langkawi magazine
Nature SECTION
Scientific and Heritage Expedition Langkawi News, 10 April 2003
Today, 10 April 2003 marks a very important day for science and conservation in Malaysia.
The sun was smiling brightly, the wind was blowing gently as a big crowd of approximately 150 scientists from varsities (UM, UKM, USM & UPM), research institutes (MARDI, IMR, FRIM, World Fish Centre, SIRIM etc), government agencies (LADA, Forestry Department, Fisheries Department, JKR) and volunteers, gathered together on the gecko friendly ground of the Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort, Langkawi, to witness the official launch and thus their declaration as proud members of the Scientific and Heritage Expedition Langkawi by the State Exco for Tourism and Environment, Y.B Dato' Hj. Osman Aji, on behalf of the Chief Minister of Kedah, Y. Bhg. Dato' Syed Razak bin Syed Zain.
Langkawi, like many other area which are rich in natural heritage needs to be protected and conserved for the future generation. Nostalgic about his trekking trips into the impressive forest area on the island as a young man, Dato' Dr. Hashim Abd Wahab, the 
Expedition's Organizing Committee Chairman's expressed his hopes that all will still be there for his grandchildren and great grandchildren to appreciate and in turn protect for their successors in the opening speech. And that has been the Malaysian Nature Society's struggle for more than 60 years, explained the President of the association, Dato' Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor. Through various activities, run either by the MNS HQ, or the 14 MNS branches, or its many special interest groups, or the MNS School Nature Clubs, the organisation tries to instill the appreciation, promotion and study of our natural heritage. That is why MNS has taken the initiative to organize this Scientific and Heritage Expedition Langkawi.
The expedition, which hopes to unveil new and exciting findings for both the scientific world and Malaysia. It would also bring together scientific records previously recorded by other research teams. Data collected would be useful in the formation of the 'Sustainable Eco-Tourism Development Plan' for Langkawi islands.
Starting this afternoon, the 39 multi disciplined scientific teams will start their work. Some have actually already started yesterday, surveying freshwater species at Temurun and Telaga Tujuh (Seven Wells) waterfalls. The team was lead by a young researcher, Amirrudin Ahmad from the World Fish Centre, Penang and they managed to record, among others, the Anguilla marmorata (see pix below). Our ornithologists (that's birders to you and me) have also had a very successful day yesterday, spotting among others, a few Oriental Pied Hornbills (see pix on the right) and a flock of Chestnut-capped Bee-eaters.
Langkawi 10/4/2003
