Wetland Lake Restoration - MESCOTKinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysian BorneoSalvinia molesta is an exotic and noxious water weed in the waterways ofeastern Sabah Borneo. Reported to have been introduced in the early 1990s,this invasive water fern is presently engulfing the wetlands of the LowerKinabatangan, choking critical wetland habitats, turning once pristine lakes,freshwater swamps and tributaries into festering sludge pits. Floods of 2001 introduced Salvinia into the Tungog Lake. Tears of dismayand anger were the only thing to describe the MESCOT teams initialrealisation as one of their village’s traditional fishing grounds were engulfed.Within a short 16 months this 18ha oxbow lake was completely covered. In2005 when MESCOT team members attempted to remove the Salvinia morethan 1m of Salvinia sludge already lined the bottom of this endangeredaquatic habitat. Today the lake remains only 4-5m deep. Through the funding support of Alexander Abraham Foundation (NY) theMESCOT team piloted the removal of Salvinia in late 2005. It took 14 monthsof grueling hard labour to finally removal the surface cover of Salvinia. Today the MESCOT team cleans the lake on a monthly basis supported byfunds raised through tourism and volunteer support. * For more information, or to arrange a stay contact KOPEL Office
Before (2002-2005)
After (2007)
Salvinia today...Learn more about the damage and continuing struggleagainst this water weed...read more...
Epic Conservation Story...In the face of much debate and scepticism theMESCOT Initiative proves itself worthy of ...read more...