Wishing tree at Tawau Ji Min Temple becoming hotspot.
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Big Trees around Tawau Town
What environmentalists planted in Tawau and how the trees are
protected. Here are some of the big trees.
Wishing tree at Tawau Ji Min Temple
becoming hotspot.
This is a tree species of Albizia saman, formerly Samanea saman (Rain Tree) originated from South America.
The wishing tree located at the entrance to Ji Min Temple is becoming a hotspot among the local community since 2022 when the tree was labeled as a Wishing Tree 許願樹-心想事成
This tree was said to be over 20 years old but an ordinary Rain Tree planted for its shad from tropical sun. Legend has it started in the two years of COVID-19 2020-2021 when the lock downs resulted many small business were forced to close down with financial difficulties. During this time an old business man came regularly to make wishes for stability of his business that will not end in bankruptcy. (some old ribbons tide by him on the trees trunks during 2020-2021 could still visible in the 2022 photo above). The two years was over and his business remain safe and secure while many of his partners were bankrupted.
News went out, several other people came to the tree to make wishes. In 2022 when Government declared COVID 19 was over, the temple management immediately officially installed this tree as a Wishing Tree that is protected by a deity where the public could visit and make wishes.
Ficus caulocarpa at Tawau Sport Complex
Another big tree emerged from obscurity during the land clearing in 2023 April for the new
project of upgarding Jalan Utara Baru.
This species is Ficus benjamina, a strangler with many roots.
Sabah government has allocated RM206 million for the upgrading of the 5.4-kilometre Jalan Utara Baru in Tawau. The upgrated Jalan Utara is expected to be completed by March 2026.
Delonix regia and Samanea saman "Two-in-One" wonder of nature in Tawau Town
Delonix regia and Samanea saman are big trees. However, it is unknown why about 30 years ago, the authority managing Tawau Padang allowed these two trees to be planted just side by side to each other. Now after 30 over years, these two trees have filly grown up and fused into one and created this wonder in nature of Flame of the Forest Flowers on top of a Rain Tree.
Ceiba pentandra 吉貝木棉
Coconut Tree
These four Silk-Cotton Tree are frown at Taman Semarak, Tawau beside an outdoor playground.
Ceiba pentandra is known for its massive size, huge roots buttresses complex, and snow like cotton that covers the whole field during its blossom every coupie of years.
TAMAN SEMARAK 2022-03-08 TUE 17:41
A tree species native to India that had naturalized in Borneo Island... beginning
with this oldest mother tree in Tawau that produce seeds.
Ficus religiosa 菩提樹
Strangler with Many Roots
Monoecious 雌雄同株
Tawau Thirumurugan Temple 2013-03-03 SUN 10:37
Ficus religiosa is a species of fig native to Indian and Indochina. In Borneo
this tree species is known to have been manually planted by human and not
naturally by its own seeds. However since 2020, nature lovers have been
observing that plantlets of F. religiosa are growing naturally itself on old buildings and
roadsides in Tawau and Lahad Datu.
(Ficus religiosa: Naturalized in Tawau and Lahad Datu, Sabah:
borneoficus.info )
This indicate that the POLLINATOR, the Platyscapa quadraticeps wasp, also managed to migrate to Borneo. But how does this tinny insects manage to travel from India to Borneo by itself?
In search for this tree original source location in Tawau, the oldest trees are
found in Tawau's Hindu and Buddhist Temples. The pollinating Platyscapa
quadraticeps wasps were also being found from these old trees in 2021.
Since fig trees are involved in a highly species-specific pollination mutualism
with agaonid wasps, imported fig species usually fail to produce seeds due to
the lack of the specific pollinating wasps. Now in Sabah this finding of an
imported tree together with its necessary pollinator wasp in Borneo Island is a
puzzle in nature to be solved.
Much earlier in 2005, scientists also have been observing plantlets of F.
religiosa growing on buildings in Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil, showing that this
tree species was hosting pollinating wasps and, consequently, undertaking sexual
reproduction outside its native country India. And for that case, it was in
South America.
Above : The largest tree in Tawau Town is this fig tree. Using the width of the
road as a scale, the canopy of this giant tree is about 50 meters in diameter.
Located just beside the road of Tawau Golf Club. This LARGEST tree should not be
confused with the TALLEST tree in Tawau Hills Park 25 Km from town.
Below: This second huge fig tree is just 2 km from the Tawau town
centre. This tree provide shade to road side stalls and a source of fruit food
to the birds in the town area.
Ficus drupacea 枕果榕
Strangler with Many Roots
The second largest tree in Tawau town before 2018 was behind Teck Guan town office. Sadly that old large fig tree was cut down for planting oil palm. A short sighted mindset on nature and landscaping.
Ficus subgelderi
a big fig tree, at Jalan Bukit Tawau (about 12 KM from town)
19th March 2021 Sime Darby Plantation and 1StopBorneo Wildlife launched the much-awaited forest rehabilitation project : #Plant4Tawau Project.
Both organisations marked the launch by planting 50 trees led by Sime Darby Plantation’s Table Estate Manager Mr Tahir Ismail and the Head of Tawau Bomba Mr Sukkur.
The project aims to connect the forest reserves of Tawau Hills Park and Bukit Gemok through the planting of various Ficus trees.
Fig tree species will include Ficus Racemosa, Cucurbitina, Villosa,Rosulata,Microcarpa and Benjamina. These trees provide fruits to the wildlife in Tawau.
The people and organizations in Tawau and Sabah are welcomed in joining this collaborative effort to improve the biodiversity in these landscapes.
To participate in Plant4Tawau Project please contact 1StopBorneo Wildlife
The Big Tree of Tawau Airport
Tawau Airport was completed in 2000 with a new surrounding planted with a varieties of trees species. It took only 10 years for some species to grew up with majestic status. The one tree that grew up to be tallest and largest is the one beside the left of airport building. Perhaps it was being big standing tall had irritated the eyes of some, this petty tree was chainsawed down in 2018.
More about the Tawau Airport
Albizia saman (Rain Tree) 雨樹
SMK HOLY TRINITY
Shadow of an Albizia saman
斗湖育進公學 SJK (C) Yuk Chin, Tawau
More about Trees species in Borneo Island
Delonix regia (Royal
Poinciana or Flamboyant) at Lorong Mat Salleh, Tawau
8,000 Flame of the Forest trees along 40km of the Apas-Balung
highway
Tawau’s tree planting world record bid
by Alen Kee. The Borneo Post. Posted on December 10, 2012, Monday
www.facebook.com/GreenTawau/
TAWAU: The Green Tawau Action Committee (GTAC) made history of sorts yesterday
in attempting to create a world record for Tawau, with the launch of the
ambitious project to plant 8,000 Flame of the Forest trees along 40km of the
Apas-Balung highway.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai launched and took part in this
significant milestone for Tawau.
Yee led the way in planting the very first Flame of the Forest tree together
with members of non-governmental organizations, clubs, associations and the
public.
“In future, we will all see the transformation of the landscape in Tawau,
especially during blossom time, when Apas Road will be replete with the striking
red colour of the flowers from the trees,” he said after planting the first tree
to launch the project.
Yee said once fully implemented, the trees would become an icon for Tawau,
attracting tourists and doing good for the environment in terms of carbon
credit.
“I will be very proud when I come to Tawau and say that tree was planted by me
and I am very happy to be associated with this project and congratulate GTAC for
successfully implementing this project,” he said.
Meanwhile, GTAC chairman Larry Koh said they were extremely grateful for the
presence and participation of the various groups, which makes the event more
meaningful and unforgettable.
“There is no second place that I would call home other than Tawau. Like any one
of you here who is deeply in love with this little town, I have always wondered,
as a qualified architect and an environmental designer, what can I do for Tawau?
What can I do to promote this town to the international arena, and make everyone
of us here to proudly say to the world, I’m from Tawau?” he asked.
“Today, with everyone of you here, we are going to take the first humble step
towards realizing a world-renowned Tawau. I foresee the completion of the
project in 12 months’ time, with the planting of 8,000 Flame of the Forest trees
along Jalan Apas. My fellow friends, this is a world record that we’re creating
today. I believe, five years from now, when the 8,000 Flame of the Forest trees
are in full bloom, the spectacular view created by these beautiful plants will
attract tourists from all around the world, just like how the Netherlands is
flooded with tourists who are attracted to tulips or how the sakura flowers in
Japan act as a giant magnet for the people,” he said.
Larry said while he conceived and proposed the idea of the project, its
realization is beyond his lone effort.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my utmost gratitude to the
president of Tawau Municipal Council, Datuk Ismail Mayakob, for without his
support and approval, we wouldn’t be here today at this ceremony. I would also
like to thank the Green Tawau Action Committee, who have made tremendous efforts
in the past eight months to turn a serendipitous idea into a monumental project
and the Public Works Department. More importantly, I would like to thank all of
you here and to the participants, whether you’re individuals or social
organizations, for your unselfish support and involvement in this project,” he
said.
“The launch of this project, represents my little step, but with your support,
it will certainly move Tawau forward with a giant step,” he said.
Read more:
www.theborneopost.com
1,048 trees planted in Tawau Muhibbah Public Park
www.theborneopost.com/2017/
May 18, 2017, Thursday The Borneo Post
Tawau district planted 1,048 trees in conjunction with the 1 Heart 1 Tree
Campaign to plant a million trees all over Sabah during the Tawau Municipal
Council (TMC) level at the Muhibbah Public Park on May 17, 2017, Wednesday.
TMC president Alijus Sipil said the program headed by the Sabah Court will be
carried out in stages in Tawau district with the help and advice from the
Forestry Department and Agriculture Department. And see to it that the planting
of trees carried out until the end of 2017.
He said it is also hoped that the public, departments and schools will take part
in this program to make Tawau greener.
Tawau Sessions Court judge Indra Ayub said the project was inspired by Chief
Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjun to give awareness on the
importance of caring for the environment, green concept, loving the environment
and responsibility to take care of the environment.
He said Sabah Court had a special court for environment where cases concerning
environment would be given priority and give awareness to the public that
offense on environment was an issue that must be handled without delay.
Indra said the project started in Danum in January 2017 and moved to all over
Sabah.
, and yesterday the campaign was launched in Tawau which was organized by Tawau
Court with the cooperation from TMC, Forestry and Agriculture Departments which
He said as of yesterday, a total of 836,379 trees have been planted all over the
state and encouraged members of the public to plant even at their own yard which
will be taken into account.
A tall tropical tree in Tawau's Botanical Garden
This tree above is not planted by man but born free in the nature. There are several tall trees over 60meters high in Tawau Hills Park. A few of them are among the known tallest tropical trees in the world.
Lagerstroemia speciosa 大花紫薇(洋紫薇)
at Jalan Kuhara Road, Tawau Town
Fallen but never dies 倒下了但永不死亡
Taman Rich, Tawau
Chopped off at the trunk and pulled down at the base, this young Rain Tree never
give up and moved on to grow upward.
Pterocarpus indicus. Native to southeastern Asia, It is extinct
possibly in Peninsular Malaysia. This tree was cut down in 2019 to increase
space for car park.
The big trees around Hotel Emas
An old rain tree beside the main road of
Hotel Emas. A few more giant
"frame of the forest" trees at the empty land behind the hotel.
Hotel Emas is one of the earliest hotels located at the old historical area
where the trees planted during the British era can be seen today as giant old
trees.
A Coconut Tree with two heads in Tawau
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