LEAP News 2006 vol. 2
April 11th, 2006 Edit
First of all, we were never “out” of action. Cynthia and Will were back in the US for February and March and, a lot got done! Important developments and much business transpired, thus, we have a lot of ground to cover so… LEAP on!
Note: Click on each picture to visit the album for that story.
A LEAP Board meeting was held on the 22nd of February with all members physically present apart from Tuck Taylor who participated from Sabah over Skype internet phone. We deeply appreciate the commitment and hard work of all our board members - they have repeatedly risen to the challenge of facilitating the emergent processes and issues of bridging relationships, resources and projects between the US and Sabah.
In early March, LEAP was awarded its official tax exempt status under the U.S. Internal Revenue Service tax code section 501c3. (Yay!) All donations made since September 9, 2005 are tax deductible. LEAP Board members are currently developing letters of inquiry to seek funding for both operational and project budgets from major foundations in the USA.
Early March also saw Will and Cynthia in New York for two days of meetings with Alexander Abraham Foundation (AAF) to give an update on and discuss LEAP’s current and proposed projects. AAF President Nancy Abraham and Executive Director Messiane Caze were extremely supportive and encouraging in helping to sharpen our vision and broaden LEAP’s funding base. We are deeply appreciative of their continued support of our work.
The LEAP Board and Advisory group have unanimously approved the establishment of the “LEAP Trust” as a Sabah (Malaysia) non-profit corporation for the purposes of serving as a legal mechanism to support and umbrella LEAP’s conservation work in Malaysia. This week (early April, 2006) the process began with a productive meeting with Sabah attorney Christopher Chin, and the incorporation process will begin. We are honored to have received a generous pledge to help kick off LEAP Trust, and look forward to announcing it and acknowledging our gracious donor …. so watch this space!
Early in February, the heaviest rains in recent history hit the Kinabatangan river area effecting the MESCOT team involved in clearing Lake Tungog of Salvinia. Rather than sitting out the rains, MESCOT demonstrated their initiative and jumped into action and used the heightened lake levels to push massive amounts of Salvinia up onto the banks and out of the lake. Cynthia will be visiting the MESCOT team and checking out the “after” of the Lake Tungog “makeover” this week.
Tungog Lake - after the hard work during the flood
Alexander Abraham Foundation awarded a grant to Wong Siew Te for continuation of his research on the effects of selective logging on the Malayan Sunbear (Helarctos malayanus) and the Bearded Pig (Sus Barbatus). Wong is a dedicated researcher and Ph.D. candidate who has been working selflessly for the past 7 years to learn more about the food and habitat of the Sunbear. Wong’s research will help to protect this species which is listed as “data deficient” by the IUCN (Redlist of Threatened Species).
LEAP is working with UrbanNetworks (Los Angeles architect firm) on an ecologically sustainable design for a studies centre in Imbak Canyon Conservation Area, 30,000 hectares of some of the last remaining jungle reserves in Sabah. A first trip for the architect team is planned for end April/beginning May when they will travel to Sabah (sponsored by New York developer Alex Reese), present their concept proposal to Sabah Foundation, spend time in Imbak Canyon and workshop with stakeholders (scientists and researchers) for feedback and input on their design concept.
Gaharu is a resinous substance which may be produced by trees in tropical rainforests. Gaharu is valued as an ingredient in traditional medicines and as an incense that is used in cultural and religious practices. Professor Dr. Robert Blanchette of University of Minnesota (UMN), a leading authority on Gaharu production techniques, and his colleague Dr. Joel Jurgens, will be visiting Sabah May 10-16. They will be hosted by the Forest Research Centre of the Sabah Forestry Department, and meeting with various government and NGO groups in Sabah to present their work and Gaharu technology, and discuss the potential for Gaharu production in Sabah. This exploratory trip is funded by Alexander Abraham Foundation and coordinated/facilitated by LEAP.
LEAP is proud to present the LEAP Eco Bracelet. Made by the River People of the Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, this unique hand-crafted item is a symbol of your awareness and support of the ancient rainforests of Borneo and their need for protection. Please click on the bracelet to purchase. Each rattan vine bracelet you buy will help de-vine a growing tree or to plant a new tree.
LEAP has begun to facilitate an exciting project with our partners PACOS and a community of women in the area of Pitas in northern Sabah. This project will be for the purpose of rehabilitating degraded forests but will support (and depend upon) the empowerment of the women to restore their environment and re-establish their economies. This project would include the Kenyan organization, Green Belt Movement, which has developed significant expertise and a model for empowering women through the planting of trees. We met with GBM founder (and 2004 Nobel Prize winner) Wangari Maathai and she expressed excitement about a project in Borneo. Please click on photo to visit the album from our first exploratory trip to Pitas during which the women of the community expressed their commitment to this project.
As if all that wasn’t enough to do …. Cynthia and Will also relocated their lives and work base to the East Bay of Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area. They now have the luxury of sharing a “proper house” with fellow Board member Angela Sevin, her husband Mark and house-mate Steve. Community-living and sharing resources is in alignment with the work we do, and we are grateful and happy to have made the move, and “walk our talk” in this way. LEAP’s U.S. operations will now be based out of the Bay Area, a place known for its environmental and social progressiveness and activism. We miss Venice Beach, but Berkeley is pretty cool!
Some twelve or so dear friends and ardent LEAP supporters (including Board members Tuck and Jay) gave Cynthia and Will a lovely send-off several hours before the long flight from Los Angeles to Sabah. Gracious host Robert Radin treated everyone to another one of his infamous organic, home-made meals, in the cozy warmth of his beautiful home. Click here for a slideshow of images and a recording of the party’s impromptu rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine”. Lovely and memorable times…
Thank you Robert and everyone!
H30 Gaya Park, Penampang Road,
Kota Kinabalu 88300, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
6.012.828.1705 mobile
3378 Revere Avenue,
Oakland, California 94605, U.S.A.
1.310.429.2686 mobile
skype - cynthiaong_leap
internet phone & global voicemail - 1.510.931.6448
None of this work would be happening without the people around us … our families and friends, donors and supporters, the awesome groups we have the privilege to work with …. you are the wind beneath our wings and we thank you.
With warmest wishes until the next time,
The LEAP Team