MIRI: A long-standing community conservation initiative returned to Piasau Nature Reserve at the weekend, as the Hornbill Walk resumed after a six-year suspension, attracting more than 70 participants and signalling renewed public engagement with environmental stewardship.
Organised by the Piasau Camp Miri Nature Park Society, the 78th edition of the walk took place on Saturday, marking the first gathering since February 2020, shortly before nationwide restrictions were imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The programme began in the late afternoon, with participants assembling at the reserve’s Interpretation Centre before setting off on a guided walk led by Karambir Singh, the society’s treasurer and long-time coordinator of the initiative.
Among those present were representatives from the Malaysian Nature Society Miri branch, including its chairman, Musa Musbah, alongside members of both organisations and local community groups.
The event also drew participation from Harmony School Miri, whose students, teachers, and families joined in what organisers described as a “family walk and park adventure”, adding a multi-generational dimension to the outing. The youngest participant, aged just over one year, was among several families who took part, underscoring the inclusive nature of the programme.
In a brief address, Karambir said the return of the Hornbill Walk reflected sustained public interest in conservation and environmental education.
“This initiative remains central to our efforts to raise awareness of the ecological value of the reserve,” he said, noting that Piasau Nature Reserve is widely recognised for its population of hornbills and its unique status as an urban coastal forest.
The reserve, gazetted in December 2013 following a public campaign, is a key nesting site for the Oriental Pied Hornbill, a species afforded full legal protection in Sarawak.
Once a residential enclave known as Piasau Camp, the area historically housed employees of Sarawak Shell Berhad from the 1950s before being repurposed into a conservation zone amid growing environmental advocacy.
Karambir said the strong turnout indicated a positive shift in public sentiment towards conservation efforts here.
He added that the Hornbill Walk would now resume as a monthly fixture, scheduled for the third Saturday of each month, providing a consistent platform to foster environmental awareness and community participation.
Often described as the “green lung” of Miri, Piasau Nature Reserve continues to serve as a focal point for grassroots conservation initiatives in northern Sarawak, balancing ecological preservation with public access in an increasingly urbanised landscape.
