Wildlife viewing preferences of visitors to protected areas in Sabah, Malaysia: implications for the role of wildlife tourism in conservation

This study uses quantitative and qualitative approaches to investigate the preferences of tourists who visit protected areas in Sabah, Malaysia. It considers the implication that such visits have against the conservation of wildlife tourism destinations. Several theoretical frameworks are employed in this investigation - including critical theory, grounded theory, experience theory, animal encounter theory, biodiversity hotspots theory, and scheme theory. Other theories of importance are involvement theory, theory of planned behaviour, and user-and-gratification theory. This study's wildlife tourism behaviour path model shows that tourist experiences and activities can drive memories, loyalty and satisfaction with the destination's offerings. The study shows that wildlife tourist's expectations are framed around Sabah's endemic wildlife, rainforest, diversity of animals and abundance of animals, as well as around traditional culture. A good portion of respondent tourists (42%) indicate that their tourist expectations are substantively met, with a further 39% seeing their experience as less than very-highly-met. As such, there is room for improving Sabah's wildlife tourism industry. The orang utans, followed by the rhinoceros, and then the elephants, are the most popular animal species. Approximately sixty seven per cent (66.9%) of study respondents are in the 25 – 44 age group, with a majority being professional's females, and often from the UK. A majority (63%) of respondents were first time visitors. Regarding environmental conservation, 33.90% (majority of tourists) learned of threats facing the wildlife species in these tours, and indicated that wildlife threats needed attention. The real world contributions of this study include encouraging wildlife destination sites to seek solutions for the improvement of the appeal of wildlife tourism, and raising both the loyalty and satisfaction levels of outbound wildlife tourists. This study was limited in terms of the tourist respondent convenience sampling employed over as a short period-of-time in Sabah, and conducted at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Evaluation of tourists satisfaction towards firefly industry in Sabah using importance-performance analysis model

This paper focuses on the human dimensions of the firefly watching experience in Sabah with the using of Importance-performance analysis (IPA). The objectives are to investigate the motivations of tourists participating in firefly tours and to assess tourist’s satisfaction with the environmental and tour services offered in Sabah using IPA analysis. The methods included site-based distribution of questionnaire to firefly tour participants at several firefly-watching sites in Sabah. Next, the importanceperformance analysis was performed using the importance and satisfaction mean scores. The IPA analysis identified 10 environmental and tour features of management concern. Overall, respondents were very satisfied with the tourism industry in Sabah stating that they would recommend the tour (88.6%) to others. Most participants were very satisfied with the interest in firefly (78.8%), proximity to fireflies (55.92%) and the number of fireflies seen (54.29%). As conclusion, this study provides a greater understanding of tourist’s motivation and satisfaction towards the firefly-watching industry in Sabah with the assist of Importance-performance analysis model

Relationship Management and Fireflies Conservation in Klias and Weston, Beaufort, Sabah

Fireflies from the genus Pteroptyx have drawn a lot of attention from humans due to their congregating behaviour and provided local communities with lucrative business opportunity. However, it is believed that the adjacent communities pose a threat of encroachment to the Klias and Weston – the hotspots for fireflies’ population mangrove ecosystem. Relationship Management has strategies and tactics to engage in sentiments, emotions, and then provide the best remedies. It has strategic power to connect hosts and guests as it emphasizes on ''give back and take away tourism” through incorporating guest-hosts both in the process of conservation and utilization of various resources and skills available to them. Our study has tried to find out the economic importance (use value) of the fireflies and culture for the benefits of fireflies, nature, environment, and local communities of the area where they exist in the real habitat situation. The study attempts to provide solution of the critical problems and situations that have been created by human beings for a long time for the sake of feeding our ego and gaining dominancy (temporary value) in their areas because of unethical education and lack of awareness about socio-economic benefits through current ecotourism developments. The highlighted significance of Relationship Management in fireflies’ conservation and ecotourism development may help in tackling the conflicts between human and fireflies, human and human, as well as in fireflies watching activities. About 423 respondents were involved and the data was then processed with content analysis in which 84.4% of them are willing to protect the fireflies, 66.2% volunteered in firefly conservation program, while 40.7% of them are aware that both village development and firefly conservation are important and only 32.4% agree to pay for firefly conservation which is between USD0.23-USD6.92. Meanwhile, spider web analysis shows that locals are lacking knowledge of firefly’s ecology. Lastly, a blueprint for firefly conservation should be developed to help focus preservation in the places with the highest need to slow the rate of firefly habitat loss due to development

Distribution and ethnomycological knowledge of wild edible mushrooms in Sabah (Northern Borneo), Malaysia

Ethnomycological knowledge is a combination of biological resources, cultural and human patterns, in particular collective traditional uses and the importance of fungi in daily life. Despite the large number of ethnic groups in Sabah, the native ethnomycological knowledge of wild edible mushrooms and poisonous mushrooms are poorly documented. This study attempted to document wild edible mushrooms and their ethnomycological uses and practices in the tropical rainforest of Sabah, Borneo. Opportunistic samplings and ethnomycological surveys were made within the indigenous communities of Sabah. Collectively, 50 respondents from four different ethnic communities i.e. Dusun, Kadazan, Orang Sungai, and Bisaya were interviewed. A total of 25 wild mushroom species were documented as edible mushroom for food, and five species for medicinal uses. The highest number of wild edible mushroom collected and reported were of the Pleurotaceae family (five species), followed by Polyporaceae family (three species) and Auriculariaceae family (three species). The results also showed that Schizophyllum commune (Kulat Kodop), Volvariella volvacea (Kulat Sawit), Pleurotus spp., (Cendawan Tiram) Auricularia spp., (Kulat Korong) and Marasmiellus species were mostly consumed by the indigenous people of Sabah as part of their daily diet. Local names, culinary, and the edibility types were distinct among the different local communities. Elderly indigenous people possess vast knowledge on uses of wild mushrooms compared to the younger generation. Women play an important role in wild mushroom collection and its edibility, uses and practices. The findings from this study showed that ethnomycological knowledge of wild mushroom in Sabah is still lacking and more attention is needed. A study on the ethnomycological aspect in Borneo is a necessity in creating awareness among the public on edible and poisonous mushrooms, and its culinary and medicinal properties

Harmonious Co-Existence between Nature and Mankind: An Investigation of a Satoyama Development – Like Mechanism at Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA), Sabah

This research is a preliminary survey of Satoyama development-like mechanism in Kg. Imbak, Tongod, Sabah. The objectives of this research are to determine the utilization of forest source among the local community in Kg. Imbak and their community-based conservation efforts. Face to face interviews were conducted to access primary data besides observation surveys. The data gathered are from published materials such as reports and articles. Kg. Imbak consists of Dusun Sungai People with a total population of 796 people. Collected data were analyzed using Descriptive Analysis and SWOT analysis. Kg Imbak is approximately 19.12 km drive from Tongod District and the local community still consumes forest source for their medicinal needs, bush meat, handicraft and construction materials such as using Ironwood tree to make coffins. Based on data collected, the Internal Factor Estimate Matrix (IFEM) is 2.59 while the External Factor Estimate Matrix (EFEM) shows a total of 2.58 indicating that Kg. Imbak, Tongod has a great potential and opportunities in terms of practicing the Satoyama model. There are 52 strategies determined in this research by using pair wise matching SO, WO, ST and WT

Exploring the concept of Kota Kinabalu city as an urban ecotourism destination

The concept of ecotourism which applies to tourism activities in natural and undisturbed environments, is frequently thought to be antonymous with urban environments, however, can be proven possible. Despite Sabah being well regarded for its ecotourism sector, the concept of urban ecotourism in the city of Kota Kinabalu has yet to be explored. Existing ecotourism destinations in Sabah are facing carrying capacity problems thus there is a growing need to explore new and different destinations or attractions to meet the demand of tourists. This study examined local Kota Kinabalu residents and tourists’ perception and values pertaining to the potential of Kota Kinabalu as an urban ecotourism destination as well as how preservation of green spaces in cities encouraged sustainability using a multi-methodological approach. Based on the results of this study, both respondent groups ranked Kota Kinabalu city as having a high potential as an urban ecotourism destination. In addition, the results of this study could assist decision or policymakers in the local tourism sector with tourism development decisions

Rural tourism destination strategy through SWOT analysis in Kg. Kolunsunan, Penampang , Sabah

Kg. Kolosunan is located upstream from Babagon dam in Sabah and currently gazetted as Babagon water catchment area. Since then, human activities on land and river within the vicinity of the dam has since been restricted by local authorities. This has affected local communities’ livelihood that has traditionally depended on farming and river fishing to source for food. Chosen as a pilot project for Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) since 2015, this project aims to educate and gain support from the local communities to conserve the area. This paper explores the potential(s) of ecotourism in Kg. Kolosunan as an alternative livelihood for the local community which were affected by resource use restriction due to the gazettement of the water catchment area. Data collections were done through survey, in-depth interviews analyzed using SWOT analysis and finally from previous reports. Results showed that the existing ecotourism in Kg. Kolosunan has the potential to be developed as a sustainable ecotourism site. SWOT analysis also identified the requirement management strategies to improve tourism development in Kg. Kolosunan

Effect of Drying Techniques on Phytochemical Contents and Biological Activities on Bamboo Leaves as Potential Herbal Tea

Presently, bamboos have gained global attention for their therapeutic potential. However, it is rarely considered for its biological activities due to the limitations of studies, especially in Sabah, Malaysia. Thus, searching for the phytochemical content and biological activities among bamboo leaves has increased demand in certain Asian countries. Six species of bamboos, namely Bambusa vulgaris, B. multiplex, B. tuldoides, Dinochloa sublaevigata, Gigantochloa levis, and Schizostachyum brachycladum, were studied with five drying methods: sun drying, shade drying, microwave drying, oven drying, and freeze-drying. The infused leaves of bamboo extracts were analyzed for their total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents. The antioxidant activities were determined using two assays; the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Toxicity tests of potential bamboo extracts were investigated using the brine shrimp lethality bioassay (BSLB). Bioactive compounds of potential bamboo extracts were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The freeze-drying method exhibited the highest yield for the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities, excluding B. vulgaris, which is preferable to microwave drying. TPC and TFC results showed a range of 2.69 ± 0.01 – 12.59 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g and 0.77 ± 0.01 – 2.12 ± 0.01 mg QE/g, respectively. The IC50 of DPPH ranged from 2.92 ± 0.01 to 4.73 ± 0.02 μg/mL, showing high radical scavenging activity. FRAP values also significantly differed, ranging from 6.40 ± 0.12 to 36.65 ± 0.09 mg TE/g. Toxicity studies of potential bamboo extracts displayed no toxicity activity against the BSLB based on LC50 analysis. This data may help in utilizing the bamboo leaves as functional food applications to be developed into bamboo tea