Tawai Forest Reserve

Tawai Forest Reserve
Map showing the location of Tawai Forest Reserve
Map showing the location of Tawai Forest Reserve
Tawai Forest Reserve
Location in Borneo
LocationSabah, Malaysia
Nearest cityTelupid, Telupid District
Coordinates5°35′25″N 117°06′23″E / 5.5904°N 117.1063°E / 5.5904; 117.1063
Area226.97 km2 (87.63 sq mi)
Established1984
Governing bodySabah Forestry Department[1]

Tawai Forest Reserve is a protected forest reserve in Telupid District of Sandakan Division, Sabah, Malaysia.[2] It was first created in January 1972,[1] before being designated as a Class 1 Protection Forest by the Sabah Forestry Department in 1984.[3][4] It was fully demarcated in 2002,[1] resulting in an area of 22,697 hectares (226.97 km2).[3] The reserve is mostly mountainous, consisting of ultramafic forest, upland mixed dipterocarp forest and kerangas forest. Mount Tawai, at 1,273 metres (4,177 ft), is within the reserve. It is flattest near its northern and eastern edges. The Tawai waterfall is located within the reserve, part of the many rivers which flow through it.[1] Protection of these headwaters was part of the reason for the reserve's establishment.[5] The reserve has been badly affected by fires that have spread into the reserve from nearby settlements and palm oil plantations. Illegal logging has occurred in areas of dipterocarp forest. Illegal logging and land clearance has occurred in some portions of the reserve.[1] There are plans for the Pan-Borneo Highway to be expanded in part through the northern portion of the reserve.[6] The forestry department runs a Rainforest Camp to generate tourism money, providing access to the clean river water of the reserve, rainforest treks, and a waystop near the path of the Sandakan Death Marches.[7]

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