reforestation sites

Regrow Borneo have identified five areas of the Sawit Kinabalu Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPCA) for our restoration work. The total area for potential reforestation in the SPCA is 800-hectare.  

The second area is part of the Pin Supu Forest Reserve. This is an area of severely degraded forest reserve that is protected by the Sabah Forestry Department. Here we have identified an area of 1800 Ha that can be reforested. Due to the nature of the forest in Pin Supu, we will plant at a higher density and have the possibility of planting up to 18 million trees.

Trees in the Kinabatangan can technically be planted at any time of year however given the fact that some of our sites are prone to flooding, the planting will mostly take place immediately after the rainy season, which lasts from October to March approximately.

We plant native rainforest trees, best adapted to the habitat, with seeds collected and planted by our community partners.  By planting a mix of native trees, adapted to the terrain, we will ensure the best results for biodiversity.

  • Kaboi lake

    Kaboi Lake was the very first site that Regrow Borneo worked on. It is in an area of freshwater swamp located next to an oxbow lake (a lake formed from an old bend in the river). The low-lying terrain here means that this site floods for months at a time during the rainy season. Before replanting, the few trees that had survived previous logging were heavily covered in vines often bending under their weight. The thick vine coverage prevented younger trees from developing.

    This site is approximately a kilometre from the river bank. Access is by boat, and hike through the forest.

  • kaboi stumping

    The Kaboi Stumping site is a former landing pad for logging activities. It sits within a zone of seasonal flooding. The soils here have been strongly altered and compacted by heavy machinery that has crossed the site.
    Despite logging activity coming to an end in the 1980s, the area remained treeless, dominated by elephant grass and vines.

    Access to this site is via boat and a hike through the forest.

  • Laab Swamp

    This is a seasonally flooded and permanently waterlogged area of freshwater forest – and is one of the most challenging areas that Regrow Borneo is working to restore.

    Trees find it difficult to take root in these conditions, due to a lack of oxygen. The planting team has experimented with a variety of planting techniques, including pole planting, to try and overcome this challenge.

    Access by boat and a hike through the forest.

  • Ladang Riperian Reserve

    This is an area of land bordering the Kinabatangan River and oil palm plantations. Its location means it is one of the more accessible sites for tree planting. It is also considered a low risk area for tree mortality.

    Access is by boat.
     

  • Sungai Pin

    Located slightly upstream of the main local village of Batu Puteh, this was an area that was selectively logged, abandoned and colonised by rattan vines. This site is riparian in nature, but at lower elevation so it spends much of the rain season under water. We have opened 4 sites here in 2022