A Tripartite Agreement to promote scientific research

Picture shows Tun Jeanne Abdullah, Chairperson of Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre, Professor Shigeyuki Baba of the international society for mangrove eccosystem and Professor Hirosuke Oku of the tropical biosphere research centre, University of Ryukyus (Riukyu) Japan signing the MOU witnessed by Dr. Yee Moh Chai representing the Chief Minister, and former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

An agreement between the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) and Tropical Biosphere Research Centre (TBRC) from the University of the Ryukus, Japan, was signed on the 6th of November 2012, in Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu.

Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai, Deputy Chief Minister attended the signing ceremony on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman. SFD was represented by its director, Datuk Sam Mannan, whereas TBRC was represented by Professor Hirosuke Oku.

Also present to witness the signing ceremony were Professor Shigeyuki Baba of the international society for mangrove ecosystem, and the Advisor of Malaysia Landscape, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also the Malaysia’s 5th Prime Minister.

The agreement is intended to facilitate scientific research, education and cultural exchanges and contribute to the mutual benefit and development of the two organizations.

Under the agreement both parties will  have the opportunity to exchange staff members, scientific materials, publications and information, as well as to host joint seminars and  conferences and to conduct joint research and other scientific projects.

The Sabah Forest Department was created  in 1914 to administer the vast forested land of North Borneo then under Chartered Company rule.  Today the department has administrative jurisdiction over some 3.6 million hectares of forest reserves in various parts of Sabah. According to official estimate about 50% of Sabah’s total landmass is under the jurisdiction of the SFD, which is one of the departments under the Chief Minister's Department. Appropriately, the SFD director was once known as the Conservator of Forests. 

 

Established in 1994, the TBRC from the University of the Ryukus is a merger of the Tropical Agriculture Research Centre, the Sesoko Island Coral Reef Research Center and the Center of Molecular Biosciences.The TBRC aims to promote broad-based research activities on the ecology and diversity of tropical and sub-tropical ecosystem, and the effects and influences of different types of environmental factors. 

Source: Insight Sabah

 

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Borneo Taliban declares war to illegal loggers

Director of Sabah Forestry, Datuk Sam Mannan, showed a cool video to 600 local and foreign participants, during his speech in International Conference on Heart of Borneo (HoB) yesterday.



Illegal logging is a problem in Sabah. 59% of Sabah is covered by forest, and our trees look like standing gold bars to those greedy illegal loggers. Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) has been confiscating illegal logging dozers. In most cases, SFD will auction off the dozer, so the illegal loggers abuse the auction system by appointing a proxy to buy back the dozer and back to business again.



Penalty is not good enough. Datuk Sam Mannan got a few confiscated dozers at his office, and he decided to do something about it. So he burnt it. Hahaha, I was “pleasantly shocked” watching his video. Hopefully he will post this video on YouTube.



Conservation is a challenging journey and a never-ending battle. Sometimes we win some, we lose some. Borneo earns a bad reputation on deforestation. We are doing whatever we can to protect our forest. We even plant forest. The process is slow, let’s hope our future generation will reap the fruits of our efforts.



He said this is the “Taliban” way of dealing with forest rat. Well, I don’t think he is a terrorist. He just wants to send a strong message (i.e. F*ck You) to those illegal loggers, and show his determination to protect the forest. I fully support you, Datuk Sam.



He acknowledged that his action may have gone too far in a civilized society, but “So What?!”, he added. LOL, I like you man, you really have the gut and attitude.



Now I understand why woman loves bad boy, as our society, company and government are just full of big-mouth chicken men, who think that they are smart for not taking risk. I have seen so many cowards who only move their lips but not their hands. Sometimes, it is not cool being nice, just go kick some assess.

Source: http://www.mysabah.com/wordpress/a-warning-to-illegal-loggers-from-taliban-of-borneo-rainforest/

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Japanese Students in Mangrove Planting Project

A group of secondary students from Japan has volunteered to come to Sabah for the first time to plant mangroves and even donated RM3,500 in support of the State’s project on rehabilitation of degraded mangroves.

State Forestry Department (SFD) Director Datuk Sam Mannan said the group of students from Ritsumeikan Uji High School in Kyoto was brought by Professor Shigeyuki Baba, Executive Director of the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystem (ISME).

He said the trip to Sabah was in conjunction with the third meeting of the Project Steering Committee on rehabilitation of degraded mangroves that was held in Sandakan yesterday.

It was part of the collaboration between SFD and ISME that was sealed on November 10, 2010 to implement the rehabilitation project.

Sam said the students, led by their teacher Saori Matsuoka, were all excited about the trip and took part in planting mangroves in Sungai Lalasun, Sandakan.

He added that from the funds raised for the trip, the students donated 10,000 Yen (more than RM3,500) to SFD in support of mangrove rehabilitation in the State.

Recognising the importance of cultural exchange and nature education, the students visited SMK Muhibbah Sandakan, the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Centre.

Sam said the collaborative project between SFD and ISME is funded by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. Ltd, and the first phase of the project would be for three years (2011-2014 with an annual target of 50 hectares.

He said the ISME had remitted RM206,300 to SFD to support the expenditures of rehabilitation work for the first year and from October 2011 to March 2012, the project had planted 50 hectares of degraded mangroves in forest reserves of Sandakan and Beaufort.

The PSC was formed and chaired by the Director of SFD to monitor the progress of the project, and thus far, the committee had met three times in Sandakan.

ISME was established in 1990 to promote research, conservation, rational management and sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems. With its Secretariat located at the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, the society now has over 1000 members from 90 countries/regions.

During the Society’s 8th General Assembly and Mangrove Workshop in Sandakan in September last year, SFD was awarded an honorary institutional membership of ISME.

Sam said such collaboration presented a great opportunity for SFD to strengthen its capacity in mangrove rehabilitation.

“SFD is honoured to be chosen by the Society for the project implementation.

“Sabah is the first state in Malaysia to have such collaboration with ISME and this may herald the beginning of other collaborative efforts between institutions in Japan and Sabah in the future,” he added. 

Source: http://kepkas.sabah.gov.my/2012/03/20/japanese-students-plant-mangroves-to-support-rehabilitation/

Photo Source: http://www.borneotourstravel.com/sabah-history/kk-city-bird-sanctuary/

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