Call it a victory for conservationists or non-government organisations (NGOs) or better still, for mankind. The biodiversity-rich Maliau Basin in Sabah has not only been gazetted as a first-class forest reserve, it is also likely to be declared a world heritage site.

The 600sq km crater-like pristine forest area, which is uninhabited by human beings, has been described as Sabah's lost world and contains one of the best eco-systems on earth with its numerous waterfalls and large varieties of fauna and flora.

"It has also been the site of numerous scientific expeditions over the years since its declaration as a first class forest reserve," Sarawak Tourism Board chairperson Tengku Dr Zainal Abidin told malaysiakini in Kuching today.

"We are starting the process to have Maliau Basin declared as a world heritage area but this could take years before it happens," he said, adding that as a first-class forest reserve it will remain protected for conservation purposes permanently.

If and when declared a world heritage site, Maliau Basin, which is larger than the island of Singapore, will be the third such site after Mount Kinabalu and Mount Mulu in Sarawak.

"This is indeed very good news for NGOs who have been campaigning for many years to protect the Maliau Basin and its surrounding areas from coal mining," said Environmental Action Committee Sabah executive operations chairperson Dr Henry Chok (right) when met at the same venue.

Aerial evidence

Chok, who is also founder and former chairperson of Environmental Protection Sabah, said he flew in a helicopter over the nearby Kalabakan area after complaints were received less than a year ago about illegal logging in the area supported by aerial photographic evidence.

Following the aerial inspection which confirmed what had happened, he said the local media highlighted the matter which subsequently led to the halting of further illegal activities.

However, a large area had already been felled and cleared and even planted with acacia magnium, which is said to be part of a proposed 250,000-hectare pulp and paper project for which a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed.

Later, those involved decided not to proceed with the project.

"We questioned the authorities on the purported paper and pulp project, on the forest clearing and why there was no environmental impact assessment (EIA) study report," said Chok.

"What is now left on the ground if you see from the air is a large scar. But we are now concerned about a proposal to turn the area into plantation," he said of the illegal logging that had been going on in the 250,000-hectare pristine forest area.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.