Urban Forestry

1
Urban Forestry Its Relevance to Tourism
Development in Sabah
ASEM Symposium on Urban Forestry, China, Nov-Dec
2004

• by
• Y.F. Lee, J. Ligunjang S.C. Yong
• Forestry Department, Sabah, Malaysia

?? ??? J. Ligunjang ???
2
This presentation..

• Definition of Urban Forestry
• Benefits of Trees Forests in Urban Areas
• Urban Centres in Sabah
• Urban Forestry Potential under Different
  Conditions
• Current Status of Urban Forestry in Sabah
• Relationship of Urban Forestry to Tourism
• Closing Notes

3
What is Urban Forestry ?

• Urban settlements
• gt 5,000 as urban centre (Hardoy Satterthwaite,
  1986)
• gt 20,000 as urban, gt 100,000 (city), gt5 million
  (big cities), United Nations (1991)
• gt 10,000 as urban centre (Sabah Integrated
  Coastal Zone Management Project, ICZM)

4
is the planned, integrated systematic approach
to the management of trees in urban periurban
areas for their contribution to the
physiological, sociological and economic
well-being of urban society. Urban forestry is
multifaceted it deals with woodlands, groups of
trees, and individual trees where dense
conglomerations of people live, involves a wide
variety of habitats (streets, parks, derelict
corners, etc) is concerned with a great range
of benefits problems. (Carter,1995)
Urban Forestry
5
Benefits of Trees Forests In Urban Areas..
Environmental Materials
Air pollution control Noise pollution control Beautification of towns cities Slope stabilisation erosion control Shade regulation of microclimate Enhancement of water infiltration into soil Biodiversity conservation Protection of water catchment Food Fodder Timber, fuelwood poles Spices Fibres Medicines Others non-timber products
6
Urban Centres in Sabah

• Sabah2.822 mil. population in a land area 73,620
  km2 38/km2 population density
• 15 towns/cities in Sabah1.29 mil. or 45.6 of
  population
• Malaysia 62 urban population (2000)

7
Table 1. Population of cities / towns for past 15
years (World Gazetteer, 2004)  
8
Urban Forestry Potential under Different
Conditions

• Urban forestry not actively practised in
  Sabah, but it is instructive to evaluate the
  potential of urban forestry under different
  circumstances
• Potential of urban forestry under different
  conditions of land cover (refer to Appendix 4)
• The relationship of land ownership to access
  the potential of establishing or maintaining
  urban forests trees (refer to Appendix 5)

9
Current Status of Urban
Forestry in Sabah

• Urban Centres recently established
• Urban forestry activities which have been carried
  out are mainly confined to
• Management of some forested land
• Planting maintenance of ornamental trees

Kota Kinabalu Rainforest City Sandakan
Nature City Tawau Planters Land (Bumi
Peladang)
10
Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary

• Wetland-in-a-city
• Located 2km from Kota Kinabalu city centre
• Covers 24 ha mangrove forest
• Bird watching activities (over 83 species of
  birds)
• Education public awareness
• 1.5km board walk (resting huts, observation
  towers and outdoor classroom)
• Managed by Likas Wetland Sanctuary Management
  Committee

Mudskippers
Great Egret
Fiddler Crab
Back
1.5 board walk
11
SandakanRainforest Park

• 210 hectares about 8km from Sandakan city
  centre
• Type locality of more than 70 species of trees
  and other plants
• Forest of very high scientific historical value
• Facilities120 parking lots, 3 km of jogging
  trails/ bicycle track administration building
• Being planned Observation towers, camping site,
  picnic ground, nature trails with pavilions,
  exhibition hall, visitors centre
  interpretation centre
• Managed by Sabah Forestry Department

Back
12
Gemok Hill Information Centre

• In Gemok Hill Forest Reserve (virgin jungle)
  which covers 446 hectares about 11 km from
  Tawau city centre.
• Favourite activities jungle trekking, hiking,
  camping sightseeing.
• Facilities Canopy walkway, information centre,
  pavilions, staff quarters, childrens playground,
  nature trails, etc
• Managed by Sabah Forestry Department

13
Relationship of Urban Forestry to Tourism
14
Relationship of Urban Forestry to Tourism

• Top 5 countries of origin of tourists
• Indonesia (34), Philippines (25), Taiwan /
  Republic of China (24), Brunei (11) Singapore
  (6)
• Target 2.7 mil. arrivals (2007), 113 increase
  in 4 years
• Estimated tourist receipt RM 2 billion (2004)
• One of the main reasons for tourists to come to
  Sabah is to enjoy its nature and wildlife.
• Many of these ecotourist destinations in close
  proximity to or within the urban centres, making
  Sabah nature at the doorstep for visitors to
  enjoy.
• It is important for those aspects of urban
  forestry which support tourism, particularly
  ecotourism, to be given high priority urgent
  attention.

15
Cities / towns which serve as gateway to
popular ecotourist destinations in Sabah
City / Town Popular Ecotourist Destinations
Kota Kinabalu Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park Kinabalu Park Poring Hot Spring Rafflesia Information Centre Crocker Range National Park Kawang Recreational Forest
Sandakan Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre / Sepilok Forest Reserve Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Gomantong Caves Selingan Turtle Islands Lankayan Island Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Tawau Maliau Basin Tawau Hill Park Sipadan Island Madai Caves Madai Waterfall
Lahad Datu Danum Valley Darvel Bay Tabin Wildlife Reserve
?? ??? ?? ??
16
Cities / towns which serve as gateway to popular
ecotourist destinations in Sabah
17
Closing Notes

• Urban forestry is practised only to a limited
  extent in Sabah
• Tourism is an important economic sector
• With tourism high on the development agenda in
  Sabah, there is a need to promote urban forestry
• Urban forestry provides locals visitors the
  numerous social, environmental economic
  benefits.

18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• State Government of Sabah
• Director of Forestry, Sabah
• Organiser of ASEM Symposium on Urban Forestry,
  2004

19
Thank you!