KUMPULAN YAYASAN Menara Tun Mustapha Kompleks Ibu Pejabat Yayasan Sabah Teluk Likas, Peti Surat 11623 88817 , Sabah, Tel: 6 088 326300 Faks: 6 088 326424 E-mel: [email protected] Laman Web: http://www.yayasansabahgroup.org.my

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4 December 2017

YAYASAN SABAH GROUP COMMITTED TO NATURAL ECOSYSTEM SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

KOTA KINABALU (Monday): Yayasan Sabah Group is greatly concerned and serious in implementing sustainable management of its conservation areas in order to balance with other developments, said the Director of Yayasan Sabah, Datuk Sapawi Bin Haji Ahmad during the launching of the Batu Timbang Scientific Expedition Seminar and the Imbak Canyon Strategic Management Plan 2014-2023 held on 4 December 2017 at the Tun Hamdan Theatre, Menara Tun Mustapha.

“Conservation areas such as Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon, Silam Coast and Taliwas River greatly typifies Yayasan Sabah Group’s commitment to natural ecosystem sustainable development,” he said.

His speech was read by Dr. Yap Sau Wai, Group Manager, Conservation and Environmental Management Division.

Officiated by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, the seminar saw a total of 280 attendees consisting of expedition participants,

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Heads of Government departments and agencies, institutions of higher learning, Non- Governmental Organisations and individuals.

Datuk Sapawi also took the opportunity in thanking for funding and supporting the conservation efforts of the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA). Under the conservation cooperation, PETRONAS has contributed RM83 million towards that end, which also includes the construction of the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre (ICSC).

The ICCA covers an area of 27,599 hectares, which consists of the 16,750 hectares Imbak valley which was declared a Class I Forest Reserve (Protection) in 2009; two Virgin Forest Reserves which are, Imbak River which covers an area of 10,588 hectares and the 261 hectares Batu Timbang.

A group consisting of 177 participants joined in on a scientific expedition at Batu Timbang located on the south-west of the ICCA from 16 to 26 August 2017. Batu Timbang is one of the research stations in ICCA, to be established under the ICCA Management Plan 2014- 2023 and the expedition marked the fourth in a series of the expeditions conducted in and around the Imbak Canyon with the initial scientific expeditions being conducted in 2000, 2004 and 2010.

Funded by PETRONAS the expedition was organised Yayasan Sabah Group in association with the Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Wildlife Department, , Tongod District Office and other relevant government departments and agencies, institutions of higher learning and NGOs.

“One of the commitments under the ongoing Yayasan Sabah Group-PETRONAS Imbak Canyon Conservation Partnership is the Scientific Expedition, which aims to obtain scientific information on the diversity of biodiversity of flora and fauna, physical sciences, assessing potential and threats of the area, as well as the prospects and potentials of ecotourism development at the Batu Timbang Research Station, as proposed in the Strategic Management Plan for ICCA. In addition, this expedition also covers aspects of the social sciences of local communities around the ICCA,” Datuk Sapawi explained.

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Among the interesting discovery during the expedition were Tembadau’s footprints, and eight Begonia species, of which four are new to the science world. A dragonfly study also found a new record for Malaysia. The interesting discovery of the Rafflesia tengku-adlinii which was found blooming approximately 500 meters from the expedition camp encapsulate this location as the third location where Rafflesia tengku-adlinii was discovered after Mount Trusmadi and the Maliau Basin Conservation Area. Indeed, the findings of this expedition are extremely significant in the quest of managing this area in an established manner and most effective in preserving this natural heritage for future generations.

Datuk Sapawi added, “This Seminar is an excellent platform for participants to present their findings during the expedition. We now know that an exciting array of flora and fauna biodiversity were discovered and now Yayasan Sabah Group has prepared the stage for discussing issues related to the environment and the importance of preserving this natural heritage for future generations, especially in Sabah. Alas, the efforts of Yayasan Sabah Group, the Sabah Forestry Department and PETRONAS in organising this expedition is vital in exploring and updating the current data and status of our natural treasures.”

Touching on the Imbak Canyon Strategic Management Plan 2014-2023, Datuk Sapawi explained that this Management Plan is divided into two parts. Part one provides the ICCA background, in particular, the source and context of development which, among others, include a baseline description of the economic, social and natural resource values of the area and its surrounds. The second part sets out the outcomes desired by 2023 into eleven programme areas and outlines the activities, resources and timetable required to implement these activities.

The programme fields include strategic conservation management, conservation area management, research, operation and administration, infrastructure and maintenance, outreach to communities and neighbours, sustainable tourism and recreation, environmental education, public awareness, sustainable financing, and capacity building.

According to him the Management Plan has been three years in gestation is a reflection of two contributing factors. The first being that the period 2011-2013 was probably one of the

3 most dynamic and innovative periods of management change within the State Forestry sector.

“During this period, evolution and change in the forest industry and the expectations of national and international stakeholders in terms of how we manage our forest resources dramatically changed. Quite simply put, how we value our forest has changed with a switch in emphasis from economic to a broader set of values,” he explained.

“The most noticeable and rapid change were proposals for the broad-ranging reclassification of Class II (Commercial) to Class I (Protection). This can be considered a bold step,” he added.

“The end result is a core complex of conservation areas, supplemented by a network of connecting forests. The resulting conservation landscape will meet the biodiversity conservation demands of today and the long-term future for the State of Sabah and beyond,” he added.

According to him, the second factor has been the careful and detailed consultative approach in producing a management plan that reflects the concerns of a broad and diverse group of stakeholders.

“No less than 15 internal and external meetings and workshops were held to seek opinions and feedback on the Management Plan proposed strategies and approach. The end result is a plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of the people and not just the technical concerns of protected area management,” he said.

From early on in this planning process, feedback from stakeholders persistently raised the issue of protected area connectivity that is to establish a link between Imbak Canyon, Maliau Basin (MBCA) and Danum Valley (DVCA) conservation areas. At the start of this planning period, a link between Imbak Canyon and Maliau Basin already existed.

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To be fully appreciated, this initiative must be considered within the broader development landscape setting of Sabah.

During the writing and consultation of this Management Plan, two significant forest reclassification proposals took place. The first in 2012 saw the conversion of Class II (Commercial) Forests to Class I (Protection) Forest, the most significant of which were those forests surrounding DVCA and MBCA.

The second in 2013, saw the proposed reclassification of forest in-between all three conservation areas i.e. DVCA, MBCA and ICCA, allowing for the first time a formal connection between all three conservation areas.

“The proposal actually provides for a connection beyond the conservation areas to the coastal forests in the east. This, of course, saw further reductions in the concession area available for natural forest management and the generation of forest revenue,” he added.

As a result, according to him, 50 percent of the total Yayasan Sabah Concession Area is now protected forest which amounts to 64 percent of the area available for natural forest management. In summary, the Yayasan Sabah Concession Area has changed dramatically in form and function with a steady increase of areas taken out of production and placed into conservation and special management areas.

Datuk Sapawi said, in line with the management priority placed on research, among others the policy directions proposed are that conservation and research shall underpin the overall 2014-2023 Management Plan. Further to that the ICCA landscape, key ecological systems and species shall be monitored and assessed to reduce knowledge gaps in order to ensure appropriate information is made available to management and decision makers. Research partnerships shall be encouraged to meet this objective and the outcomes utilised to maximise opportunities for education.

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In view that the area is more closely associated with local indigenous communities, ICCA is therefore strategically positioned to play an important role, and research opportunities related to the traditional use of the forest and forest products shall be encouraged.

Hence, he said, ICCA shall position itself as a centre of excellence for tropical rainforest research, education, training and capacity building with an emphasis on Malaysian participation and contributions.

This Management Plan also emphasises the need to integrate existing plans and policies that have been approved in the management framework and that development opportunities identified within these other plans be integrated into this plan, where and when possible.

“Likewise, this plan is socialised and integrated into other management plans that are relevant to the geographic area and land use zone,” he explained.

“In this regard, this plan is registered and socialised with the Sabah Development Corridor initiative, in order that coordination of planned activities is improved,” he added.

The plan also noted that being aligned with global values, it is now timely to recognise protected area staff for their contributions to biodiversity conservation, invest in building their capacity while in service, and provide them with opportunities for career advancement.

Hence, according to him, with reference to institutional capacity, it is important to develop the human, technical and administrative capacity of those in the protected area in order to adequately support the core management activities required to develop ICCA into a centre of international renown.

“Special attention shall be paid to the new range of skills increasingly required to support protected area management, such as fundraising and marketing, sustainable financing, tourism and recreation management system and the technological and information systems

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PIX 1: Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi (middle) officially launching the Batu Timbang Scientific Expedition Seminar . Also in the picture are Dr. Yap Sau Wai (second left), Encik Robert Stidi, Tongod District Officer (left), Ms Lizuryaty Azrina Abdullah (second, right), Head of Social Performance Department, Health, Security, Securities and Environment Division, PETRONAS and Datin Norzita A. Samad (right), Head of Corporate Social Investment Union, Public Relations Department and Regional Office, Group Strategic Communications Division, PETRONAS.

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PIX 2a and 2b: Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi (right) launching the Imbak Canyon Strategic Management Plan 2014-2023. Also in the picture are Dr. Yap Sau Wai (second left), Encik Robert Stidi, Tongod District Officer (left), Ms Lizuryaty Azrina Abdullah (third, right), Head of Social Performance Department, Health, Security, Securities and Environment Division, PETRONAS and Datin Norzita A. Samad (second, right), Head of Corporate Social Investment Union, Public Relations Department and Regional Office, Group Strategic Communications Division, PETRONAS.

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----ENDS-----

PIX 2b

PIX 3: Among the crowd at the seminar.

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PIX 4: Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi (second, right), Dr. Yap (left) and Encik Robert (second, left) at the exhibition with one of the presenters of the seminar.

For further details, please contact: Sam S. Karnail Group Manager Corporate Communications Division Yayasan Sabah Group Tel : 088-326448 Fax : 088-421526/088-326424 Email : [email protected]

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