BBYB 2020

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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2020

Brunei Darussalam is best known for its lush and

pristine tropical rainforest. The Government of

His Majesty has taken the steps and initiatives

to preserve Brunei’s cherished jungles to avoid

activities that might compromise its rich natural

resources such as deforestation and habitat loss.

By taking care of greenery, the country has turned

itself into one of Southeast Asia’s top ecotourism

spots.

The majority of the pristine rainforest – at 70 per

cent – is preserved as the Ulu Temburong National

Park situated in the Temburong District, while 58

per cent is under legal protection. This was made

possible through the Heart of Borneo initiative, a

tri-lateral agreement signed by Brunei, Malaysia

and Indonesia to protect the lush ecosystem

against any acts of devastation against the

rainforests. The Ulu Temburong National Park is

known to host an unimaginable range of diversity

and is home to some of the world’s rarest species.

Exotic animals that reside in the vast expense of

Ulu Temburong National Park include long-nosed

horned frogs, proboscis monkeys, flying lizards,

crested firebacks and rhinoceros hornbills.

In November 2019, the ‘Explore Labi’ project was

launched to establish Mukim Labi as a sustainable

eco-tourism spot and wildlife sanctuary. With an

area of about 47,784 hectares, Mukim Labi is

ideal for educational outings and adventures

including summer camping, extra-curricular and

team-building activities, as well as getaways

and outward-bound programmes. There are also

trails for trekking towards two popular waterfalls,

Wasai Wong Kadir and Wasai Teraja. Mukim Labi

is home to over 300 species of wildlife that are

native to Borneo, 81 frog species, more than 10

species of snakes and reptiles, as well as over 150

species of forest birds.

Ecotourism