CFZNSS : Introduction and Objectives

Introduction :

Malaysia is one of the few South-East Asian countries with fireflies that congregate on “display trees” along both sides of mangrove-lined rivers. The insects can even be found congregating up to 100m inland from the riverbank where they breed.

As Malaysia is at the centre of the firefly region that stretches from India to Papua New Guinea, we are fortunate to have a relatively high diversity of the insect. Of the over 20 species of fireflies, Malaysia hosts seven. Of these, the most familiar would be the Pteroptyx tener, also known as the congregating or synchronous firefly.

These fireflies typically congregate in groups along riverbanks and synchronise their flashes, thereby creating the light display that so many people gather to witness.Places like Kuala Selangor have made firefly-watching a lucrative tourist attraction since the 1980s.

What most people don’t know is that many other congregating firefly habitats in Malaysia are slowly being wiped out, both by ignorance and irresponsible development.

There is every little information if any on fireflies in Sarawak. Initial recces that have been carried out by MNS Miri Branch during Dec 2009-April 2010 discovered that there’s significant scope for the branch to be able to contribute and populate important data on fireflies distribution in Sarawak, specifically those within the Miri-Bintulu area.

This project proposes to conduct surveys along the rivers within the Northern Divisons to get a clearer picture of the presence of fireflies in Sarawak; as well as collect samples for identification.

The project has been solely carried out by MNS Miri Branch members with input from Sonny Wong, MNS Conservation and Dr Mahadi Menakbar Dawood, UMS.

Objectives:

1) Conduct a survey of the northern region of the state of Sarawak to identify key congregating firefly zones and to identify and count firefly display trees during the period of October 2010 to March 2011.

2) Produce a report on the findings of the survey which can function as a basis for future policy and management strategies for wetlands and waterbirds in Sarawak.

3) Build capacity of members, participating stakeholders and volunteers in firefly identification, monitoring and riverine ecosystem surveys.

4) Increase awareness of the importance of the Sarawak river ecosystem at local, national levels through CEPA, training, publications and sharing of output with stakeholders and relevant organisations.

5) Forge working relationships in matters related to fireflies diversity, and wetland habitat conservation between MNS and other NGOs, government agencies in northern Sarawak.

6) Document the process of the survey, from initiation to completion, as a model for replication in other areas of Sarawak.

Musa Musbah, CFZNSS Project Executor giving a presentation on CFZ and fireflies to students from four schools in Bungai during one of our community outreach program (COP).