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Environmental Conservation and Community Empowerment in Borneo

Location Borneo
Start Date 2nd and 4th Saturday of the Month
Duration
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The Project

This volunteer project in Borneo is based on the banks of the stunning Kinabatangan River; an extremely biologically diverse area where orangutans, gibbons, proboscis monkeys, langur monkeys, Borneo pygmy elephants, crocodiles and a whole host of wild and wonderful bird species live. This project is a unique initiative that is run for the community by the community. It was set up to protect the forest habitat, wildlife and biodiversity of the local area while preserving the livelihood of the local population. Volunteers get involved with conservation and community work during their stay meaning that everyone who lives in the area benefits from the work being done, from the orangutans to their slightly less hairy cousins - humans!
Why the project needs you

Fragmented and degraded forests are the most critical threats to the survival of Borneo’s 10 primate, and various other, species. The two major factors that have contributed to the degradation in the area have been forest fires and the uncontrolled poaching of timber.

The area surrounding the local community was devastated by raging forest fires in 1983 and then again in 1998. Studies showed that, after the 1983 fires, almost zero natural regeneration occurred during the proceeding 20 years. The project was started to help regenerate the areas destroyed by the fire but with such a large area destroyed, volunteer support is very much needed. It is not only the forest that needs conserving: the nearby lake which is a vital source of fish for the locals and also the location of the Eco Camp run by the project requires constant conservation from the noxious water weed, Salvinia Molesta, which, if left unchecked, choke critical wetland habitats, turning once pristine lakes, freshwater swamps and tributaries into festering sludge pits. Volunteers are needed for both reforestation and lake conservation work. In addition to this, volunteers are also needed to take part in community work including teaching, house/school renovations, and helping to repair the locals boats.

Project Location

The project is situated in the small village of Mengaris, located on the banks of the beautiful Kinabatangan River. This massive river flows swiftly for an impressive 560km out of the rugged mountainous interior of Borneo to the north-east coast in the Malaysian State of Sabah. Most of its upper reaches are steaming uninhabited jungles. The Lower Kinabatangan – where the project is based - slows immensely to meander through an endless floodplain which forms the agricultural heartland of Sabah. What remains of the native rainforests along the floodplain is both unique and amazing due to its geography, rainforest biodiversity, and the astounding array of wildlife species still able to survive in the ever-changing landscape.
Project Facts

•Duration: 2 - 26 weeks
•Cost: £775 ($1356) for 2 weeks, £185 ($324) for every extra week
•Requirements: age 18+
•Location: Mengaris Village, Malaysian Borneo
•Project activities: Tree-planting, lake restoration, teaching, house/school renovations, Trail maintenance, wildlife survey
•Working hours: 08:00 - 17:00 Monday –Friday, schedule may vary
• Project availability: All year round, pick-up day is 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month
What is included

• Accommodation: Single or shared room in a homestay
• Food: 3 meals per day
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Training: Pre-departure information pack, on-site Orientation and project induction provided
• Daily transfers to and from your project.
• Support: 24 hour support from on-site coordinator
• Activities: All volunteers get the chance to learn local cooking and dancing. Staff can help you to plan your weekend activities
What is not included

• Flights
• Insurance
• Visas

Your life outside the project

The area you will be staying in is quite rural. Once you finished your project you can head down to the small shopping area where you can snack on scrumptious Indian roti and dahl and drink chai (Indian tea). There’s plenty of children in the local area so you can join them for a game of volleyball or football, or you can just hang out in your homestay. The majority of the time you will be sharing your homestay (and sometimes your room) with other volunteers and the homestays are fairly close together so you will never be far from other volunteers to spend your evening with. All volunteers also get the opportunity to spend 2 nights in the eco-camp that is run by the project.

The homestays are all located close to a major highway so weekend travel is pretty easy as buses pass by quite frequently. If you enjoy diving then there are some great diving opportunities in the town of Semporna and some of it’s surrounding areas. This is around a 3 hours bus journey from the project.

There are a number of national parks within a few hours of the project including Sepilok, Danum Vally, Sipadan Island and the Tabin Nature Reserve – the largest wildlife reserve in Sabah. Here you can see rhinos, elephants and orangutans in their natural environment.
Ideas for Independent Travel

Mount Kinabalu

At 4095 metres high, Mount Kinabalu is South East Asia’s highest peak. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding areas are one of the most popular biological sites in the world with over 4500 species of plant, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species identified – including orangutans and many varieties of monkeys. If you choose to climb Kinabalu you’ll spend a night in sleeping in basic rooms on the mountain and then get up at 4am in order to reach the summit at sunrise – a truly spectacular experience!

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

The Tabin Wildlife Reserve is the largest wildlife reserve in Malaysia. It was created in 1984 primarily because of the large number of animals that inhabited its forests many of which are highly endangered. Among the species that reside within the reserve are: the Borneon Pygmy Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros and Tembadau; nine species of primate including orangutans, as well as three species of cats all of which are on the protected wildlife list. The reserve is thought of as one of best areas for wildlife viewing. Another highlight of a visit to Tabin are it’s active and mineral-rich mud volcanoes, which attract frequent visits from wildlife for their mineral intake and present an ideal platform for wildlife observation and bird-watching.

Turtle Islands

This idyllic little cluster of islands straddles the Malaysian and Philippine boundaries lying within the Sulu Seas. Turtle Islands are generally regarded one of the best destinations in Malaysia for their unique marine wildlife and also, most importantly, as the primary breeding ground for Green turtles in all of South East Asia. On most evenings, masses of turtles make their journey to the beach to lay their eggs.

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