SABAH’S pristine Danum Valley is now more accessible to researchers and visitors thanks to a group of youth volunteers of the Britain-based Raleigh International.

The group, called the “Venturers”, opened a 500m nature trail through the 438sq km rainforest conservation area in the east coast Lahad Datu district.

“We have laid gravel and cut steps and dug drainage channels to protect the path from water damage.

“The trail provides the opportunity for people to see various aspects of the rainforest in its natural environment,” Raleigh International Malay-

sia country director Rory Hall said.

He said the Venturers had identified and prepared areas for two bridges to be built in the future.

The group also helped scientists from the University of Montana in establishing trails for the study of Malaysian sun bears and bearded pigs at the site.

At the Imbak Canyon forest reserve in the state’s south west, Hall said the Raleigh volunteers had started construction of quarters for Wildlife Department rangers.

Besides this, they completed a field centre complex, established recognisable trails into the canyon for researchers and upgraded tracks to a waterfall and jungle camp.

Imbak Canyon is home to a diverse range of wildlife including elephants, orang utans and hundreds of bird species.

Yayasan Sabah, the area’s concession holder, wants to reserve the area as a natural gene bank as part of efforts to protect the state’s biodiversity.

The work in the two areas were among various environmental and community projects undertaken by the Venturers in their 10-week Sabah expedition.

The expedition is now in its third week.

Outside the two areas, the group had begun construction of a kindergarten at Kampung Liu in the north-eastern Pitas district.

“Once completed, the building will serve as a community pre-school building and resource centre.

“A lot of progress has been made. The foundation has been laid and work has started on the floor boards. The building is starting to take shape,” Hall said.

He added that the project was funded by food giant Nestle and the work was done in partnership with Pacos Trust.

Another team of Raleigh volunteers had begun building a chapel at Kampung Lumiri in the interior Keningau district while over in Kinabatangan district on the east coast, the Venturers were helping in the implementation of an eco-tourism project in Kampung Batu Puteh.

Among the activities were the construction of an eco-lodge, bird hides and trails necessary for sustainable tourism at the Lower Kinabatangan River.

Part of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Malaysia's Model of Ecologically Sustainable Community Tourism project, the Venturers helped construct a boardwalk from the river to make access to the eco-lodge easier.

Hall said that other activities of the group included clearing an oxbow lake near Kampung Batu Puteh of salvinia molesta weed, upgrading and maintaining trails in the Crocker Range, and collecting data on the condition or coral and fish in Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park near Kota Kinabalu.

Comprising youths aged between 17 and 25, the 135 Venturers were from seven countries including Malaysia.

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