Kerajaan Sabah Berjaya Lindungi Ekosistem Marin

Usaha memerangi aktiviti bom ikan memerlukan penglibatan semua pihak termasuk anggota masyarakat demi memastikan khazanah alam yang ada tidak terus terjejas atau dirosakkan, khususnya terumbu karang yang menjadi habitat hidupan marin. Semporna misalnya banyak bergantung kepada sumber-sumber alam marinnya untuk menjana dana kepada daerah ini. Jesteru, sebarang kaedah pengeksploitasian sumber marin yang menyalahi undang-undang perlu dihentikan serta-merta bagi memastikan khazanah alam dapat dimanfaatkan secara terus-menerus untuk generasi akan datang.

Aktiviti bom ikan adalah satu ancaman yang perlu ditangani segera kerana kegiatan itu yang sudah wujud semenjak bermulanya era Perang Dunia Kedua memberikan kesan buruk kepada penurunan bilangan populasi hidupan marin seperti ikan di Semporna. Situasi ini bukan sahaja boleh mendatangkan kerugian kepada para nelayan, malah turut menjejaskan industri pelancongan di daerah itu yang banyak bergantung kepada sumber-sumber marin. Jesteru, pelbagai langkah telah diambil oleh kerajaan bagi menangani masalah itu antaranya termasuklah melalui penguatkuasaan undang-undang, mewartakan lebih banyak pulau sebagai taman marin serta penganjuran kempen-kempen kesedaran.

Sepanjang tahun lepas, Pasukan Polis Marin (PPM) berjaya mengesan 11 kes mengebom ikan yang disiasat mengikut Akta Bahan Letupan dan 10 kes lagi di bawah Seksyen 26 (1) (c) Akta Perikanan 1985 iaitu memiliki ikan yang ditangkap menggunakan bom. Namun setakat Julai tahun ini, tidak ada kes seumpama itu berlaku terutamanya di perairan pantai timur Sabah. Perkembangan ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa pihak berkuasa berjaya menangani masalah ini selepas melaksanakan pelbagai inisiatif yang mana turut melibatkan komitmen dikalangan orang awam, aktivis dan NGO. 

Malah, pelancaran Ops Daulat pada Februari lepas bagi mengesan dan memberkas pengganas dari Selatan Filipina yang menceroboh pantai Timur Sabah (kini dikenali sebagai Ops Sanggah), turut menyumbang kepada penurunan kes pengeboman ikan kerana pada waktu itu kawalan perairan sungguh ketat dimana pelbagai agensi keselamatan dilihat berkawal di sepanjang perairan pantai timur Sabah. Perkembangan positif ini bukan sahaja membawa berita baik kepada warga nelayan dan pengusaha industri pelancongan, malah yang paling penting sekali, sumber marin negeri ini akan terus terpelihara untuk manfaat generasi akan datang.

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Set up marine education centre in Semporna – rep

 

SEMPORNA: Sulabayan assemblyman Datuk Dr Haji Jaujan Sambakong has suggested a marine education centre be set up in Semporna to further enhance the growth of marine education and research work here.

He said the marine education centre would be a teaching and resource centre for the local community as well as visiting researchers.

“It will be a resource bank where results of marine researches, studies, historical background and culture can be stored for use by the local community to learn and be educated.

“It will also be a research centre for marine scientists from Malaysia and overseas, as well as a tourist centre where visitors can learn more about the wealth of marine life in the region,” he said during a recent event hosted by WWF-Malaysia in appreciation of the support for the conservation work it was doing in the region.

Also present were representatives from Semporna District Office, Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Fisheries Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Semporna District Education Office, Semporna District Mosque, Semporna District Library, Persatuan Wanita Pulau Omadal (WAPO), Green Semporna volunteers, Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK) and head of villages from the island communities, and representatives from the tourism industry and schools.

WWF-Malaysia’s Conservation director, Dr Sundari Ramakrishna, welcomed the proposal to set up a marine education centre in Semporna.

“This is a noble idea. WWF-Malaysia has been advocating community engagement and education for local communities and green tourism. The centre will go a long way in support of the marine conservation work that we are involved in here,” said Dr Sundari.

The event also included a presentation on WWF-Malaysia’s work in Semporna Priority Conservation Area by its deputy manager of Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Programme, Monique Sumampouw, and an introductory talk on the work of Persatuan Wanita Pulau Omadal in marine conservation by its head, Roziah bte Jalalip.

Handicrafts made from Pandanus leaves found on Omadal island were also exhibited as alternatives to sustainable income for fishing communities in the region where poverty is a great threat to fight against. TheBorneoPost

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Sabah in no rush to send rhinos overseas for breeding

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is in no rush to send its rhinos to zoos abroad for breeding amid fears that the animal faces extinction in Borneo, said state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

He said it would be the state’s last resort to send rhinos overseas for breeding.

“We are looking at all available options and the most important thing is to ensure that these animals will not become extinct,” he said.

“However, to send them overseas will be our last resort,” he said at the Sabah Muslim Cabinet ministers’ Hari Raya open house at Likas Sports Complex on Saturday.

Asked about the growing calls for the near extinct rhinos to be sent to a US zoo for breeding purposes, Masidi said that it was hard to get rhinos to mate due to geographical factors.

“Rhinos are loners. They don’t really move in packs.It makes it much ,more difficult for our rhinos to find mates,” he said.

However, he said he would study various recommendations from experts before discussing with the Cabinet on the options to ensure the species survives in Sabah.

Source: The Star

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Tree planting session

Pic: www.ppbgroup.com

Sandakan: Members of Sandakan District Tennis Association (SDTA) and Lions Club of Sandakan Selingan took part in a tree-planting session at the SDTA clubhouse compound.

Sandakan District Tennis Association Hon. Secretary Benno Ong said the Lions were led by their President Cyrina Au while SDTA President Taren Sunil Manoharan was present with his committee and fellow tennis players.

Also present were visiting Lions dignitaries including their District Governor Kung Kuok Yiew, his predecessor James Teo, Cabinet Secretary Lawrence Ting and Zone 16 Chairman Raymond Saw.

Cyrina said that when Lions Club of Sandakan Selingan initiated the project they decided to invite SDTA to join them because members of both organisations shared a similar desire to help protect and keep the environment green.

Meanwhile, SDTA President Taren Sunil pointed out that this is the second time that they are jointly planting trees to support the environment.

"With the unrelenting pace of urban development we are witnessing very fast growth of a 'concrete jungle' and we sorely need 'green lungs' amidst all the concrete, steel and glass buildings."

He said with the SDTA tennis complex located within Sandakan district, both Lions and SDTA felt that the place is ideal to serve as a little green lung for the town folk.

"We do have a large compound already planted with different species of trees and plants. With this planting campaign we have added another 46 new saplings to further 'green up' our place. We hope to make our SDTA tennis complex one of the green lungs for our town."

"This tree planting effort is in fact part of a worldwide project by the numerous international Lions Clubs to get 20 million trees planted around the globe this year and both Lions Club Sandakan Selingan and SDTA are proud to have played a small role towards achieving that goal," he elaborated, thanking Lions Club of Sandakan Selingan for choosing the SDTA premises as the venue for the project.

"We also wish to record our thanks to the Sabah Forestry Department for having donated trees and given advice on suitable species to plant in our compound," said Taren. - dailyexpress

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InsightSabah : Sun Bear conservation is a community effort

BSBCC founder and chief executive officer Wong Siew Te with a Sun Bear cub. - Photo courtesy of BSBCC

Nature and wildlife conservation works are not the sole concern of the government, non-governmental organizations (NGO) and researchers. The whole society has an active role to play too.

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) founder and chief executive officer, Wong Siew Te said as both humans and wildlife are part of the ecosystem, there must be willingness on the part of the people to get involved whenever they can to save the threatened species.

Citing the recent 'Big Dreams, Little Bears' event which was held Sandakan on July 20th, Wong said that BSBCC worked with a group of local volunteers to raise RM443,000 - covering almost a quarter of the RM2 million budget for this year to complete a second bear house, create an additional forest enclosure and other work.

“I hope the people of Sandakan will get a sense of ownership of the Centre because it is through their involvement, one way or another, that has helped the facility come this far and which will drive it further," said Wong, adding that habitat loss, poaching for parts used in traditional medicine and the pet trade are among key threats to the Sun Bear population. This has led to a decline by at least 30 per cent of the Sun Bear population in the last three decades.

Once the Centre is opened to the public by early next year, it will become an important eco-tourism attraction that would allow Sandakan to do more to promote conservation.

The Centre, which was set up in 2008 under a partnership between the Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Forestry Department and NGO Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), is currently home to 28 bears rescued from the wild and from unauthorized homes. It is also the first facility of its kind in the world for Sun Bears.

A boardwalk leading to the viewing platform at the BSBCC in Sandakan. The Centre is scheduled to be open to the public next year. - Photo courtesy of BSBCC

Located next to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, the Centre's main objective is to create a rehabilitation, research and education facility to help bears released from captivity to find its way back to the wild. The centre also provides habitat for those that can no loner return to the wild. - Insight Sabah

Some of the 500 students who turned up for the documentary screening on Sun Bears in a happy mood after learning more about the species. - Photo courtesy of BSBCC

- Insightsabah

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