Collaboration on Revising Maliau Basin Conservation Area Management Plan

Pic: Insight Sabah

"Recognizing the uniqueness of the area, in 1981 Yayasan Sabah voluntarily designated Maliau Basin as a Conservation Area, for the purposes of research, education and training, along with Danum Valley Conservation Area further to the east." - Yayasan Sabah

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the “Revision of Maliau Basin Conservation Area Management Plan” was signed between Yayasan Sabah and Nature, Ecology & People Consult (NEPCon) of Denmark, recently.

The MoU aims to examine and update the Maliau Basin Conservation Area Strategic Management Plan for year 2014 - 2023.

The MoU shows the interest and dedication in ensuring the protection and conservation of Sabah’s natural heritage.

NEPCon was one of the consulting firms appointed under the four-year collaborative project (1999-2002) between Yayasan Sabah and DANCED (Danish Cooperation for Environment & Development)/DANIDA (Danish International Development Assistance) to provide technical assistance.

NEPCon is in the effort to promote sustainable forest and nature management and use by working towards to encourage the use of natural resources worldwide in sustainable ways.

Through this joint-project, they have formulated the first Strategic Management Plan for Maliau Basin Conservation Area 2003-2012.

The completion of the Maliau Basin Studies Centre and related infrastructures and facilities is one of the success that has been achieved besides seeing a lot of developments and changes in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area.

NEPCon has also been successful in securing funding from Aage V Foundation, Denmark amounting to EURO294,875 (RM1.2 million)

With the success of the first Strategic Management Plan for Maliau Basin, NEPCon has been invited once again to examine and update the Management Plan for year 2014-2023.

In the signing ceremony, Yayasan Sabah was represented by Datuk Peter Pang En Yin while NEPCon was represented by its director Peter Feilberg, and witnessed by Tourism, Culture & Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun.  

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MoU on joint turtle conservation signed

 

The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Trekkers Lodge Sdn Bhd for turtle conservation on Libaran Island.

 

Both parties are collaborating on establishing a Turtle Conservation Programme on the island which includes, creating awareness programme for the locals and visitors on the conservation value of sea turtles, undertaking research projects to better understand the life cycle of sea turtles of Libaran island area and to create research programmes on the animal for local and international students.

Through the MoU, SWD will offer expertise, advice, training and monitoring assistance at the turtle hatchery and in situ operations to Trekkers Lodge Sdn Bhd in areas related to the collaboration.

The Department will also train Trekkers Lodge staff members Sdn Bhd to become honorary wildlife wardens who can then exercise enforcement with regards to the protection of the species.

The Department and the company were represented by SWD Director, Dr Laurentius Ambu and Trekkers Lodge Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Alexander Yee, at Rumah Terbalik respectively which is also operated by the latter, in Tamparuli recently.

Dr Ambu in his speech commented that there is a dire need to carry out turtle conservation in the state and he welcomed the initiative taken by Yee, describing it as another good example of the state collaborating with dynamic private enterprises and local community to protect the natural resources and environment.

“The department is always ready and supports the efforts of cooperation in managing and carrying out wildlife conservation activities in Sabah. I am confident that this collaboration with a private enterprise and the local community in carrying out conservation works will lead to a success,” added Dr Ambu.

Libaran Island lies at the Northeast coast of Sabah, about 40 minutes boat ride from Sandakan and five minutes away from Selingan Island and one of the main islands of Turtle Islands Park which support about 450 inhabitants whose main livelihood being fishing.

Besides safeguarding the turtles and their eggs, the collaboration will also allow the inhabitants to benefit from the conservation-based activities.

Eleven staff members of the Trekkers Lodge, Libaran Division, who were the inhabitants of the island including Yee and Libaran Village Chief, Sarief Nasidip Uyung, were inducted to be Honorary Wildlife Warden during the MoU signing ceremony, after undergoing a one-week training course in February 2012, conducted by the Sabah Wildlife Department.

Source: New Sabah Times

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Sabah Wildlife Department extends collaboration with Cardiff University

The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) is continuing its collaboration with Cardiff University for another ten years with the signing of an extension of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the management of Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), located in Lot 6 of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.

The MoU was signed by Director of DGFC, Dr Benoit Goossens on behalf of Cardiff University while the Sabah Wildlife Department was represented by its Senior Officer for Kinabatangan District Hussien Muin at the DGFC on Monday.

“The signing of this extension for another ten years acknowledges an extremely successful relationship between the Sabah Wildlife Department and Cardiff University,” said Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, who witnessed the signing.

“I was told by Dr Goossens that the field centre is now welcoming an average of ten field courses per year from different universities in the World (USA, UK, Germany, Hong Kong),” he said.

“This is testament to all the hard work that the staff at the centre have put in. The field centre also welcomes numerous students from masters to PhDs, including several from Malaysia, whom I had the opportunity to meet,” he added.

“Moreover, it employs 16 staff, including 13 locals and it has set up its own River Keeper Unit to assist the Sabah Wildlife Department in its wildlife enforcement work,” Pang said.

Meanwhile, Goossens said: “We value our collaboration with the Sabah State Government extremely highly and this day marks another major event in that collaboration.

“It hardly seems possible that the centre has been open for five years already: progress has been excellent during that time thanks to the hard work of my team, our centre manager Mark Rampangajouw and my dedicated staff and students,” he added.

Goossens also said a number of university field courses, school visits, expeditions and research activities had been carried out at the centre during the past five years and funds had also been raised from international and national bodies such as the Sime Darby Foundation and the Malaysian Palm Oil Council.

“The centre is financially self-sustaining and I am confident that DGFC will become an important base for biodiversity monitoring and assessment, training and capacity building in the region for years to come,” he added.

“During these last 12 months we have had an increase in Malaysian students requesting to work or study at DGFC and this is something I hope will continue in the future. Sabah’s biodiversity is one of its greatest assets and we feel privileged to be involved in studying the dynamics of animal and plant populations in Kinabatangan,” Goossens said.

Meanwhile, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu said: “During the coming ten years, we expect to see the centre expand its research and maintain its teaching activities to the excellent current standard. It is our major goal to increase the management relevance of our research and to instigate a comprehensive education program for students and professionals from Malaysia and elsewhere in South-East Asia.”

“On top of these important activities, we hope the centre can play an increasing role in biodiversity assessment and monitoring at the Kinabatangan floodplain and help us manage the sanctuary. This important floodplain, now part of an internationally recognised RAMSAR site, deserves nothing less,” added Ambu.

Source: New Sabah Times

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HM's visit to boost Brunei, Sabah environment ties

THE visit of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to Sandakan has opened new avenues cooperation between Brunei and Sabah in the field of environmental conservation.

Expressing keen interest in a joint educational and work attachment exchange programme with Brunei Darussalam in the field of environmental conservation, Director of Forestry of Sabah Datuk Sam Mannan told The Brunei Times that His Majesty's visit to Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sepilok as part of his one-day visit to Sandakan, is a matter of great motivation and encouragement for the centre, and is evidence that the work done at the RDC is being appreciated by the world.

He hoped to have more collaborative exchange programmes with Brunei in the area of forest and environmental conservation.

"We hope to have more exchange programmes with Brunei Darussalam and learn from them. I'm sure there's a lot that we can learn from them." Datuk Sam Mannan said it was a matter of great joy that Brunei and Sabah share great partnership, particularly in terms of the Heart of Borneo.

"We are very pleased by the attention given (by His Majesty), it will motivate us to work even harder."

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Yahya Hussin also raised the possibility of MoU signings in the future in the areas of environment and forestry related to the Heart of Borneo project.

"We live on the island of Borneo, and there are many things we can do with our respective states," Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Yahya said. "If only we can cooperate, put our strengths together rather than do it separately, to develop tourism and the HoB projects within Borneo."

Upon arrival at the RDC, His Majesty was greeted by Datuk Sam Mannan, the Director of Forestry, Sabah, and Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Yahya Hussin. Datuk Sam Mannan presented a briefing on Sabah's initiatives and developments on environmental conservation at the Kabili Theatre at the RDC. His Majesty was then taken on a tour around House of Deramakot & Heart of Borneo Exhibition at the theatre, and thereafter visited the canopy walkway for a grand view of the centre. His Majesty visited an Orchid Exhibition at the Plant Discovery Garden at the RDC, where the monarch also met six Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) students on internship at the centre.

Accompanying His Majesty on the visit to RDC were Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Ibrahim, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Ministers Office; Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; and other senior officials at His Majesty's Government.

Earlier, His Majesty arrived in Sandakan yesterday morning at the Sandakan Airport.

Upon arrival, His Majesty was received by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hj Aman, and was escorted by Head of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFAT) Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Nor Hj Jeludin.

Source: http://borneocolours.com/thebuzz/79-borneo/5734-hms-visit-to-boost-brunei-sabah-environment-ties

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