11 NOVEMBER 2014 @ 8:10 AM
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Forestry Department is hoping for an additional RM50 million allocation in the 11th Malaysia Plan to intensify forest conservation efforts via the “Heart of Borneo” initiative.
The initiative, led by the department, was signed by Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia in 2007 to protect a 220,000 sq km forested region in Borneo.
Its director, Datuk Sam Mannan, said the fund would focus on reforestation, research and documentation works.
“This (fund) is crucial for us to achieve and develop the 30 per cent totally protected areas, or 2.2 million ha, targeted in the next 10 years.
“The national project will reinforce Malaysia’s position as a leader in responsible natural resources management,” he said during the opening of the sixth international conference on “Enhancing Biodiversity Towards No Net Loss and Beyond Within the Heart of Borneo Landscape,” here yesterday.
The one-day programme focused on preventing loss of land due to development, addressing challenges in Sabah, as well as exchanging ideas and recommendations from other countries.
Natural Resources and Environment minister Datuk Seri G. Palani-vel launched the conference.
He said the Federal Government had allocated RM34.46 million for conservation in Sabah and Sarawak from 2011 to next year.
“Sabah has designated 53 per cent or 3.9 million ha of the state’s land mass as protected areas, which surpassed the 10 per cent recommended by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“Although much has been achieved, we will continue to work together and adopt best practices in forest management and biodiversity conservation.”
On the floods in Cameron Highlands, Palanivel said the short-term plan was to relocate housing and schools at riversides to higher ground.
“The residents have refused to shift as some claimed those land titles were given to them while others are awaiting the completion of the 1Malaysia People’s Housing Programme (PR1MA) project in the state.
“The ministry will discuss the matter with Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, the Federal Government as well as the Education Department,” said Palanivel, who is Cameron Highlands member of parliament.
The ministry is looking forward to another RM40million allocation to upgrade Ringlet town in Cameron Highlands after the cabinet approved RM40 million for the same purpose in Sungai Bertam.
Palanivel said he would propose a RM3 billion allocation for the National Flood Mitigation Scheme under the 11th Malaysia to focus on flood-prone states, including Pahang, Johor, Selangor and Sabah.
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