FGV, FRIM team up for Rafflesia Conservation

KUALA LUMPUR: Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) and the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) is collaborating to conserve the world’s largest flower through the development of the Rafflesia Conservation and Interpretive Centre (RCIC).

The RCIC would be a purpose-built development in Gerik, Perak, on a 223 hectares of land contributed by Felda for research and conservation of the Rafflesia species and was scheduled to be completed in 2018, FGV said in a statement yesterday.

“The RCIC is expected to become one of the country’s eco-tourism destinations and increase the potential for Gerik to become an important eco-tourism centre for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) in Malaysia,” it said.

Upon completion, the RCIC may also serve as a venue for international symposiums, workshops, colloquiums and environmental awareness programmes for both the public and scientific fraternity. FGV Group president and chief executive officer, Datuk Zakaria Arshad, said the company’s sustainability strategy now focuses on implementing the best practices holistically, and adhering to all relevant regulatory and sustainability requirements.

“We believe in engaging with the public through education to create awareness of the environment and to help them better understand this unique flower,” he said. — Bernama