Fourth community beach clean-up on Libaran Island
SANDAKAN: The executive committee of Foster (Friends Of Sea Turtles Education & Research) successfully launched its fourth community beach cleaning on Libaran Island yesterday.
Since 2014, Foster has been raising funds from environmentally conscious organizations for the cleaning up of Libaran's shoreline. The one kilometre shoreline is divided into 10 lots (100 meter each lot) for organizations to adopt.
Upon collecting these adoption funds, Foster will then disperse these funds to the villagers. The rate of adoption is at RM100 per lot per month or a mere RM1,200 per year for the cleaning.
“I am glad that we have been able to continue this worth-while project despite the challenging times economically. This year, as we have received lesser sponsors, we have regrettably reduced the area to be cleaned from two kilometres to one kilometre but we are glad that the program is going on nonetheless,” said Alexander Yee, president of Foster during his launching speech.
“We are into the fourth edition. This project is important as it involves the villagers of Libaran and it signifies that the local community plays an important role in the success of this turtle conservation project,” added Yee.
During the fourth community beach cleaning launch, the son of the Jawatankuasa Keselamatan Kemajuan Kampung (JKKK) of Libaran, Budi Rahmat Bin Anduto attended on his father's behalf as his father was not well physically.
Also present were the executive members of Foster, staff of Walai Oenyu Conservation Parks and the villagers of Libaran.
“I am happy that Foster is launching the community cleaning for another year. It not only brings extra income to some of us, it also ensure a clean beach for the village,” said Budie Rahmat.
“I certainly hope that Foster will keep doing this and more organisations will join in to help.”
As part of a turtle conservation program made available through the subsequent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sabah Wildlife Department in July 2013, Foster was involved in the setting up of a turtle hatchery on Libaran Island in 2012.
The program includes creating awareness for the locals and visitors on the conservation value of sea turtles, undertaking research projects with the goal of better understanding of the life cycle of sea turtles surrounding Libaran Island, and to make available research programs on sea turtles for international and local students.
Since 2013 till Dec 2017, the turtle hatchery on Libaran has collected 20,022 Green Turtle eggs and 7,464 Hawksbill turtles (totalling 27,486) eggs.
A dirty shoreline means unhygienic living environment for the villagers and also directly prevents the turtles from coming ashore to lay their eggs.
Foster members planned to celebrate the release of its 30,000th baby turtle (since the signing of the MOU with SWD) in March 2018. Meanwhile, they are urging the public to work together to support this successful program.
For anyone interested to make a difference by bringing back our clean beach, you can email to fosterseaturtle@gmail.com