Sunday, July 14, 2013

Make a date with Santubong Nature Festival Nov 9 & 10/ 2013


Dear all,  
The Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch (MNSKB) is pleased to announce that it will be organising the inaugural Santubong Nature Festival this November.

Scheduled to be held at Permai Rainforest Resort in Santubong on 9th and 10th November, the event is opened to MNS members and the public. Schools in Kuching and Santubong as well as local community living in Santubong are also invited to take part in the festival.

The festival is co-organised with Permai Rainforest Resort and supported by Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology, Sarawak Museum Deparmtent, Sarawak Tourism Board, Sarawak Photo Art Society, Friends of Sarawak Museums, Sarawak Heritage Society and all chapters of Hash House Harriers in Kuching.

The objectives of Santubong Nature Festival are:
To raise public awareness of the priceless natural and historical – local and global - heritage value of the Santubong Peninsula;
To advocate for a holistic and integrated approach to development and management of the area  safeguarding its unique landscape, biodiversity and historical assets;
To showcase the tourism and recreational potential of the natural and cultural values of the Santubong Peninsula; and
To stimulate reflection on responsible and sustainable further management of the peninsula and its surroundings.

Interesting activities highlighting Santubong peninsula’s natural, historical and cultural heritage such as multi-sport treasure hunt, heritage & heritage walks, talks and tree planting will be held at Permai Rainforest Resort during the festival.

Lead up activities to Santubong Nature Festival such as photography contest, boat trips, talks and ‘Secret Rooms’ tour will be held in Kuching and Santubong peninsula as well between now and November. So watch out for our Facebook page for updates at www.facebook.com/SantubongNatureFestival or http://santubongnaturefestival.blogspot.com/

In conjunction with the festival, MNSKB and Sarawak Photo Art Society are organising the Santubong Peninsula Landscape Photography Competition that runs from now to 31st August 2013

This photography is open to the public and submission period is from 1st September 2013 to 7th September 2013. Entry will close on the 7th September 2013, 12:00 noon. For registration, full rules and regulations, please visit the blog and Facebook page.

MNSKB, as a local environmental NGO, is very concerned with the overall development and well-being of Santubong peninsula. It recognises the need to develop the area but that development should be well-planned so that development would not degrade the iconic mountain.

Land clearing for housing, tall buildings and a proposed cable car to the peak of the mountain could alter the landscape and scar Santubong’s aesthetic visual value if not properly planed. Development taking place without sensitivity to historical and archaeological considerations would also produce many irreversible problems.

It is hoped that the Santubong Nature Festival will help to address these through greater public awareness and eventually advocate for a holistic, sustainable and integrated approach to development and management of the area. So, make a date with us.

For more information, visit the festival’s Facebook page or blog. 
 A view of Mount Santubong from Kampung Bako in early morning./ Zora Chan.

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