Well it looks like it is official. Santubong has been gazetted as a national park according to a report in the local press. Tucked away in an article headlined “Illegal logging still under control: Tengah” in today’s Borneo Post is a small paragraph quoting Second Planning & Resource Minister Dato Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan as saying that Santubong National Park covering an area of 2,000 hectares was “gazetted recently by the government”.
I recently heard through the Sarawak ‘coffee shop rumour mill’ that Santubong had finally been gazetted as a park but I hadn’t seen any official announcement. With the Minister’s statement in the local press it looks like its official.
The Mount Santubong area was first proposed as a national park in 1984 so the wheels of government took a bit of time to spin in to action with this one. But the fact that such a special natural area is now protected is great news for Sarawak.
I spend a lot of time in the Santubong area as do many nature lovers who live in Kuching. The area has heaps to offer – some stunning rainforest scenery, clear jungle streams, rich wildlife and some beautiful bays and beaches. Oh yeah, the Irrawaddy dolphins hang out nearby which is an added bonus.
There are now three protected areas in the wider Santubong area – the Kuching Wetlands National Park, the Talang Satang marine park and the new Santubong National Park.
With such a rich mosaic of habitats in the wider Santubong area, there is certainly room for a couple more protected areas. It would be great if the mangroves at Buntal were protected. And the creation of a “Damai Dolphin Sanctuary” covering the near shore waters off Santubong and Salak would certainly get my vote.
I recently heard through the Sarawak ‘coffee shop rumour mill’ that Santubong had finally been gazetted as a park but I hadn’t seen any official announcement. With the Minister’s statement in the local press it looks like its official.
The Mount Santubong area was first proposed as a national park in 1984 so the wheels of government took a bit of time to spin in to action with this one. But the fact that such a special natural area is now protected is great news for Sarawak.
I spend a lot of time in the Santubong area as do many nature lovers who live in Kuching. The area has heaps to offer – some stunning rainforest scenery, clear jungle streams, rich wildlife and some beautiful bays and beaches. Oh yeah, the Irrawaddy dolphins hang out nearby which is an added bonus.
There are now three protected areas in the wider Santubong area – the Kuching Wetlands National Park, the Talang Satang marine park and the new Santubong National Park.
With such a rich mosaic of habitats in the wider Santubong area, there is certainly room for a couple more protected areas. It would be great if the mangroves at Buntal were protected. And the creation of a “Damai Dolphin Sanctuary” covering the near shore waters off Santubong and Salak would certainly get my vote.
3 comments:
I 100% agree if it is officially gazetted as a National Park and one of the reason is, Mount Santubong is my first adventure when i was still in primary and secondary school, to be on the top of the mountain, to enjoy beautiful scenery of south china sea and sarawak river still a precious memory in my life.. and i would urge the Sarawak Government to build a cable car which similar to Gunung Matcincang in Langkawi. This could boost up tourism market in Damai area and to attract more tourists to come. Sarawak in the whole picture have more to offer compared to the neighbouring state Sabah.. but why are they become 1st choice of every foreigner travel to Borneo? time for Sarawak Government to wake up and look out to our sleeping tourism product yet to be discover by people out there.
Thanks
Anak Jati Santubong
damaiboy2001@yahoo.com
The Santubong area wasn't a national park before until a group of people move their influences to make this dream real and assure the protection of many species of plants and animals in dancer.
This is really fascinating,I love this.In UNN the observatory
Popularly known as the Mountain, the Observatory is highly placed at the tip of a mountain with two water reservoir tanks. It offers a scintillating bird’s-eye view that spans the entire school, the academic and non academic structures, and a pleasant scenery of abundant trees and enjoyable plant life.
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