BRUNEI-MUARA

THE Forestry Department will focus on improving existing parks instead of building more recreational parks in the next five to 10 years. Brunei has enough parks to attract visitors, the department director said yesterday.

“Nationwide, we have more than seven forest reserve parks, and the carrying capacity at all the parks, after several renovation, extension and upgrading works in recent years, is more than 10,000 (people) at any park at any one time,” Hj Saidin Salleh told reporters during an event organised by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources at the Berakas Forest Reserve.

Focusing on improving existing parks would be cost-effective as the department could use the available budget for other important projects, said Hj Saidin.

He added: “We will add more public facilities such as parking areas, toilets, resting huts and so on, instead of building new (parks) for now.”

Another reason not to build any parks was because of the limited land left for development, he said.

Speaking about the department’s involvement in the upcoming Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2010, the director said: “Our involvement at ATF will focus mainly on promoting our forest reserve parks as well as encourage and educate more visitors, especially Bruneians, nature lovers and recreationists on the importance of (leading a) healthy lifestyle.”

The department, in its capacity as one of ARF committee members, will be responsible for the transportation of the ATF delegates during the week-long event, the director said.

In 1999, when the Berakas Forest Recreation Park opened, the carrying capacity was only 500 visitors at one time.

However, after it underwent several extension works in 2008, the carrying capacity rose to 6,000 visitors at a time.

According to the department’s website, there areseveral reserve forest recreational parks, including the Ulu Temburong National Park, Tumpuan Telisai Recreation Park, Sungai Liang Forest Recreational Park, Pulau Selirong Forest Recreational Park, Luagan Lalak Forest Recreational Park, Bukit Subok Forest Recreational Park, Bukit Shahbandar Forest Recreational Park, Bukit Patoi Forest Recreational Park and Berakas Forest Recreational Park. The Brunei Times

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