UMS, SDP sign pact on learning about forest restoration and related activities

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 11 -- Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) today signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Sime Darby Plantation (SDP) Berhad, a collaboration that will see both parties involved in forest restoration, sustainable development and other related processes.

UMS deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) Associate Prof Dr Ramzah Dambul, said the collaboration would provide university students an opportunity to learn about forestry activities.

He said the students involved would learn the entire process of restoration from the stages of seed selection, care and cultivation to silviculture.

He added that they would not only learn about forest restoration but many other research disciplines would follow later such as ecosystems and ecology, flora and fauna, he said when addressing the event at UMS here today.

Ramzah said in line with the agreement, Sime Darby Plantation selected the Sapong farm in Tenom on 267 hectares as a forest restoration area that would give students the opportunity to apply the theory learnt in the classroom.

Meanwhile Sabah Regional Chief Executive Officer Sime Darby Plantation Berhad Mohd Faris Adli Shukery said the partnership would be a great platform for SDP to demonstrate its commitment and support towards forest restoration and sustainable development goals. 

He said the Sapong Estate has been left untouched for more than 40 years and although it is a secondary jungle with low canopy and a small number of huge trees, SDP is nonetheless very proud to have this piece of untouched plot in its landbank profile.

He added that the Sapong Estate was not the only area where it had a landbank of forest species, adding that SDP had other estates that had been planted with such species including those that were endangered, rare and threatened,” he added.

At the event today, UMS was represented by Ramzah and SDP Berhad by Mohd Faris Adli.

-- BERNAMA