TRCRC joint venture to restore tropical rainforests progressing
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie bin Apdal received a courtesy call from the chairperson of Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre Sdn Bhd (TRCRC), Tun Jeanne Abdullah, here yesterday afternoon.
A keen conservationist, Jeanne briefed the Chief Minister on the progress of a joint effort undertaken by the Sabah government and TRCRC to restore tropical rainforests and address the critical rate of biodiversity loss in Malaysia.
TRCRC has established a 224hectare ex-situ conservation site located at VJR Merisuli and part of the Ulu Segama–Malua Sustainable Forest Management Project. At this site, seeds from threatened plants are collected, germinated and planted before re-introduced into their native habitats.
The project site was previously a primary rainforest but it became degraded as a result of illegal agriculture encroachment.
The Sabah government, through Sabah Forestry Department, then entrusted TRCRC to protect Dipterocarp tree species in Sabah so that eventually the species can be reintroduced to their native habitats in the future.
In November 2012, the Sabah government and TRCRC had signed an agreement to embark on the green effort for a collaborative term of 99 years.
Earlier yesterday morning, Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie bin Apdal launched the Heart of Borneo international conference and International Day of Forests, of which Jeanne is a key participant.
The Heart of Borneo is a conservation initiative to protect a forested region on the island of Borneo spanning 220,000 square km.