KUCHING, June 29: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has engaged the Tabun, Iban and Lun Bawang ehtnic communities in a preliminary survey to gather baseline data on the development of Gunung Buda National Park as an international ecotourism product.
SFC said that the preliminary survey with communities in the vicinity of Gunung Buda National Park was conducted from June 19 to 24.
“The communities involved were from the Tabun tribe of Kuala Mendalam, Rantau Kura (Iban), Liang Datu (Lun Bawang and Iban), Entakong (Lun Bawang and Iban) and Melaban (Lun Bawang and Iban),” SFC shared in a social media post today.
The objectives of the survey, SFC explained, were to gather baseline data for Totally Protected Area (TPA) on the trail facilities including safety, signages and accommodation.
“It is also to gather baseline data on community socio-economic and ecotourism activities surrounding the park and to assess willingness and readiness among local communities on the development of ecotourism potential at Gunung Buda National Park.”
SFC expressed its highest gratitude for the community’s involvement and cooperation in ensuring the success of the activities.
Located in Ulu Medalam in the Limbang Division of Sarawak, Gunung Buda was gazetted in 2001 as a national park sprawling over 6,235 hectares, encompassing the Mulu Formation and the Gunung Buda limestone massif, which is part of the Melinau Limestone Formation.
The name Gunung Buda, which means “white mountain” in the Penan language, refers to the striking white cliffs and pearl-coloured pinnacle karst which rises 963 metres above the dense jungle floor and stands directly north of Gunung Mulu National Park.
This outstanding region of lowland tropical rainforest has a surprisingly large number of fantastic caves systems, including the longest and deepest caves in Southeast Asia, which can provide an extensive caving experience for locals and international tourists.
Presently, the Gunung Buda National Park is still not open to the public but the government is actively implementing necessary basic infrastructure, especially roads which are currently under construction.
When the Tanah Merah-Mentawai road construction is completed, Gunung Buda will be more accessible to visitors. — DayakDaily
