Sama Jaya Nature Reserve

About Sama Jaya Nature Reserve

Sama Jaya Nature Reserve covers an area of approximately 38 hectares and is Sarawak’s first multi-purpose urban forest park. Situated within Kuching’s city limits in the suburb of Tabuan Jaya, 10-15 minute drive from Kuching City Centre and can be reached by taxi and bus. Sama Jaya Nature Reserve consists mostly of Kerangas Forest and provides a valuable green lung for the city, educational and recreational facilities for its people and an important refuge for urban wildlife.

Sama Jaya Nature Reserve occupies part of the former Stutong Protected Forest, one of the oldest protected areas in Sarawak, constituted in 1950. Part of the Protected Forest was gazette as a nature reserve in 2000. The nature reserve is designed to provide an authentic urban wilderness with all its facilities and activities integrated into the natural forest environment.

Sama Jaya Nature Reserve is Sarawak Forest Department’s first urban forestry project. Its   primary objectives are to promote multiple use of forest through encouraging outdoor recreation, nature conservation education and nature-based tourism; create a reserve a ‘green island’ for Kuching city.

Despite its suburban location, Sama Jaya Nature Reserve is a rich reservoir of indigenous wildlife with a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. These include monkey, squirrel, rat, fruit bats, tarsiers, variety birds’ species, lizard, tortoise and frogs.

Recreation activities such as jogging and walking at two jogging tracks and fitness trail that helps to promote path of healthy living. In addition, the visitors can also visit Japanese Garden, Timber and Bamboo Museum, Forest Biology Museum and Ethnobotanical Garden.

2nd Session @ Sama Jaya Nature Reserve

Learning about the forest type

This session introduce the kids to the varieties of forest in Sarawak namely Beach Forest, Mangrove Forest, Peat Swamp Forest, Heath Forest or Kerangas Forest, Riverine Forest, Mixed Dipterocarp Forest, Montane Forest & Lime stone forest. Each forest is different due to three main explanations namely type of soil, climate and topography.

The kids learning the layer of Mixed Dipterocarp Forest (MDF)

In addition, the kids also gain introductory knowledge about the Sarawak’s forest that is zoned as the Permanent Forest Reserve (PFR) and Totally Protected Area (TPA). Based on the Forests Ordinance 1958, PFR is meant for sustainable forest management. There are 3 categories of PFR namely Forest Reserve, Protected Forest and Communal Forest.

The Totally Protected Area conversely is designated and established under the provisions of the National Parks Ordinance, 1956 and Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1958 to generate sustainable benefits for the society. Their roles include conservation, preservation and protection of diverse biodiversity, specific natural geological or physiographical features or archeological site on land and in areas beneath the territorial waters of the State land for recreational, educational and affording opportunities for public appreciation, enjoyment, interest. There are also three categories of TPA namely National Parks, Nature Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

At the end of the session, the kids get the opportunity to explore the Heath or Kerangas Forest in the Malaysiana Trail at Sama Jaya Nature Reserve. Kerangas is an Iban word which implies poor soils & dry. Trees are small, straight & pole like. Height is from 25-30m. The under storey is fairly dense where small shrubs, saplings & palms grow in. Trees have thick bark & small leathery leaves to cut down water loss. Small mammals, squirrel, rat, birds, insects can also be found in this forest.

One of the facilitator explaining about Kerangas Forest

To end the session, the kids also get the opportunity to visit the Bamboo and the

Forest Biology Museum in Samajaya Nature Reserves.

For more photos, please refer to Page :http://juniorwildliferanger.blogspot.com/p/matang-wlc-facilitator-in-action.html

Matang Wildlife Centre

About Matang Wildlife Centre  

Matang Wildlife Centre was established on 25^th of July 1998 by the government as a centre of excellent somewhere that could rehabilitate endangered species before releasing them back to the wild. It is situated at western corner of Kubah National Park which covered the area of 179 ha. Matang, consist of Lowland Forest and Kerangas Forest with some swampy Kerangas Forest.

The objective of MWC establishment is to rehabilitate the confiscated animals and centre for wildlife conservation. Its roles and function are mainly for conservation, research and recreational.

The activities in MWC are jungle trekking to Animal Enclosure Trail, Special Trail, Sungai Sendok Waterfall Trail, and Rayu Trail and having picnic activities at the picnic spot area.

Visitors can stay overnight at the accommodation facilities and camp sites area to enjoy and experience the nature and night creature sounds.