The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) will contribute RM31,000 to support the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl’s firefly and mangrove rehabilitation project at the Darau Wetland Ecotourism site.
Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew announced this during the launch of the new tourism product at Kg Darau.
She praised the club for its farsightedness in conserving the firefly population and rehabilitating the dwindling mangrove area in collaboration with the local community.
Liew said the Ministry was playing its part to ensure the success and sustainability of the club’s commendable efforts to transform Darau into a full-fledged ecotourism destination.
She urged the Darau community to work together to promote the site so that more domestic and international visitors would discover this relatively new destination.
“I hope the international Rotary Clubs involved in this project will also promote this ecotourism product to their colleagues, friends, and families back home,” she added.
She also assured that her Ministry would continue supporting efforts to make Darau Wetland one of the must-visit tourist destinations in Sabah.
“You have river cruises, sunset views, firefly sightings, and many other products that can be developed in the future,” she said.
Datin Jeanette Tambakau, the club’s community service chairperson (2024–2025), said the project, which began in 2017–2018 under Past President Datuk Suzannah Liaw, had raised nearly RM100,000 to plant a total of 13,200 trees.
Of the total, 8,000 mangrove trees were planted at the Sulaman Mangrove Conservation Area.
Another 4,000 were planted in Darau with the support of a RM15,000 grant from KePKAS in 2018.
An additional 5,200 fruit and decorative trees were planted in homes, schools, colleges, and at Likas Bay.
Organising Chairman Chendramata Sinteh also planted another 6,000 mangrove seedlings during her 2024–2025 term.
“This programme is not just about trees, nor just about fireflies, but about restoring balance to our ecosystem, reviving the natural wonder of the Darau River, and empowering the local community to become stewards of conservation and sustainable eco-tourism,” said Jeanette.
