Tag - Environment

KOTA KINABALU: A newly-opened laboratory is putting Sabah in the forefront in the detection of new diseases that could spread from animals to humans. The health, genetic and forensic laboratory of the Wildlife Department at Lok Kawi, about 18km from here, would help researchers on disease surveillance, said state Tourism, Cul­ture and Environment Minister Dat­uk Masidi Manjun. The laboratory, built with the assistance of the US government and environment groups EcoHealth Alli­ance and Danau Girang Field Centre, is equipped to store samples and conduct genetic analysis on biological samples and will be invaluable in the department’s effort to crackdown on poaching. “It will also screen samples for detection of novel virus (virus not seen before), genetic research and forensic investigations,” said Masidi at the opening of the laboratory by US ambassador Joseph Yun yesterday. Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu said the laboratory would assist its wildlife enforcement division in analysing confiscated ille­gal bush meat. “The results of such an analysis will be admissible in court,” he said. On a related matter, he said the department had also set up a wildlife health unit in collaboration with EcoHealth and centre. He said while the department’s wildlife rescue unit carried out wildlife rescue and translocation activities, the health unit would be responsible for leading the physical and diag­nostic evaluation of rescued and relocated wildlife across Sabah. In his speech, Yu said the US government’s financial help in the setting up of the new laboratory was in the interest of all parties. Source: The Star

KOTA KINABALU: A RM16mil programme to tackle climate change in Sabah has been signed between the State Forestry Department and the European Union (EU). The four-year programme focusing on promoting sustainable forest management and community development is set to take Sabah a step further in preserving the environment and strengthening its carbon stocks. “The programme is significant for Sabah because of our ongoing forest protection commitment in which about 20% of the land has been set aside for conservation purposes,” department director Datuk Sam Mannan said yesterday. He said the programme would, among others, educate villagers on how to harvest from the forest in a sustainable manner, as it involved the environment and their livelihood. “This is not just about ensuring the continuity of our forests and life in it, but also about peoples’ livelihood because there are a lot of villagers and industry players who depend on the forest and its resources for a living,” he added. Sam said the programme would also enhance the institutional capacity of the state government and develop the necessary systems and tools to design and implement the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) strategy. REDD+ is an effort to reduce greenhouse gas due to deforestation and to tackle climate change. EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Malaysia Luc Vandebon said the body was confident of embarking on this project on a large scale with Sabah due to the state’s ongoing environment protection efforts. “We believe Sabah, and Malaysia as a whole, is capable of achieving a lot in this field to become an example to other countries in the region,” he added. The programme was launched in conjunction with the first EU-Sabah Days held from Dec 3 to 5 in Kota Kinabalu. Source: The Star

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sabah branch has recorded the second largest participation in Malaysia, under its Love Earth through Society (LEtS2013) programme, yesterday. A total of 118 students walked around the campus, completed their 1,000 steps as one of activities during the event. Its rector, Datuk Abdul Kadir Rosline, officiated at the event, which aims to create awareness among university students and the community about the meaning of volunteerism. The event is held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of UiTM Sabah and International Volunteer Day which is celebrated on December 5 annually. “LEtS is a syllabus in the Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, but the campus has decided to celebrate the event under the campus’ programme as it will spread positive awareness among UiTM students. “UiTM wants its students to participate in various programmes which engage environment and volunteerism in order to assist the students to learn and face the real world after graduating. It is the time for the students to learn how to organize events and make mistakes so that they can improve themselves,” he said. Throughout the programme, students were encouraged to participate in various activities such as the Sabah State Health Department’s blood campaign. In line with the Sabah branch’s recognition as a litter-free university, the event also encourages and reminds students and university staff on the importance of a dirt-free environment. With this in mind, the organizing team of LEtS2013 also initiated the planning and implementing of LEtS2013 as a ‘green event’ where materials and resources for decorating the venue and surroundings used recyclable materials. During the event, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Sabah Association of Voluntary Efforts (SAVE) and 1Malaysia For Youth (iM4U) took the opportunity to promote their programmes to the students. Also present at the event was president of SAVE, Eva Susau. During the closing ceremony, Abdul Kadir also launched a coffee table book entitled “Mengubah Destinasi Anak Bangsa” by UiTM students, which will be published next year. Source: Borneo Post