All articles of environment in Sabah

07Jan

Environ Dept was into 145 schemes

Kota Kinabalu: The State Environment Protection Department (EPD) with its partners conducted 145 programmes with an outreach of 14,962 participants throughout Sabah in two years. Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Assaffal Alian said the programmes were part of the initiatives under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry and the Conference of Earth Environment from Akita, Japan (CEEA), in 2017. "This is a major achievement and I hope that more programmes can be conducted so that the people will be more aware that even their smallest actions are important to reduce global warming," he said in a statement, Wednesday. "The MoU which is about to end by March, this year, is a great platform for Sabah to educate the people on the importance of taking the necessary measures to curb the rise of global heat. "We need to become a sustainable society by adhering to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the world leaders in 2015. "I hope CEEA will be able to purse the next phase of the MoU to expand the awareness activities to capture a wider spectrum of the community." Towards this end, Assaffal reiterated that the State Government will give due mandate to EPD to further strengthen its roles of ensuring environmental sustainability, especially, on climate change in Sabah. The MoU aims to ensure that awareness programmes on climate change are promoted among the people. EPD is the implementing department and will eventually be acknowledged as the Centre for Climate Change Action for Sabah, while the programmes are coordinated and monitored by the Japan Centre for Climate Change Actions (JCCCA). Meanwhile, Assaffal lead a working visit to Akita and Tokyo, Japan, recently as part of the indicators in the MoU. He was accompanied by EPD Director Mohd Yusrie Abdullah and other senior officials. During the trip, Assafal said the delegates observed the processing of solid waste at the Comprehensive Environmental Centre operated by Akita City Hall. "A mega solar power plant is also housed in this centre."All solid wastes are separated for recycling and for combustion inside the gasification and melting furnace at a very high temperature between 1,700 and 1,800 degree Celsius. "For environmental countermeasures in the gasification and melting furnace, gases such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, dioxins and other hazardous components are neutralised by the addition of limestone, and the furnace's design also confined these gases from being generated," he said. Assaffal said, the system resolved many environmental issues related to solid waste – a common problem faced by many nations including Sabah. "I am amazed that apart from effective recycling and recovery of metal, the system generates energy for its own power generation. "We also observed the process of several renewable energy in Akita such as biomass plant from oil palm kernels and chip woods, biogas power generation plant for food waste processing and wind mill plant. "Renewable energy from natural resources can be replenished during an average human lifetime and these sources should be promoted to ensure the earth's temperature will not increase at an alarming rate." During the visit, Assaffal also presented a speech on the performance of the climate change awareness programmes in Sabah at the International Eco­Products, Green Productivity and Environmental Technologies Exhibition (EcoPRo) 2018 in Tokyo. Source : Daily Express
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31Oct

Philanthropist proposes pangolin sanctuary in Sabah

This is the pangolin that was surrendered to the Sabah Wildlife Department by a member of the public.

KOTA KINABALU: A Malaysian-born retired engineer now engaged in philanthropic work, has offered to help set up a pangolin sanctuary in Sabah in the belief that Sabah can lead in pangolin conservation efforts. Peter Chan, who has been working in the United States for 30 years, made the offer during a courtesy call on Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Christina Liew, on Tuesday. The Samaritan, who expressed his desire to work with nature, is also willing to make a substantial contribution from his endowments in the US, in funding the project dubbed Pangolin Conservation Initiative. Given that the pangolin is now a totally protected species, Liew is elated that if Sabah blazes the trail in this endeavour with the support of the philanthropist, the proposed pangolin sanctuary will have the distinction of being the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. She said it is a most timely move as pangolins are highly poached in this part of the region. “It is a good proposal which will generate immense interest among nature lovers and conservationists. I am excited about this laudable cause. We thank Mr Chan for his initiative and unprecedented proposal.” He and Sabah’s very own pangolin expert, Elisa Panjang, will be working on the proposal paper. Elisa is a well-known pangolin biologist. “The paper will be presented formally to my ministry by the end of November. The Permanent Secretary (Datuk Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai) and Sabah Wildlife Department will study the paper whether the project is financially viable before we submit it for the State Government’s consideration,” she said in a statement. Liew also emphasised the need to educate the public on the importance of conserving the pangolin, described as a secretive, rare and unique mammal. Chan told the minister that although he is not a career conservationist, he is very passionate about conservation work, and three months ago, friends recommended that he go to East Malaysia for pangolin conservation work. “And that’s how I found out about Elisa. I think with her expertise, she can run the programme. It can be a kind of public-private partnership and ideally, to be managed by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD). As far as I am concerned, I want to do something good for Sabah and there is no financial gain. “Let’s work together to achieve this goal. I don’t want this thing to fail. That’s why I am here. Other concerned Malaysians’ help to attain this goal will be greatly appreciated. Once we get this project running, the next step is corporate sponsorship to make it financially sustainable. That’s just the way to do it,” he said. Briefing Liew on the pangolin, Elisa said one of the species, Sunda pangolin, is found throughout Sabah but concentrated in the pristine forests in Kinabatangan and Central Sabah in the Danum area. “It is estimated that there are more than 1,000 pangolins left in Sabah. The pangolin is about 110cm long and weighs less than 15kg. It is a natural heritage but the population is severely threatened by poaching for the international illegal wildlife trade. This mammal is hunted for its meat (exotic food), scales (traditional medicine) and skin (accessories). If no conservation work is in place, we may ultimately lose them,” she cautioned. According to Elisa, the pangolins’ habitat destruction in favour of development is a threat to their survival but poaching is the main threat. It is an open secret that Chinese tourists go for pangolin meat which is served illegally in some restaurants known to illegal tour operators. It is difficult for the relevant authorities to catch the errant restaurant owners as the latter are usually tipped off about would-be raids on their premises. However, director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, Augustine Tuuga, said offenders have been convicted of illegal possession of pangolin parts. “Pangolins are easily targeted by poachers by virtue of their slow movement. It is a solitary mammal (living alone). Its only protection lies in the scales,” he added. Last week, a member of the public surrendered a pangolin weighing 12kg to the department, and it has since been released into the forest. Currently, Sandakan-born Elisa is conducting research on pangolins at the Danau Girang Field Centre in Kinabatangan. The University Malaysia Sabah graduate, who holds a Master’s degree in Ecological Process, is pursuing her PhD in Biosciences – Organisms and Environment at the Cardiff University, United Kingdom.   Source: Borneo Post Online
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16Oct

UK charity helping out Lok Kawi zoo

Kota Kinabalu: A wildlife park in Sabah has accepted help from an UK animal welfare charity, following concerns raised over the welfare of animals under its care. Following concerns raised in social media, the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Penampang invited UK animal welfare charity Wild Welfare to visit and carry out a welfare audit. Wild Welfare's Field Director Dave Morgan observed the Park's facilities and all its animals and held meetings with key people from the Park and Sabah Wildlife Department. The charity has since offered to help work with the Park to make improvements for its animals. "We discovered a number of areas where there are concerns, in particular the current controlling methods used to manage their elephants. Changes need to be made to improve conditions for the animals," he said. Following the three-day audit, a meeting was held with Nur'Ain Acheh, the Park's Manager, Augustine Tuuga, the Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, the Department's Deputy Director and Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit's chief veterinarian. All parties agreed the need for positive changes to improve animal welfare at the Park. Up to 90 per cent of the Park's animals were rescued as a result of injury or are confiscations from the illegal pets and wildlife trades. Wild Welfare has experience working in similar wild animal facilities across the world, putting in place a series of practical, long-term changes wherever necessary, that enable staff and management to provide good animal care and welfare. "We don't just come in and audit a facility, point out all that is wrong and expect changes to happen overnight. "Our charity will work with the Park to help solve the problems and issues that are giving cause for concern, ensuring the staff can create a place where all the animals receive a high standard of care," added Morgan. Wild Welfare is generating a full report for the Park, which will lay out the changes that need to be made, and has made a commitment to return next year with additional expertise. - Hayati Dzulkifli   Source: Daily Express
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08Oct

Orangutan named “Tiger” released into the wild

KOTA KINABALU: A male Bornean orangutan nicknamed “Tiger” was released into the wild after 18 years in the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.

Tiger, aged 20, was translocated to the Tabin wildlife reserve in Lahad Datu yesterday, through a joint effort between Sabah Wildlife Department and a UK-based charity Orangutan Appeal UK.

State wildlife director Augustine Tuuga, in a statement today, said Tiger was brought to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center some 18 years ago as a very timid two-year-old orphaned baby orangutan.

“He spent the next few years undergoing the rehabilitation process there. Ironically, Tiger was actually rescued from a logging camp somewhere in Lahad Datu and now is being translocated back to Tabin Wildlife Reserve’s Core Area, also in Lahad Datu.

“The department would like to thank Orangutan Appeal UK for funding this whole translocation operation which cost more than RM50,000,” he said.

Tuuga added that Tabin Wildlife Reserve was an ideal place to release Tiger as it was a large area for him to comfortably forage in.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council for funding the department’s Wildlife rescue Unit, which played a critical role in making the translocation operation a success.

Meanwhile, Orangutan Appeal UK founder and chairperson Sue Sheward said the release of Tiger from Sepilok to the Tabin reserve made history, with everyone in the organisation and wildlife department pooling their resources to achieve the goal.

“With the assistance of good friends within Sabah and the UK, yet another magnificent orangutan was saved,” concluded Sue.

  Source: New Straits Times
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08Oct

Sabah wants Mt Kinabalu in Unesco geopark list

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has set its sights on getting Mount Kina­balu and its surrounding districts listed in Unesco Global Geoparks by 2020. Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew said Sabah Parks was on track to getting the geopark recognised as a National Geopark (Malaysia) before it could be declared a Unesco Global Geo­park. Dubbed “Aspiring Kinabalu Geopark”, the proposed Kinabalu geopark covers the entire Kina­balu Park and either as a whole or parts of the Ranau, Kota Belud and Kota Marudu districts. Kinabalu Park itself is a Unesco World Heritage Site and has an area of 75,370ha. Liew, who is State Tourism, Culture and Tourism Minister, said after a meeting with officials from the Sabah Parks, Depart­ment of Minerals and Geosciences Malaysia, Sabah, Universiti Keb­angsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah here that the proposal was a new concept of tourism and that her ministry would prepare a Cabinet paper for consideration and app­roval. “We want to conserve Kinabalu Park for the present and future generations not only for its ecological functions, but also for education, recreation and economic development purposes,” she said. She added that a Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark Site would put Sabah on the world map and boost tourism growth, as well as bring socio-economic benefits to local communities. UKM Prof Emeritus Dr Ibrahim Komoo, a geologist who was responsible for introducing the Unesco Global Geopark label to Malaysia, said a Unesco Global Geopark has three main elements. “Firstly, it is a single and unified geographical area. Secondly, it has sites and landscapes of international geological significance. “Thirdly, it must be managed in a holistic manner by offering protection, education and sustainable development. “Geotourism does not mean geology alone. “Here, we look at geological, biological and cultural aspects together so that we can provide information to the tourists and give them a complete picture of the history of the geopark,” he added. Dr Ibrahim said the Tawau Hills Park also had the right attributes to be declared a Unesco Global Geopark. The Langkawi Unesco Global Geopark is the first in Malaysia and was set up in 2007.   Source: The Star Online  
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