Nature in Brunei

Brunei's nature includes seven forest types: mangroves, beach forest, freshwater swamp, peat swamp, kerangas or tropical heath forest, mixed dipterocarp forest and montane forest. Mixed dipterocarp forest accounts for approximately 41 percent of the forests. Mangroves are concentrated particularly in Brunei Bay and cover about 18,418 hectares according to available figures. Freshwater swamps cover about 12,668 hectares, especially in Belait and Tutong, while peat swamps in the Belait and Badas area cover more than 90,000 hectares. Figures for the country's total forest share differ depending on the source and reference year; approximately 72 percent, about 81 percent or more than 70 percent are cited. These figures cannot readily be equated. Forest Reserves cover approximately 41 percent of the country, the National Forest Policy sets a target of at least 55 percent, and the Heart of Borneo covers about 58 percent of the country's area. The protection system is based mainly on the main forest law (Forest Act) and the implementing forest regulations (Forest Rules). It distinguishes, among others, Protection Forests, Production Forests, Recreational Forests, Conservation Forests and National Parks. Important areas include Ulu Temburong National Park and the forests of Batu Apoi, the peatlands of Belait and Badas, the mangroves of Brunei Bay, Tasek Merimbun, Bukit Batu-Sungei Ingei and coastal forests in Kerangas. Tasek Merimbun is known as the Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park (Taman Warisan Tasek Merimbun). However, designation as an ASEAN Heritage Park does not automatically confer Ramsar status (Ramsar); a current Ramsar status for Tasek Merimbun is not documented. The sea is also part of Brunei's natural environment. Marine protected areas cover more than 20 percent of the designated fisheries management zone (Fisheries Management Area) and protect, among other things, coral reefs and nursery and breeding grounds. The trawl-licence moratorium has been in place since 2001. Catching and trading shark fins have been prohibited since 2012. The Department of Fisheries links marine protection with sustainable fisheries and nature-based tourism. Protected or characteristic species include the proboscis monkey, orangutan, Borneo pit viper, clouded leopard, several hornbill species, the dugong, and green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles. The Badas peat area is known for populations of Shorea albida. The national BRUN herbarium and the Botanical Research Centre of Universiti Brunei Darussalam document plants; the centre manages more than 500 tropical plant species on six hectares. The Forestry Department administers the National Forest Estate, forest management, protected areas, wildlife, recreation, enforcement and restoration. The Department of Fisheries handles marine protected areas and marine biodiversity. The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood is the administrative authority for the international wildlife-trade convention (CITES). CITES is the international convention controlling trade in endangered wild animals and plants. The Department of Museums and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports are associated with the Wild Life Protection Act and the work of Game Wardens. The biodiversity research institute (UBD-IBER) and the Kuala Belalong field research centre (Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre) conduct research, education and monitoring. Information about the responsibilities of individual government bodies can differ between government websites; the current responsibility should be checked directly before submitting an application. The wildlife protection law (Wild Life Protection Act) prohibits hunting, killing or capturing protected animals without an appropriate licence. Selling and possessing animals, trophies or meat may also require a licence. In a Wildlife Sanctuary, hunting, removal, fires, construction, clearing and collecting are prohibited, among other activities. Written permission from the chief wildlife warden (Chief Game Warden) may allow statutory exceptions. Import, export and re-export of protected species are additionally governed by the 2007 wildlife and flora trade order (Wild Fauna and Flora Order 2007). According to available figures, a wildlife export licence under Cap. 102 costs BND 50 per animal or BND 30 per month. On state land, Forest Produce may be removed only with a licence. For restricted forest areas (Restricted Forests), access may, depending on the circumstances, be through licensees or officers, an entry permit (Entry Permit), or authorisation from the Director. A breach of the Forest Act's access provisions may be punishable by a fine of up to BND 10,000 or up to three years' imprisonment. Form-1 licences may be valid for no more than twelve months, Form-2 licences for no more than one month and Form-3 licences for no more than three months. Form 1 and Form 3 may involve a deposit, royalty and further conditions. The environmental protection and management order (Environmental Protection and Management Order Cap. 240) additionally establishes a permit and environmental-assessment framework covering, among other things, peat and mangrove conversion, drainage and clearing near parks or catchments. Many recreation areas are publicly accessible, including Bukit Shahbandar with 384 hectares, Berakas with 348 hectares, Luagan Lalak with 270 hectares, Pulau Selirong with 2,566 hectares, Bukit Patoi with 997 hectares and Ulu Temburong with 46,210 hectares. Tumpuan Telisai covers about 2.62 hectares, Sungai Liang about 66 hectares and Tasek Merimbun approximately 2,500 hectares. Access, opening hours, fees and local rules differ. For Ulu Temburong, registration takes place at the headquarters; in practice, an organised tour is usually useful. A tourism listing gives opening hours there as 8 to 18, and on Fridays as 8 to 12 and 14 to 18. The Forestry websites do not list a general entrance fee, while commercial tour prices are separate and changeable. Research and educational programmes range from annual projects for upper-secondary schools (PRYNSA) to community work, reforestation and restoration. IBER works, among other things, with one-hectare study plots, 0.25-hectare elevation plots and a 25-hectare KBFSC plot. Research in protected areas and the removal or export of material require Entry or export permits depending on the project. General public price or deadline tables for research access are not documented. Natural pressures include seasonal northeast and southwest monsoons, drier months around February and March, drought intensified by El Niño, flash floods, erosion, forest and peat fires, and smoke pollution. Drainage and degradation increase fire risk in peatlands. Sea-level rise and salinisation place pressure on peatlands and wetlands; warming, acidification and storms threaten coral reefs. Further pressures arise from invasive species, pollution, illegal removal, wildlife trade, habitat fragmentation and development or tourism pressure. These create conflicts between land development and forest connectivity, production forestry and protection, marine conservation and fisheries, and public access and the quiet needed by sensitive habitats.