KK Talk – Wed, 28th Nov – Conserving Imbak Canyon – A Yayasan-Petronas Partnership

YAYASAN SABAH manages three conservation areas namely Danum Valley, Maliau Basin & Imbak Canyon, all of which have been designated a Class I (Protection) FR by the Sabah State Government.

This presentation focuses on Imbak Canyon, and the Yayasan Sabah- Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) Imbak Canyon Conservation Partnership.

Imbak Canyon probably represents the last opportunity for the Sabah State Government to conserve an area that is pristine, rich in biodiversity and unique in terms of geological and geomorphologic attributes.   With a total area of about 30,000 hectares, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area encompasses two ridge-top Virgin Jungle Reserves, thus making a significant contribution to the coverage of protected area in Sabah.  It is the last remaining contiguous area of unlogged lowland dipterocarp forest left in Sabah – a truly priceless heritage for future generations.

Yayasan Sabah is most lucky to have the support of its collaborative partners, namely The Royal Society, United Kingdom in Danum Valley and Danish Cooperation for Environment and Development (DANCED)/Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA) in Maliau Basin, and Petronas, Malaysia’s own National Oil Company, in Imbak Canyon.  During the first phase of the Yayasan Sabah- Petronas Partnership, Petronas provides sponsorship amounting to RM6 million for development of Imbak Canyon Conservation Area. Programmes undertaken are environmental education, public awareness, community outreach, research, ethno-forestry study and documentation, capacity building, formulation of Imbak Canyon Management Plan and preliminary works towards the establishment of the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre.  By these, Yayasan Sabah and Petronas shall strive to position Imbak Canyon as the centre of learning for the indigenous community in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources; and for gene bank conservation and the exploration of pharmaceutical and biotechnological potentials.

Speaker: Rita Galid, Senior Manager (Biodiversity & Protected Areas) Conservation and Environmental Management Division,Yayasan Sabah Group

Date:    Wednesday, 28th November
Time:     7.30pm
Venue:    The Sabah Society Secretariat, No.46,  1st Floor  Block E,  Damai Plaza Phase 4,  Luyang
Tel:         088- 250 443

Source: http://thesabahsociety.com