better late than never!

Malaysia - Sarawak
Gunung Mulu National Park

LOCATION:
located on the island of Borneo, in northern Sarawak, Malaysia approximately 110 km west of the town of Miri. It lies between the headwaters of the Tutuh River, a tributary of the Baram River, in the Fourth administration Division of Sarawak, and the Medalam River, a tributary of the Limbang river in the Fifth Division. The site extends over an area of 52,864 hectares (528 km2)

PHYSICAL FEATURES:
concentration of caves in Mulu's Melinau Formation with its geomorphic and structural characteristics is an outstanding feature which allows a greater understanding of Earth's history. The caves of Mulu are important for their classic features of underground geomorphology, demonstrating an evolutionary history of more than 1.5 million years. One of the world's finest examples of the collapse process in Karstic terrain can be also found. GMNP provides outstanding scientific opportunities to study theories on the origins of cave faunas. With its deeply-incised canyons, wild rivers, rainforest-covered mountains, spectacular limestone pinnacles, cave passages and decorations.

CLIMATE:
The area is influenced by the north-east monsoon between December and March, and the south-west monsoon between May and October. Rainfall is generally high, with seasonal averages ranging from 4000 to 5000mm. There is no marked dry season, although rainfall does show distinct seasonality, being highest from April to May and October to November, and lowest between August and September. Mean and maximum temperatures in the Melinau lowlands range from 23ºC to 26ºC and at Gunung Mulu between 14ºC to 18ºC.

VEGETATION:
A wide range of soil types and altitudes occur in the nominated site, thus a wide diversity of vegetation formations are represented. Seventeen vegetation zones have been recognised, over 3,500 plant species listed and 1,500 flowering plants identified. The site is considered a Centre of Plant Diversity (WWF & IUCN, 1994-1995).

On the Melinau Limestone Formation, examples of limestone forest occur. This includes limestone scree forest, limestone cliff vegetation, lowland limestone montane forest, upper montane limestone forest and limestone cave vegetation. Many endemic calcerous species are represented in this area; the limestone flora is one of the most diverse and best preserved in Southeast Asia. Examples of such species include Gesneriaceae such as Monophyllae beccarii, M. horsfieldii and Cytandra spp. The palm Salacca rupicola endemic to limestone; occurs ledges and sills.

FAUNA:
A diverse range of faunal species have been recorded within the site, including 81 mammalian species, 270 species of birds, 20,000 species of invertebrates, 55 reptile species, 76 species of amphibians and 48 species of fish. This is only a small proportion of the total number of estimated species.

Important mammal species such as the Malayan Pangolin Manis javanica, 28 species of bats, two species of endemic Borneo squirrels, the tufted ground squirrel, Rheithrosciurus macrotis, and the plain pigmy squirrel Exilisciurus exilis have been identified in the park. The smallest mammal in the world, the Savi’ pigmy shrew, Suncus etruscus, weighing only 2 grams is also found.

To date 28 species of bat have been identified in the park, one of the highest number in South East Asia. Research on the animal is on-going, with more species likely to be recorded in future. Deer Cave contains one of the world’s largest colonies of free tailed bats, the wrinkle-lipped bat Charrephon plicata, numbering approximately three million. This cave also contains the largest number of different bat species in any cave, 12 have been identified to date. The lesser tailess round leaf and the orange-tube nosed bat are examples of bats occurring in the nominated site that have not been seen anywhere else in Borneo.

CULTURAL HERITAGE:
The Penan and Berawan indigenous people live adjacent to the park boundaries. Both groups still have hunting and collecting privileges in subsistence hunting zones within the park. Excavations from Wind Cave by the Sarawak Museum have revealed artefacts and human remains believed to date from 3000 to 500 years before present. The cave is believed to have been used as an ancient burial site, with many of the artefacts being identical to those found at similar sites in the region. Research is still far from complete and may yield other discoveries.

LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION:
The Penan people are found as semi-settled and nomadic groups along the borders of the park and on its boundaries. Two long houses exist along the south-western perimeter of the park at Batu Bungan and Long Iman, a number of Penan are settled here. A nomadic group of this tribe live in the eastern part of the park. The exact number of inhabitants here is currently unknown, however it is thought that it is no more than 10 people.

VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES:
Access to the park is by boat along the Baram and Tutuh Rivers or by air from Miri, Limabang and Brunei Darrusalem. Over 15,000 tourists visit Gunung Mulu National Park annually. Fifty percent are foreign nationals. All visitors require a park permit to enter the park, and must be accompanied by a Park guide.

Four caves (Deer Cave, Lang’s Cave, Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave) have been developed for visitors with cement, timber walkways and electric lighting. In addition seven wild cave trails are open to visitors for adventure caving activities. Restrictions on activities are imposed. An extensive number of hiking trails totaling 37.9 kilometres has also been developed. A variety of accommadation is available for visitors including the 188 room Royal Mulu Resort, 4 chalets, a guest house, hostel accomadation and 4 timber framed buildings. All facilities are concentrated around the park entrance.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES:
Botanical collections have been made in the area since 1961, specimens form which are housed in the Forest Herbarium at Kuchung. The Royal Geographical Society conducted a 15 month long expedition to the park in 1977/78. There have been several caving expeditions to the park, during which the cave systems in the southern portion of the park have been extensively explored. Substantial research has been carried out relating to cave fauna, this has provided a valuable insight into the ecology of such areas in the tropics, and particularly South East Asia.

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT:
A number of management plans have been produced for the nominated site. The first Management and Development plan was prepared in 1982. This was followed by a second management plan in 1992, compiled by the Sarawak Forest Department. This covered activities between 1993-1995. A third management plan is currently being prepared (2000).
High density, low density, traditional use and wilderness zones have been created in the park. High density zones are concentrated around the Park Headquarters and four show caves and four other caves. Visitors are restricted to paths and strict rules governing visitor behaviour are imposed, thus minimising disturbance to the caves and their fauna. Group size is limited to 10 people for the show caves, visiting at 20 minute intervals. Low density zones include the trails and caves open for adventure caving activities. Group size to these areas is limited to six people and one guide, and total carrying capacity for the zones restricted to 60 people per day. Traditional zones are for subsistence hunting and gathering of forest produce. Wilderness zones include 95% of the nominated site’s caves. The general public is not allowed access to these zones, and research is only allowed with permission from the Director of Forests.

Three extensions to the National Park have been proposed. These include the Medalam extension to the north, which would constitute a new National Park covering 6,235ha (Gunung Buda National Park). The proposed Ubung extension on the eastern boundary of the nominated site, covers an area of 16,177ha and protects the Tutuh River. The Lutut extension is proposed on the western boundary of Gunung Mulu National Park, and will protect the Lutut River, a tributary of the Melinau River. If successful these areas would act as a buffer zone for the park.


MANAGEMENT impacts:
Potential threats to the integrity of the nominated site arise from logging, forest fires and development adjacent to its boundary. Some logging activities are known to have occurred just inside the park boundary, these are hard to detect. The park management authority realises that there is a need to increase boundary patrols by foot and helicopter, up to four times a year. During 1997-1998 there were substantial man-made forest fires in Sarawak, originating from small-scale land clearings by local farmers. These were made worse as a result of the severe drought caused by El Nino. Gunung Mulu National Park was not affected by this however natural forest fire destroyed a considerable area of Gunung Api, Gunung Benarat and Gunung Buda in 1997. Natural forest fires are a phenomenon that have historically played an important role in the natural regeneration of vegetation in the area. Other natural disturbances such as flooding, forest damage caused by tropical storms and landslides also occur periodically. Development outside the park has resulted in a number of problems, namely the pollution of parts of the Melinau River and severe erosion of the riverbanks due to forest clearance for housing development and rice cultivation.