REPORT ON TANAK WETLANDS CAMP 2014Prepared by: Arni-Natalia binti Arpa, Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sandakan.Edited by: Bernadette D Joeman, Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sandakan.

Introduction

Tanak Wetlands Camp II was organised by members of the Sabah Environmental EducationNetwork (SEEN) and JICA. It was led by the Rainforest Discovery Centre of the Sabah ForestryDepartment (SFD) in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), SabahWetlands Conservation Society (SWCS), Department of Education Sabah (DoE), SabahBiodiversity Centre (SaBC), Sabah Environmental Action Centre (EAC) and OISCA Malaysia. TheCamp was also suported by the Department of Agriculture (DOA).

Tanak is a KadazanDusun word, which means child. This camp was inspired by the JapaneseKodomo Wetlands that is regularly organised by Ramsar Centre Japan (RCJ) to inspire the younggenerations to learn and appreciate the wise use of wetland areas globally. This is the 2 nd TanakWetlands Camp where the first was held in 2009. The theme was “Wetlands and agriculture:Partners for growth”, which is the 2014 International World Wetlands Day (WWD) theme. Theobjectives of this camp are:

1. To gather students from schools located adjacent to all the Ramsar sites in Malaysia. 2. To provide hands on experience on paddy cultivation, an agriculture that is getting rare

these days.3. To promote networking among students who are associated with Ramsar sites in

Malaysia.

This camp was held on 26th Feb – 1st March 2014. The proposed target participants were studentsof secondary schools located near the 6 Ramsar sites in Malaysia which are located in Pahang,Johor, Sarawak and Sabah. However, due to technical problems, participants from Pahang, Johorand Sarawak pulled out at the final moment. Nevertheless, they were subsequently replaced withparticipants from Sabah. Regarding to this issue, objectives 1 and 2 of this camp were affected.We could not have a national level camp in the real sense due to absence of participants fromother states. However, it still gave opportunities to more students in Sabah to experience all theactivities on wetlands.

Instead of 40 participants originally proposed, there were 48 students aged 15 – 17 years old from7 areas in Sabah which are Tenom, Papar, Beaufort, Kota Kinabalu, Beluran, Kinabatangan, andSandakan, participate in this camp. They were from 9 schools and from the Sepilok Jr Rangers ofthe Rainforest Discovery Centre. The schools are:

1. SMK Entabuan, Tenom2. SMK Tenom, Tenom3. SMK Bongawan 2, Papar4. SMK Majakir, Beaufort5. SM St. Micheal, Kota Kinabalu6. SM All Saint, Kota Kinabalu7. Maktab Sabah, Kota Kinabalu8. SMK Balaban Jaya, Beluran9. SMK Sukau, Sukau Kinabatangan

This camp was proposed to be held in OISCA-KPD Training Centre & Sabah Agricultural Park,Tenom, which is known as a centre of training on agriculture especially on paddy cultivation.However, due to flooding in Tenom just 2 weeks before the event, the committee membersdecided to change the venue to KK Wetlands (KKW) in Kota Kinabalu and at the AgricultureResearch Centre (ARC) in Tuaran. This is to ensure the safety of participants. Consequently, theoriginal schedule had to be revised quickly by the committee during the second meeting. Thehands-on activities planned at OISCA-KPD could not be done as hands on activities are limited atthe Agricultural Research Centre, Tuaran, as it is not a training centre. However, participants gainthe knowledge on research that has been done as to improve the production of rice in Malaysiaand the influence of land used for paddy field as a wetlands area.

ActivitiesFollowing are the sequence of activities conducted from 26th Feb until 1st March 2014.Day 1The camp was launched during the World Wetlands Day celebration at KK Wetlands, officiated byDatuk Seri Panglima Hj. Yahya Hussin, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Sabah. Afterthat, an ice-breaking activity was conducted by KKWetland student interns before they took theparticipants for a quided tour around KK Wetland.

Participants with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Hj. Yahya Hussin.

They were brought to visit KK Wetlands and were introduced to the wetland flora and faunaspecies that can be found in that area. After the visit, KKW staff conducted an environmentaleducation game called Nature Link Board Game. This game is about how each community handletheir wetland areas in a sustainable way. It is an educational game where participants have tothink critically to solve the problems given during the game.

Participants take part in Nature Link Board Game.

After checking-in at Likas Condotel, the Sepilok Jr. Rangers shared in a powerpoint presentationabout their experience during a visit to the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands, the largestRamsar Site in Malaysia.

Sharing on the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands by the Sepilok Jr. Rangers.

After that, camp participants took part volunteering work at KKW. They picked up rubbisharound the mangrove, put soil into polybags, and transfered seedlings to the KKW building as itwould be use for planting activity for the next day.

Participants used mini shovel to put soil into the polybags.

Day 2Morning: All participants were sent to KKW by bus to transfer the seedlings into the coach. Then,we move to Sulaman Forest Reserve which is a mangrove reserve, to plant the seedlings.Participants had to change into proper their footwear before entering into the muddy mangrove.Each of them planted 3 seedlings.

Participants planted the Rhizophora sp. in Sulaman Forest Reserve.

These youngsters were full of energy during the planting.

In the afternoon, all participants attended a presentation about paddy cultivation presented byMr. D.H Mil Sharif Bion and his colleugue, Mr. Jerry from Department of Agriculture – OISCAMalaysia. This is to give brief information to the participants on how to plant and harvest paddyto before we get the rice. Mr. Jerry did a demonstration on how paddy is planted and harvested.

After tea break, the participants were taken to the nearby Tanjung Lipat beach for somerecreational activities. EAC conducted an environmental education activity named Bongkai. Thisactivity is about recycling and to identify materials that are environmentally friendly.

Day 3As early by 7.30 am, everyone moved to Agriculture Research Centre (ARC) that located inTuaran.

A group photo at Agriculture Research Centre’s paddy field.

Director of ARC, Mr. William Wong explained about the importance of paddy fields as wetlandsareas for migratory and native birds. He mentioned about research on birds that involvedidentifications, observations and data collection.

After that, the District Agriculture Officer of Tuaran brought us to a village that wasinvolved in producing rice. Initially, participants showed lack of interest probably because of thehot weather until a tractor showed up to demonstrate on how the paddy field is prepared beforeit is ready to be planted.

A tractor doing the demonstration on how to prepare paddy fields for planting.

After the visit to ARC, all participants were given enough time to get some rest before theyprepare the performance for `Malam Hijau’ or the farewell Green Night.

Mr. Suzuki (Left) from JICA-SDBEC, Ms. Bernadette, Deputy Chairman of SEEN from RDC, with participants from Sabah College, Kota Kinabalu after receiving the certificates.

Day 4This final activity of the camp was an educational visit to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park to introducelocal and exotic wildlife to the participants. Sabah Wildlife Department gave a complimentaryentrance to the group. Besides learning about the animals in the park, the participants also hadthe opportunity to see the interesting and educational animal show.

A group photo at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.

After visiting Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, it was time to say farewell to most of the participants fromthe West Coast schools. Other participants continued to stay for another night at Likas Condotelbefore leaving for Sandakan, Beluran and Kinabatangan the next day.

Lessons learnt & recommendationsThese are compiled from observations, interviews and evaluation activities that have been madethroughout the event:

Lessons learnt Recommendations1. There were various reasons the focal

point of each states could not get participants to attend the camp.PERHILITAN, Pahang: At last minute, they informed us that they could not get funding.Dept. of National Parks, Johor: They also informed us at last minute that they didn't have enough time to source for funding. Although we offered to provide funding after knowing that problem, they have not secured any schools to participate.

We need to identify the actual problems facedby focal points by communicating and furthernetworking with them on how to overcomethe situation in the future. From our own observation, shortage of timewas a factor. As we only had less than 2months to organise the event due to theending of JICA’s fiscal year, it was not enoughespecially when we were getting participantsfrom various states. We need to get permissionfirst from the Ministry of Education, then tothe states Department of Education and finallyto the District Education Department. For this,

Sarawak Forestry Department: Education Department did not allow schools to participated because it was not school holidays.

we should have at least 3-4 monthspreparation to get all these clearance for thestudents.

2. Most participants did not know much about Ramsar.

We need to do a more comprehensive briefingon Ramsar as to give the idea where it is comefrom and why Ramsar sites are globallyimportant. In this camp, the short sharing bythe Jr Rangers was note enough to introduceRamsar to the participants.

3. At the end of the camp, we suggested that the participants continue networking through the Tanak Wetlands Face Book. However, this might not be best way for them.

Get the participant’s idea on how they want tocontinue networking among youngsters andhow it can be done effectively.

4. An accompanying teacher persistently wanted to send home their students ina taxi uncompanied by them on the last day. We strongly opposed to the idea and finally the teacher gave in.

Organiser must always be firm on participant’ssafety before, during and after the event untilall the participants arrive home safely. Makesure the chaperons/ teachers are always thereto ensure this.

5. Do not allow teachers to give other bigtasks to participants as they have togive their full participation in all thescheduled activities.

Organiser must brief accompanying teachersof their roles throughout the event so thatteachers are very clear of their roles andduties.

Conclusion:Although the whole schedule for the camp had to be revised and venue changed at the lastminute, the original objective of introducing paddy cultivation was achieved. However, theobjective to gather and create networking among students from all the Ramsar sites in Malaysiacould not be achieved this time due to reasons explained earlier. Nevertheless, this camp broughttogether 48 students from many parts of Sabah and this too is a good achievement. From thestudents comments, overall, they enjoyed and learnt a lot of new things through the camp. Theyenjoyed the many outdoor activities and the company of new found friends. As we observed,some of them have started communicating through the Tanak Wetlands Facebook and this is apositive sign. RDC will monitor this and all the feedback from participants to improve futureevents.Finally, although there had to be a drastic change of venue and schedule just 2 weeks before theevent due to the flooding in Tenom, great team work among the committee members and goodnetworking with various agencies made all the transitions done smoothly and without muchproblem.