THE DANUM VALLEY Conservation Area in Borneo, State of Sabah, Malaysia has the best of both worlds — nature in a pristine state and world-class research facility. Together, they have placed the 438sq km of primary jungle on the international wildlife map, writes MARILYN GERARD.
LOCATED 25km west of Lahad Datu is one of the world’s most complex ecosystems, the Danum Valley Conservation Area.Scientists from the world over come here to study wildlife in a primary forest, with many spending three years researching its scientific wonders and soaking up its charm.Central to the area is the Danum Valley Field Centre (DVFC) set up by the Sabah Foundation, which has been home to researchers, nature students and wildlife lovers for the past 20 years.It is an anomaly: A fully-equipped centre with laboratory, library and computer centre plumb in the centre of what could be the best example worldwide of undisturbed flora and fauna.
Run by the Royal Society South-East Asia Rainforest Research Programme (SEARRP), it provides a platform for research besides conducting training and education programmes. Since its inception in 1986, more than 40 Malaysians have earned their PhDs based on research at the valley. Students from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Australia and the US have also used Danum as a research and training base.DVFC senior scientist Dr Glen Reynolds from UK has been mesmerised by the valley since setting foot there in 2000. The past seven years has seen him completing a PhD in forest rehabilitation besides assuming duties as the resident head of research facilities and 10 research assistants.He makes sure that scientists have equipment for research and do not want for anything.
DVFC is a unique place to work at for both local scientists, as well as foreign scientists. Foreign scientists have benefited by working at DVFC as they had the opportunity to work with experienced Malaysian scientists.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of scientists coming to work at the centre. Many foreigners have come to the area with the assistance of the Sabah Foundation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and the Sabah Forestry Department.
The forest itself is the most important and best protected area, the only primary forest in Malaysia surrounded by natural forests and is well managed by Sabah Foundation.Danum is well known in the United Kingdom due to numerous British scientists having worked at DVFC since 1985. Universiti Sabah Malaysia is one of several local institutions which sends students here. While scientists have done great work at the valley, they have always worked in tandem with research assistants who are the backbone of the system.If you really love nature, Danum is the best place to be in.Its a gift of God."For visitors to the valley, accommodation is available at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge located an hour from DVFC.It can accommodate nearly 60 people at any one time with guides available for trips into the jungle.
