Yee is making a difference with just certified timber

A TALK on responsible ways of harvesting timber and the difference it would make to Sabah wildlife has had its effect on Alexander Yee.

The man hopes to be officially recognised as the first hospitality chalet owner in Asia to use Forest Stewardship Council-standard certified timber.

Residents are learning to recycle rubbish after finding out that there is money to be made from selling plastic bottles and tinned cans. (Courtesy of News Straits Online)

“We were told about responsible ways of logging. This includes making sure trees are replanted and that workers are well managed, too,” says Yee.

“I realised that I had to do something after studying the whole sequence of being able to track where wood comes from and making sure that child labour is not used.

“I sat with some people from WWF Malaysia and thought it might be worth exploring the use of certified wood.

“It was really challenging because there are only three or four suppliers in Sabah who have certified wood but they don’t supply locally because there is no demand.

“Timber with certification based on FSC standards is expensive.”

Next, he surfed the Internet and came across the British-based Soil Association which has a certification scheme known as Woodmark which complies with standards set by the FSC.

Soil Association, after an exchange of emails with Yee, informed him that they had checked with other certification bodies and found that no one had requested pioneer status on the use of FSC-standard timber for hospitality lodges in Asia.

“I found that very exciting as I may just be the first lodge operator in Asia to use FSC-standard certified timber, provided I can build the chalets on time.

“I will have to wait for the rainy season to be over before starting construction on another 12 chalets.

“We need to finish the project by March or April to be recognised as the first lodge in Asia to use certified timber.”

Yee, who is the general manager of Nature Lodge Kinabatangan, also plans to build another 12 chalets.

“Soil Association’s Woodmark will get their local agent in Kota Kinabalu to certify what we are doing.

“There is no partial certification. This means frames that you can’t see and timber that supports the structure have also to be certified wood.

“We have to show the auditor from Kota Kinabalu our purchase and delivery orders.”

The lodge, which has been in business for close to three years, is located on the banks of the Kinabatangan river at Kampung Bilit on Sabah’s east coast.

It is very costly to use certified timber but Yee feels this will be his contribution to the environment.

“I realise that the Kampung Bilit-Kinabatangan area has a huge potential for tourism but it has to be managed properly.”

Yee says he only expects positive feedback from travellers who support responsible tourism.

“I don’t think we can charge more simply because we are using certified wood. Perhaps the Europeans will say we are moving into responsible tourism and that we should be supported.”

Yee is already into conservation. He is buying wood left behind after land clearing for his present chalets and dining hall.

“Plantations usually get rid of the wood after about three years. We used it to build our facilities.”

By conserving the forests close to the lodge, Yee is also looking at the possibility of promoting the conservation of the tarsier, one of the smallest primate species in the world.

“We know there are some tarsiers here. The Sukau area further downstream is already well known for its wildlife such as orang utan and elephants.

“We also have the same animals in Bilit but we need something that will be unique to the area. Hence the choice of tarsiers.

“We are looking at setting up a tarsier conservation centre near the lodge. I have been to the Philippines to see how they are managing tarsiers there.”

Setting up the conservation centre is Yee’s way of contributing to the community.

“I hope to set aside 20 per cent of the income earned from a tarsier centre for educational needs of the Bilit children.

“I want it to become a Bilit project which means that the whole community will be involved.”

Another environmental effort the lodge has been able to share with the villagers is recycling.

“We placed bins for them but they never used them. This situation changed about two months ago when our boatman went to a nearby town and made RM40 selling empty drink cans.

“The people found out about this and now they are into recycling.

“If you can show them the benefits of conservation, you can start talking to them on what they can do to help.”

SOURCE: News Straits Online Online 2008/02/09