All articles of environment in Sabah

16Mar

Sabah to celebrate World Water Day here on March 21-22

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah will celebrate the World Water Day Conference and Exhibition 2018 on March 22 to bring attention to the importance of water, said programme chairman Dr Michael Tay. He said this year the world celebrates the World Water Day which is themed "Nature for Water", focusing on nature-based solution (NBS) to the challenges faced by the people nowadays. The campaign quote "The answer is in nature" will further raise awareness on NBS, he said. "It is with the core message that NBS, such as forest rehabilitation by replanting, reconnecting rivers for floodplains and restoring wetlands, is a sustainable and cost-effective way to rebalance the water cycle and mitigate the effects of climate change with the ultimate goal of improving quality of life. "NBS will help meet the water needs of an ever-growing population and the need of contributing to a circular economy. At the same time, it protects the environment and reduces pollution, securing sustainable management of water and sanitation. "Hence, this year, Sabah will echo United Nation's call by hosting World Water Day Conference & Exhibition in this region (March 21 - 22) which is expected to be officiated by Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman. Dr Michael said the conference will host four sessions as well as a site visit, with 20 invited speakers consisting four international speakers from three countries, policy/ implementers, and also featuring practitioners that specialised in the respective field. Altogether, he said the event is expected to be attended by 350 participants with the motive of bringing awareness the masses on exploring the possibility of using nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century. This event is co-organised by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Sabah and the Institution of Engineers Malaysia Sabah Branch, supported by the State Public Works Department and the State Water Department For further details, contact IEM Sabah at 088-259122 Source: Daily Express
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06Mar

Need to understand the importance of wetlands

Kota Kinabalu: Education and awareness campaigns are the key towards helping the public understand the importance of wetlands, says Sabah Environment Department Director Tunku Khalkausar Tunku Fatimah. "I believe that through education and public awareness campaigns, the message of the impedance of conserving the environment will reach the public. This event is an ideal way to create awareness and enable our younger generation to be more environmentally conscientious and to become stewards of the environment. "I note with great pleasure that the theme for this year's event is 'Wetlands for a sustainable urban future', which highlights the need for effective conservation of urban wetlands to facilitate an urbanisation that is sustainable and that makes cities liveable." She said this when launching the World Wetlands Day 2018 celebration at SWCS Likas, here, Saturday. Khalkausar said this year's theme was indeed very apt because Kota Kinabalu Wetland, located within 10km from the city centre, is the first urban Ramsar site (mangrove type) in Malaysia. She said the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society (SWCS) also deserved to be warmly congratulated for their admirable efforts at raising the bar, in terms of creating awareness and appreciation of wetlands, adding that their determination has also encouraged the Ministry to continuously support SWCS in many ways. "Unquestionably, wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Many wetlands have been significantly destroyed in order to make way for development. As the demand for land increases, there is a tendency to encroach wetlands and convert them into dumping grounds, filling them up in order to build infrastructure on them, draining or burning them to turn them into plantations and many more. "The people have been asked to understand the importance of wetlands in the ecosystem as there are still many unable to understand how it contributes to the ecosystem circle. Urban wetlands make cities liveable in many important ways." She said wetlands also reduce flooding, replenish drinking water, filter waste, provide urban green spaces and as a source of livelihoods. "However, these benefits are not widely known and we need to educate people of all ages to understand how wetlands play an important part in our lives," she added. Meanwhile, SWCS President Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa said as the first NGO that manages a Ramsar site in Malaysia, they have been working diligently on conservation initiatives for more than a decade. "In the performance of these functions, I can truly say that these years have been very challenging for us. Conservation of the natural ecosystem in the urban area can be significantly different from conservation activities in the remote area due to the different set of challenges and opportunities. "We (SWCS) support the conservation of wetlands that goes hand in hand with the wise use of wetlands, without being subjected to issues of over-harvesting and over-stressing our wetlands resources. "It is sad when the level of people's awareness on the importance of wetlands is still low and it is something that needs to be made right. Wetlands are the heart of an ecosystem and if the heart no longer functions, then the ecosystem will be affected and many species will be affected, including humans." Zainie said he was very pleased with the attendance of students from more than eight secondary schools, SM Maktab Sabah, SM ST John Tuaran and SM All Saints, to name a few. "I am delighted to note that we have received more than 10 submissions from schools to participate in the Model Wetland Exhibition Competition and I heard from the judges that we have a hard time choosing the winners. "All of the model wetlands were truly great and the presentations of each group were indisputably remarkable. We are hoping that the initiatives undertaken during World Wetlands Day can greatly benefit the students and enable our younger generation to fully understand the importance of wetlands in the ecosystems. "We are so blessed to have the strong support of our committee members, ex-officious, partners, supporters and especially the staff who continue to contribute in many important ways. It is through these efforts that we continue to strive to achieve our mission to ensure protection and wise use of all wetlands in Sabah." Also present was Sabah Parks Board of Trustees Chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Dr. Zainal Adlin. - Neil Chan Source: Daily Express
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23Feb

K’batangan riparian restoration event

Kota Kinabalu: A tree-planting activity, funded by the European Union-Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (EU-REDD+) Project, will be held in Kinabatangan today (Thursday). This is part of a continuous effort to further support the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life (K-COL) objectives of riparian restoration, covering upstream of Kinabatangan River. In conjunction with the launch of the tree planting activity, a handing-over ceremony of a patrol boat was also held. Datuk Sam Mannan, the Chief Conservator of Forests, Sabah Forestry Department, received the patrol boat from the Vice President of the Kinabatangan – Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association (Kita), Johnny Lim. During the handing-over ceremony, Mannan expressed his gratitude to Kita for their continuous support, this time in the form of a patrol boat. Back in 2011, the Sabah Forestry Department had facilitated the implementation of the RiLeaf Project, opting to restore 2,400ha of degraded riparian within the K-COL. To date, about 2,310ha of Kinabatangan Riparian had been successfully restored by RiLeaf. The Department, having secured financial support from the Eu–REDD+ Project, is now working closely with Kopel Berhad and Sawit Kinabalu Group to carry out sustainable livelihood programme of riverine communities along the Kinabatangan River and riparian restoration activities. This is part of the six-year Eu–REDD+ Project that commenced in 2013, which aims at contributing to the sustainable and low carbon development of Sabah. The specific objective is to enhance Sabah's REDD+ readiness and implementation through REDD+ demonstration activities to strengthen communities' engagement in forest protection and pro-poor sustainable forest management. Source: Daily Express
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15Feb

Getting citi-zens interested in farming

Kota Kinabalu: City Hall is introducing My Farmville to promote urban recreational farming as a community activity. The project held at Kingfisher is the first attempt by City Hall to involve the community as a whole and is aimed at introducing efficient use of resources through organic compost and to help lessen the cost of living. State Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs Datuk Jainab Ahmad who officiated the project at the City Hall Learning Centre in Kingfisher on Saturday supported the programme as it involved the community. "We want the people to take part in any project involving the community that is being carried out by City Hall in their area. "This will not only give benefit to the mind, physical health but it also could reduce the cost of kitchen expenses when the crop could be harvested and shared among local communities. "In addition, this community activity will increase interest of urban residents to farm through Urban Recreational Farming. This activity helps reduce the daily expenses from the collection of crops and introduces more effective resource management. "It is a social activity that we have to take which designed to be implemented in other places to create a Healthy Recreation Centre for the city residents," said Jainab. She also announced an allocation of RM10,000 from her Ministry for the programme. "I hope the urban community could benefit from the activities being undertaken in developing local communities," she added. Jainab also give support to the City Hall to cooperate so that such programme would be applied in other housing areas such as Indah Permai as suggested by the City Hall which will involve residents in the area to equally safeguard the environment and to cultivate. Meanwhile, Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said the programme was an activity leading to agricultural activities. "In the future there are three biggest challenges which we would face namely housing, food production and clean water production. He said the Farmville concept came from the Federal Government. Almost 95 per cent of the crops at the My Farmville @ Kingfisher could be eaten. He also said that advice and assistance from the Community Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry is needed because such activity require the cooperation of the ministry to be developed among the community. In the event, the City Hall and the Agriculture Ministry signed a memorandums of understanding at the event witnessed by Jainab and Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah who is also in charge of the DBKK. Jainab hoped that through the MoU, both agencies will assist each other in identifying suitable areas within their respective administrative areas for Urban Recreational Farming. Yeo said the agreement is a proof of close cooperation between the parties through the NBOS approach to empower the potential of economy development of the population and the environment in the city and at Taman Kingfisher as well. He also said that through the MoU, they would discussed with the Agriculture Department and the Community Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry for another programme to supply three fruit trees to each house in every village in the city so that in the next four to five years the people could harvest the fruits. Also present were State Agriculture Department director Idrus Shapie, City Hall Director-General Joannes Solidau, City Hall Deputy Director-General of Operations, Noorliza Awang Alip who is also the organising chairwoman of the My Farmville Open Day. - Jo Ann Mool Source: Daily Express
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29Jan

Renewable energy way forward

Kota Kinabalu: Developing renewable energy or alternative energy sources is the way forward towards meeting future energy needs, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman. "The State Government believes the practice of conserving energy through sustainable and efficient consumption of electricity should be carried out for the survival of the next generation," he said. He said the National Green Technology launched in 2009 has four pillars – energy, environment, economy and social. "For the energy sector, the key challenge is to increase renewable energy resources and efficiently use energy. "The challenge is the extinction of energy sources such as gas and coal, thus the management of energy resources must be diversified taking into account renewable energy sources in our country's electricity generation systems," he said. Musa, who was represented by Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, said this when officiating the two-day Sustainable Energy Convention, here, Thursday. He further said the people should also be educated and given awareness on how important energy efficiency and optimum use is because it saves the environment and saves cost. "This is the best way to reduce the production of carbon dioxide as well as save on the volume of its use. "Environmental sustainability needs to be taken seriously in the interest of all. Energy generation is one of the biggest contributors to climate change through the fossil burning process. "Additionally, the upgrading and lifestyle of the community also witness the increase in energy needs, especially electricity and other fossil fuels, thus the people are advised to adopt more environmentally friendly lives in order to preserve the environment," he said. Musa also applauded Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) for organising the convention which he described as timely as it promotes sustainable use of energy to improve the quality of life of the people. He also urged SESB to improve the electricity supply system to drive development in the State. In this regard, he hoped cooperation between SESB and other interested parties would find a holistic approach to develop renewal energy to reduce the impact of fossil fuel in future. Meanwhile, Pairin told a media conference the convention will discuss about energy and what can be done to make sure energy is sustainable. "This should be what we are here for to ensure that we come up with more sustainable energy and less use of fossils from the ground that has been used since long ago to generate energy. "We are always reminded so that our country also takes part in programmes to reduce carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. "I think what we are emphasising here is to come up with more energy produced from natural creation, from the sun, rivers, water which has no pollution but can produce sustainable energy. "If we can do this, it is very important, now we are thinking of…we are already producing electrical mobile vehicles, we are also working on producing power from water…all this is for future needs of the world, humans, life and ensure our environment can be sustained for the future," he said. Also present were Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, and State Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Radin Malleh, among others. – Sherell Jeffrey   Source: Daily Express
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