Sabah firm surrenders 30 hectares to preserve natural habitat
KOTA KINABALU: Sabahbased TSH Resources Berhad yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Sabah State Government to surrender an area of 30,000 hectares to preserve the natural habitat of the Meliau Range forest for the benefits of future generations.
Together with TSH, the Forestry Department of Sabah will contribute its expertise in a concerted effort to manage and enhance Sabah’s natural resources.
This MOU reaffirms the commitment of TSH to play its role to promote sustainable development and to safeguard flora and fauna of the environments. This area of 30,000 hectares is to be designated as Class 1 Forest Reserve, the highest category for environmental protection and biodiversity preservation. The area is to be protected by laws against illegal exploitations.
The ultramafic forests of Borneo Island, with their unique vegetation and biodiversity, can be found in Meliau Range, Sabah. Plant diversity is very high in Meliau Range with 60 known species that are endemic to Sabah, Borneo or are classified as rare. They include pitcher plants (Nepenthes) and specific orchids. Rare freshwater fish, such as Nandus nandus and Pelian, can also be found. A unique existence of “glowing forest”, presumed to be luminous fungi covering the forest floor, has been discovered in Meliau Range.
“TSH is proud to work closely with the Forestry Department of Sabah to protect the natural environment, biodiversity and help the proliferation of wildlife in Meliau Range. We congratulate Datuk Sam Mannan, Director of the Forestry Department, who has always maintained high standards in managing forests and regulating forestry activities in Sabah,” said Datuk Kelvin Tan, chairman of TSH after the signing of the MOU in conjunction with the Heart of Borneo conference.