MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Sabah Signs MoU On REDD+ Implementation
Sabah Signs MoU On REDD+ Implementation
12/11/2013 (Bernama) - The Sabah state government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three European organisations to explore the feasibility of the implementation of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).
The (MoU) will see the state government and UK's Permian Global Research Limited, the Royal Society as well as Dutch organisation Wetlands International, undertaking a six-month feasibility study on selected forest reserves such as Ulu Kalumpang and Kuamut, and the Klias Wetlands.
The effort is in line with the state's REDD+ Roadmap to explore and generate potential carbon money to support conservation efforts and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
Sabah Forestry Director Datuk Sam Mannan signed the MoU on behalf of the state government with Nick Brickle of Permian Global Research, Wetlands International's Marcel Silvius and Datuk Dr Glen Reynolds, representing the Royal Society.
The signing ceremony, at the opening of the International Conference on "Heart of Borneo's Natural Capital:Unleashing Their Potential for Sustainable Growth in Sabah", here, was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Musa also witnessed the presentation of land titles by NGO, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), to Sabah Wildlife Director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu.
The titles are for 10 plots of lowland forest critical for the movement of endangered wildlife, and to be gazetted as part of the fragmented Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.
LEAP Executive Director Cynthia Ong who handed over the titles, said the 132.19 hectares involved, would create natural forested corridors for Borneo pygmy elephants, orangutans and other wildlife pushed into pockets of protected areas, while cut off by agricultural estates and settlements.
"We also encourage land owners and players in the oil palm industry to voluntarily give up land in critical areas, so that these can be turned into corridors, not just within the Kinabatangan landscape, but also in other parts of Sabah," she added.
At the ceremony, four local entrepreneurs were given recognition as "Kampung Taukays" for showing exemplary performance in the execution and implementation of forest restoration and in support of the Sabah Forestry Department's efforts to restore the functionality and productivity of the state's forest within the Heart of Borneo initiative.
For the past five years, Bedi Maikas, Hussin Ahmad, Talib Bidin and Sanih Ramitan collectively restored a total of 44,686 hectares of forest land, notably the Tangkulap, Timimbang, Deramakot, Gunung Rara, VJR Lungmanis, Ulu Segama and the Kalumpang and Wullersdorf forest reserves.
The (MoU) will see the state government and UK's Permian Global Research Limited, the Royal Society as well as Dutch organisation Wetlands International, undertaking a six-month feasibility study on selected forest reserves such as Ulu Kalumpang and Kuamut, and the Klias Wetlands.
The effort is in line with the state's REDD+ Roadmap to explore and generate potential carbon money to support conservation efforts and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
Sabah Forestry Director Datuk Sam Mannan signed the MoU on behalf of the state government with Nick Brickle of Permian Global Research, Wetlands International's Marcel Silvius and Datuk Dr Glen Reynolds, representing the Royal Society.
The signing ceremony, at the opening of the International Conference on "Heart of Borneo's Natural Capital:Unleashing Their Potential for Sustainable Growth in Sabah", here, was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Musa also witnessed the presentation of land titles by NGO, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), to Sabah Wildlife Director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu.
The titles are for 10 plots of lowland forest critical for the movement of endangered wildlife, and to be gazetted as part of the fragmented Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.
LEAP Executive Director Cynthia Ong who handed over the titles, said the 132.19 hectares involved, would create natural forested corridors for Borneo pygmy elephants, orangutans and other wildlife pushed into pockets of protected areas, while cut off by agricultural estates and settlements.
"We also encourage land owners and players in the oil palm industry to voluntarily give up land in critical areas, so that these can be turned into corridors, not just within the Kinabatangan landscape, but also in other parts of Sabah," she added.
At the ceremony, four local entrepreneurs were given recognition as "Kampung Taukays" for showing exemplary performance in the execution and implementation of forest restoration and in support of the Sabah Forestry Department's efforts to restore the functionality and productivity of the state's forest within the Heart of Borneo initiative.
For the past five years, Bedi Maikas, Hussin Ahmad, Talib Bidin and Sanih Ramitan collectively restored a total of 44,686 hectares of forest land, notably the Tangkulap, Timimbang, Deramakot, Gunung Rara, VJR Lungmanis, Ulu Segama and the Kalumpang and Wullersdorf forest reserves.