NGOs always welcome to share ideas — Len Talif
A lot of NGOs have negative image of us because they come to the state government via the back door. We always welcome NGOs if they come through the front door especially those that have the same interest with us on biodiversity conservation, to work with us and share information.
The state government always opens its door to any non- governmental organisation ( NGO) that shares a common interest in safeguarding the biodiversity in the state.
Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh said this approach allows NGOs to assist the government in biodiversity conservation and further enhances the state’s capability in managing its rich biodiversity.
“A lot of NGOs have negative image of us because they come to the state government via the back door. We always welcome NGOs if they come through the front door, especially those that have the same interest with us on biodiversity conservation, to work with us and share information,” he stated when representing Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at the launching of Tama Abu Scientific Expedition 2017 at Imperial Hotel here on Sunday.
On the Heart of Borneo ( HoB) scientific expedition, Len Talif proposed that the state Forest Department conduct at least two scientific expeditions rather than one expedition in a year.
“We need to have more scientific expeditions to provide us good understanding on flora and fauna for conservation management purposes, thus enabling the state government to plan policies to move forward in the right direction in biodiversity conservation efforts.”
Touching on Totally Protected Areas ( TPAs), he informed that the government had gazetted a total of 800,000 hectares of natural forests as TPA.
“We have set a target to gazette one million hectares of natural forests as TPAs. Thus far, a total of 800,000 hectares of natural forests have been gazetted under TPAs and now we are still lack of another 200,000 hectares.”
Earlier in his address, state Forest Department director Sapuan Ahmad said Tama Abu was one of the many forest areas that were less studied on and had the least biological data.
Thus, Sapuan pointed out, the principal goal of this year’s scientific expedition was to establish a full complement of biodiversity baseline data in the area.
“All the valuable information gained from the research findings will be used by multiple stakeholders, universities, NGOs and local communities for a better and sustainable management, biodiversity conservation and land use of the Tama Abu forest.”
Those attending the launching ceremony included Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, state Forest Department deputy director 1 ( Planning & Operation) Jack Liam.
Datu Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment