KOTA KINABALU: People in Kiulu are planning to adopt a tagal system in their forests to preserve the flora and fauna in the district.
The idea of having a tagal system, which limits the entry and activities conducted in specified areas, was mooted by Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Bangkuai, who is also Sabah Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said the proposal follows the success of river tagal, an initiative to regulate fish catches that has since become a tourist attraction.
He said the community’s adoption of the system is an excellent way to demonstrate their ongoing dedication to the preservation of the environment, which includes wild animals that live in surrounding areas.
“The abundance of pristine plants and wildlife in Kiulu has made it a popular destination for eco-tourists.
“While we advocate for the locals to turn their villages into tourist hotspots, we want them to have a deep appreciation for their natural surroundings,” he said during a biosphere reserve roadshow at the Kiulu rainforest park on Friday.
Bangkuai said while he understood that villagers have been hunting for food for generations, he also believed that a regulation should be put into place.
He said while the existing tagal system tries to limit the depletion of freshwater resources, similar approaches should be implemented in the community forest.
He said this would ensure that the forest was free of hunting activity for a set period of time.
