Wetlands World Environment Day on Thursday
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society (SWCS) will be celebrating World Environment Day (WED) on June 7 at Kota Kinabalu Wetlands.
SWCS president Zainie Abdul Aucasa said this year’s celebration would be launched by Tourism, Culture and Environment state assistant minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin.
Commemorated every year on June 5, he said WED was one of the principal platform utilised by the United Nations to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action, through its environment programmes.
“In our efforts towards a Green Economy and sustainable development, SWCS has initiated a public signature campaign in support of the KK Wetlands with the slogan ‘Our Wetlands for Now and the Future Generations’.
“We are particularly concerned with proposed high-rise condominium developments in close proximity to the Wetlands which would have a detrimental impact on its sustainability,” he said in a statement.
Zainie said the signatures would be submitted to the relevant authorities at the local and state government levels so that objections on any unsustainable infrastructure or condominium development “that will affect Kota Kinabalu Wetlands will be given due consideration by the authorities”.
He said this campaign was, among others, aimed at increasing public awareness on the importance of wetlands conservation and SWCS’ efforts to obtain Ramsar Site status for the Wetlands.
Through this signature drive, SWCS hopes to create awareness among the people of Kota Kinabalu City on the importance of wetlands and their ecological functions to society in various ways, added Zainie.
He said SWCS is striving to conserve the 24-hectare mangrove forests at the Wetlands as a sanctuary for more than 90 species of birds and aquatic animals and maintain its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna as a heritage for the younger generations.
Zainie said there were six wetlands designated as Ramsar Sites in Malaysia including the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands, Sabah.
He said SWCS will continue with its efforts to obtain Ramsar Site status for the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands and being within the boundary of the city “the value of a wetland lies in the benefits it provides to the environment and people of Sabah, something which is not easily measured”. — Bernama
Source : Borneo Post
