Updates from the Field – behind the scenes of the Reforestation Project for

Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from Borneo. Today, we just wanted to share with you the updates on what goes behind the scenes for the Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve

As you are well aware, due to the partial lockdown in Malaysia, we were only able to run the first maintenance work for 2020 on 4 July 2020. Mr Hoe from Kontraktor Fajar, a subject matter expert at reforestation in the jungles of Sabah, came highly recommended to us from Sabah Forestry Department. Mr Hoe has spent over decades spearheading tree planting and maintenance projects with numerous international and local NGOs to restore the forests in Sabah and has been working closely alongside with Sabah Forestry Department.

Mr Hoe and the team from Kontraktor Fajar did a great job recently with the maintenance work at Brothers Cycling project plots in Bukit Piton. They cleared the tall growing grass and removed creepers & climbers that threatened the healthy growth of the seedlings. As mentioned in previous report in July 2020 for the 4Ha plot, we had to painfully replace in total 145 trees as the some of the trees unfortunately did not make it. The long pause for maintenance work has resulted some plants to lack of exposure to sunshine or tangled by creepers and climbers or destroyed by wildlife.

We are lucky that since 2019, we have dedicated a small part of our home garden to a mini nursery especially dedicated for Bukit Piton. As such we had some tree saplings ready to replace the trees at Bukit Piton. Kontraktor Fajar’s maintenance work for Brother Cycling has been inspected, verified and approved by the Sabah Forestry department to proceed for the next maintenance work due in Oct 2020.

We are also blessed that the team from Sabah Forestry Department took the time to visit Brothers Cycling project site at Bukit Piton on 16 July 2020. It was an insightful meeting as we got to learn a bit more in depth on the efforts that Sabah Forestry Department has taken throughout these years at sustaining and protecting Bukit Piton as a first-class forest reserve.

As we shared with you in the previous newsletter dated 20 Oct 2020, the second maintenance successfully took place in early Oct 2020. We are now in preparation for the next maintenance work. Mr Hoe has collected some trees from our mini nursery last week to take to his nursery which is much closer to Bukit Piton. He and his team has replaced the trees to bigger poly bags and will nurture the trees till it’s time to be planted to Bukit Piton.

Here are some photos that took place since July 2020 for Brothers Cycling Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton.

Updates from the field – chronology

4 July 2020 As soon as the recovery movement control order took place, Kontraktor Fajar went down to Bukit Piton Forest Reserve for surveillance and maintenance work on Brothers Cycling Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton.

4 July 2020 - The team from Kontraktor Fajar is seen here cutting down the tall grass at Brothers Cycling’s Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve

4 July 2020 - The team from Kontraktor Fajar is seen here clearing the space surrounding the replanted trees at Brothers Cycling’s Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve.

6 July 2020 – Simon representing Brothers Cycling went down to the field at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve to replace some of the trees that did not make it during the movement control order.

6 July 2020 – Simon representing Brothers Cycling joined Kontraktor Fajar’s team at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve to replace some of the trees that did not survive due to being tangled by creepers/climbers/overshadowed/ destroyed by wildlife.

Bukit Piton check with Forestry Department Members

16 July 2020. Meeting in the Bukit Piton Forest Reserve between the team at Sabah Foresty Department, - District Forestry Officer Mr Robert, Assistant District Forestry Officer Mr Jackly, Brothers Cycling – Simon and Kontraktor Fajar – Mr Hoe and Simon.

16 July 2020. Standing at the first plot in the Bukit Piton Forest Reserve where Brothers Cycling first started our tree planting project in 2017. Further discussion between the team at Sabah Foresty Department - District Forestry Officer Mr Robert, Assistant District Forestry Officer Mr Jackly, Brothers Cycling – Simon & Itisha and Kontraktor Fajar – Mr Hoe

16 July 2020. Posing at the first plot in the Bukit Piton Forest Reserve where Brothers Cycling first started our tree planting project in 2017.

From Left to Right: Team from Kontraktor Fajar – Mr Simon and Mr Hoe; Team from Sabah Forestry Department: Assistant District Forestry Officer Mr Jackly and District Forestry Officer Mr Robert; Brothers Cycling – Simon and Itisha

16 July 2020. Whilst the adults were having the meeting, our girls Olivia and Emelyn who are very familiar with Bukit Piton are comfortable coloring outside the Sabah Forestry Department staff house.

13 Aug 2020 Simon and nature guide Hendry spent a few nights in Bukit Piton Forest Reserve to inspect the progress of Brothers Cycling tree planting project and also lookout for orangutan and other wildlife observation.

14 Aug 2020 During Simon and nature guide Hendry’s stay at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve, they managed to observe lots of wildlife. This proboscis monkey was one of the wildlife observations they spotted at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve

14 Aug 2020 More proboscis monkeys spotted by Simon and nature guide Hendry during their stay at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve. These proboscis monkeys were seen at the Bole River.

15 Aug 2020 How’s your day been? During Simon and nature guide Hendry’s stay at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve, they managed to observe this male orangutan in the early part of the morning.

Nursery for Bukit Piton Kontraktor Fajar

13 September 2020 – We transferred some plants from Brothers Cycling mini nursery at Bike and Tours to Kontraktor Fajar’s nursery which was closer to Bukit Piton. This is in preparation for the second maintenance work in 2020 for Brothers Cycling Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton.

2 Nov 2020 – This is Brothers Cycling mini nursery in Lahad Datu. The seedlings are taken care of here before being transferred to Kontraktor Fajar’s nursery which is much closer to Bukit Piton.

2 Nov 2020: Simon from Kontraktor Fajar is seen here transferring some of the plants from Brothers Cycling Nursery to Kontraktor Fajar’s nursery in preparation for the next maintenance work.

2 Nov 2020: A view from top on Brothers Cycling mini nursery for Brothers Cycling Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve.

2 Nov 2020: A view from top. Transferring some plants from Brothers Cycling mini nursery to Kontraktor Fajar’s nursery for Brothers Cycling Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve.

July 2020 – One of first places we visited as a family during the Recovery Movement Control Order was Bukit Piton Forest Reserve. This picture was taken when we had picnic near the broken bridge. The girls loves coming here not just for the wildlife observation but also to play and swim at the river.

Above are some of the activities that took place for the Brothers Cycling Reforestation Project for Orangutan Habitat at Bukit Piton Forest Reserve. We hope the above gives you a bit of an idea on the work and the people involved to make this project happen. We wish to thank all of you for giving us the trust to execute and manage this reforestation project. We thank you for your contributions. A special thanks to the Sabah Forestry Department for your support, guidance and advice.

Heres to seeing Bukit Piton Forest Reserve and the hope that the continuous reforestation effort will provide enrich living quality and offer continuous food supply for the endangered Borneo orangutan and other wildlife.

Terima Kasih.

Warmest wishes from Borneo,

Simon and Itisha