tourism activity in Lower Segama. This activity is important as a means of support for conservation. The Expedition to Lower segama which was co-organized with Research and Education Component UMS, has shed some highlight on the richness of biodiversity of its ecosystem. HMC will proceed with conducting more activities to interact with the local people to gain their support and direct involvement in conservation work such as monitoring, wildlife control and protection.

1.3.5 Public Awareness

Four series of workshops have been conducted to identify target groups and plan the activities for each target group. Based on the workshop conducted, Public Awareness Component (PAC) focused on the 5 target groups identified, i.e. teachers, journalists, policy makers, developers and non-environment NGOs. Task forces for each target group will be formed to implement the activities for each target groups identified.

According to the plan for the 5 target groups, PAC started campaign activities for them. For teacher, workshops have been organized and baseline awareness survey has been conducted. The target of the survey is all the secondary schools in Sabah, in total 187. As preliminary findings, the teachers acknowledge the importance of environmental education in schools.

Several exhibitions has been organized such as at the Centre Point (Kota Kinabalu), Kg. Tidong (Lower Segama), Tabin Wildlife Reserver, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and at the State Assembly Building during the State Assembly Sitting. By organizing these exhibitions, the villagers in Lower Segama, teachers, residents of Kota Kinabalu and policy makers understand more on BBEC activities and importance of conservation.

More campaign materials such as BBEC newsletter have been published to be distributed to the identified target groups. Some more campaign materials will be published by the component.

Capacity building of the implementing organization continues to be developed. The working group of this component has met frequently to discuss issues on effective methods of conservation campaigns.

1.3.6 Integration for Comprehensive Conservation

To date 18 Heads of Component Meetings had been organized. These provide integration for comprehensive conservation. Joint seminars, expeditions and exhibitions are regulary implemented. Prior to these activities, preparatory discussion were done and these brought together all heads of component, between working group members from the various agencies. Discussion also further enhanced integration.

Although it may not be yet clear, these have been effective to enhance sharing of facilities and human resources, networking for information sharing and training coordination.

1.3.7 Publicity

The BBEC website in English has been updated on the activities held by BBEC. The Japanese website for BBEC was established in May 2003. 1 issue of the BBEC Newsletter have been published and distributed to all government departments and schools in Sabah.

Media coverage of the BBEC Programme in newspaper, journals, TV and Radio counted 73 during this 6 months. This has already doubled the coverage in the first year and made a total of more than 170 coverages. The actual figure maybe bigger since many articles in various non-English newspapers and appearance in TV and radio news or programmes have been difficult to confirm.

Since the last quarter, 3 more books have been published as reference ie. Biological Collection Management in Sabah, Malaysia-How do we share data? Proceeding Seminar Hasil Kinabatangan Scientific Expedition and BBEC Directory of Nature Centres in Sabah.

1.4 Challenges

The Programme proceeded well within this period and has accomplished a number of significant activities. Fatigue or exhaustion has been expressed by some officials who have been overwhelmed by too many and too tight schedules. This, however, implies that coordination and joint works among the four (4) components and among the implementing organization have increased. We have to be more cautious of efficiency of operation and be able to detect and omit irrelevant and less significant activities for objectives and goal. BBEC now challenges us to shift from activity oriented planning to a more result or output oriented thinking.

During this peroid, a number of conservation events including large-scale workshops outside the BBEC programme took place in Sabah. These were carried out by the same organizations participating in the Programme but through individual initiatives or with assistance from various donors. This is a welcome move in a sense that nature conservation is becoming a major concern in Sabah. However, this duplication of efforts among agencies working towards the same objectives could have been avoided. Sharing knowledge and information could have helped save cost, time and limited human resources. BBEC may have generated a competitive attitude among agencies, which can be considered positive for conservation effort, but we shall note that better coordination can bring about greater impact and better results.

Coordination among the four (4) leading agencies, communication with and participation of other implementing organization, and collaboration with non-member agencies, other donors and NGOs are becoming a real challenge for BBEC. It is hoped that one day, BBEC may be recognized as Sabah's nature conservation platform. Anybody can participate in it and the programme will serve as a guide and link all other moves related to conservation.

Increasing interest and needs for conservation require more time among officials and researchers. Although there are a good number of personnel who implement activities, the number of staff who takes care of daily routine is not sufficient as the roles expand. This is especially true for the heads of components and secretariats. Special consideration is sought from the decision makers to allocate more human resources especially to the four (4) Leading Agencies of BBEC.

Other than integration, the Research and Education component challenges human resource development and aims to raise the quality of research and scientific papers since its infrastructure development is almost completed. The Park Management Component faces the challenges of drafting a pragmatic and effective management plan for Crocker Range Park considering the realities of existing communities and its boundary situation. The Habitat Management Component seeks supports from authorities, local communities and business sector to make the gazettement of Lower Segama Wildlife Conservation Area a reality. The challenges of the Public Awareness Component are how to manage efficiently and cost effectively ever-expanding campaigns for five (5) target groups and bring practical results that will bring about favorable behavioral changes towards conservation.

The integration of scattered efforts of various agencies for biodiversity and ecosystem conservation through participatory procedure and the transparency of planning, implementation and monitoring are the basic concepts of this gigantic programme. We shall strive to prove its effectiveness and efficiency. BBEC is also challenged to show not only what we are doing within, but also more of what we are gaining from what we do.