xTeluk Bako-Buntal set to become tourism spot with migratory birds

This should be good news for Sarawak tourism:

Kuching: The Teluk Bako-Buntal area in Sarawak is set to become an ecotourism spot due to the lure of the presence of migratory birds.

Sarawak Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment permanent secretary Datuk Sudarsono Osman said the inclusion of Teluk Bako-Buntal in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network’ would further help promote the area in ecotourism.


Great potential for Sarawak ecotourism

“Participation in the network will benefit the economic, social and environment sectors and foster relations with member countries and boost Sarawak’s profile in ecotourism based on migratory birds.

“The network provides a channel for exchange of ideas and information, transfer of expertise and technology, developing human capital, and research and development in ecotourism.”

He said this in his speech at the closing of an awareness workshop on the nomination of Teluk Bako-Buntal as a site for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network.


Put Malaysia on the World Map

Sudarsono said the inclusion of Teluk Bako-Buntal in this network as a site for migratory birds, would place Sarawak and Malaysia on the world map in ecotourism and research on migratory birds.

Also present was Sarawak Forestry Corporation managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Ali Yusof, who said that Teluk Bako-Buntal was a stopover site for 32 species of beach birds during the winter.

“It is estimated that 20,000 to 25,000 birds stop at Teluk Bako-Buntal during a stopover period. The nomination of Teluk Bako-Buntal as a ‘Flyway Site Network’ can contribute to the preservation of the beach bird species which are increasingly threatened,” he said.

The East Asian-Australasian Flyway is one of nine major routes of migratory birds in the world. The route starts from the Artic Circle in Russia and Alaska, then south to East and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.