SABAH EXTENDS COLLABORATION ON PROTECTION OF DAMAI RAINFOREST BIODIVERSITY

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- The Sabah government today extended the collaboration period in the Danum Valley-Maliau Basin-Imbak Canyon (DaMaI) patrolling (enforcement & monitoring) initiative for another three years in an effort to protect the state's natural treasures. 

The agreement on the collaboration extension signed today through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Sabah Forestry Department, the Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL) and Yayasan Sabah Group as well as Sabah Environmental Trust (SET) was witnessed by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir, here.

The Sabah government was represented by Forests chief conservator Datuk Frederick Kugan and JHL director Augustine Tuuga while Yayasan Sabah Group was represented by director Datuk Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar and SET chief executive officer Dr Rahimatsah Amat.

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Earlier, Abidin in his speech said the collaboration established since 2017 focused on assistance in joint patrolling initiatives including enforcement and monitoring as well as biodiversity protection at the DaMaI rainforest area.

He said the Sabah government was also grateful to SET for channeling funds of RM3.04 million to help implement the patrolling  programme which has been extended beginning this year until 2024.

Abidin said the DaMaI rainforest covers an area of ​​over one million hectares and includes three core conservation areas, namely the Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon conservation areas.

For protection and management of DaMaI biodiversity, three initiatives were formulated with three main objectives for a period of five years, among others, to improve the capabilities of forest patrol and ranger teams and to continue efforts to make DaMaI a sustainable and superior landscape in Sabah.

"I understand that through this initiative a total of 444 patrols were carried out throughout the DaMaI area," he said, adding that three patrol teams and three stations were established through the cooperation.

He said Sabah JHL’s participation in the extended collaboration would further enhance the capabilities of forest rangers and patrol teams, support protection of DaMaI rainforest biodiversity and efforts to nominate the DaMaI Rainforest as a World Heritage Site.

Meanwhile, Abidin congratulated the Yayasan Sabah Group, especially the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, for obtaining the recognition of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, thus becoming the first destination in Malaysia to receive international recognition.

"I am confident the sustainable tourism standard, we will attract tourists and this will create a positive impact on Sabah," he said, hoping that Yayasan Sabah Group would continue its efforts to help other conservation areas, especially Danum Valley and Imbak Canyon gain recognition.

-- BERNAMA