By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 14: The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) is in the final phase of preparing the official nomination dossier for Mount Pueh in Lundu as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, marking a significant milestone in Sarawak’s ongoing efforts to strengthen biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.
The initiative follows approval by the Sarawak State Cabinet (MMKN) on Nov 18, 2025, paving the way for the State’s bid to secure international recognition for the ecologically rich forest landscape.
In a statement posted on its social media, FDS said a preparatory meeting and site visit briefing were held yesterday (May 13) at the Baitul Makmur II Building, chaired by Deputy Director of Forestry (Conservation & Development) Happysupina Sait.
The session also involved academic experts from the International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), who provided technical input to ensure the nomination fully aligns with requirements under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme.
Key discussions centred on finalising the nomination dossier ahead of submission to UNESCO, refining the required zoning framework comprising Core, Buffer and Transition Zones, as well as preparing for the upcoming technical site visit to the Gunung Pueh Forest Reserve in Lundu.
FDS said the initiative reflects its continued commitment to safeguarding Sarawak’s biodiversity while elevating the State’s natural heritage onto the global stage through the UNESCO biosphere reserve network.
According to Grokipedia, Mount Pueh (Malay: Gunung Pueh), also known as Mount Pueh–Berumput or Mount Poi, is a prominent mountain range straddling the international border between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, Indonesia, located about 100 km northwest of Kuching in the Lundu District.
The range rises to a maximum elevation of approximately 1,550 metres above sea level at its highest peak, Gunung Berumput (also known as Bukit Kanyi). It features rugged, multi-summit terrain, including Gunung Pueh (1,297 m) and Gunung Bentarana (1,310 m), with steep ridges, waterfalls, and diverse forest zones that transition from lowland dipterocarp to lower montane ecosystems.
On the Malaysian side, the range forms the core of Gunung Pueh National Park, gazetted on Jan 15, 2015 under the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998.
Covering 5,831 hectares of protected rainforest managed by the Forest Department Sarawak, the park is classified as IUCN Category II (National Park) and conserves two main habitat zones: lowland forest below 1,100 metres and lower montane forest above that elevation. These habitats support high levels of biodiversity within Borneo’s endemic-rich ecosystems.
Notable flora includes seasonal blooms of Rafflesia species (typically between November and February), while its fauna includes mid- to large-sized mammals such as bearded pigs (Sus barbatus), sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), and clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi), alongside hornbills and at least 26 bird species recorded in surveys.
Access from the Malaysian side is mainly via trails beginning at Kampung Sebako, with summit hikes typically taking 5–6 hours through river crossings, piped water trails, and boulder fields. Local guides are recommended for safety, navigation, and environmental protection.
Historically, the area attracted early scientific exploration, including Italian naturalist Odoardo Beccari in the 1860s and Swedish botanist Eric Mjöberg in 1923, both of whom documented its rich biodiversity.
Today, it remains an active site for ecological research, including camera-trap studies on mammal populations, and was nominated in February 2025 as Sarawak’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
A triangulation pillar at the summit highlights its geopolitical significance, while viewpoints such as Bukit Gondol offer sweeping vistas of the range and nearby Pugu Beach.
The initiative underscores the area’s potential as a model for balancing conservation with sustainable local livelihoods through zoned protection, combining strict core preservation with buffer areas that support community use. — DayakDaily
