Rainforest protection 'more important than tourist enjoyment'

Making sure that the rainforest is protected should be more important than making changes to the habitat for the convenience of visiting tourists, it has been asserted.

Rainforest protection should be high on country's agendas

According to comments made by the vice-chancellor of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Dr Hj Zulkarnain Hj Hanafi at a conservation meeting, while eco-tourism is important, keeping the rainforest protected should always remain the top priority.

"Any repairs and renovation works must take into full account the speciality of our rainforest," he urged.

The university is currently working on ways to make improvements to tourist areas in Brunei such as the Temburong National Park Conservation without damaging the rainforest in the region and work set to be undertaken includes changes to electricity supplies and telecommunications systems.

Chief executive officer of the Brunei Tourism Board Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed noted that the standard of telecommunications at the Temburong National Park Conservation is cause for concern.

He said that being able to keep in touch with the outside world was important for a tourist hotspot.

Modernisation of rainforest areas and construction are two of the biggest causes of rainforest clearing.

Written by Kimberley Homer.

ADNFCR-2073-ID-19596844-ADNFCR