Sabah NGO, firm join forces to conserve mangroves

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Wetland Conservation Society (SWCS) has forged a partnership with an international upstream oil and gas company, Talisman Energy Inc, for its assistance in the society’s effort to conserve mangrove forests in the State.

The Society yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement ( MoA) with the Malaysian arm of the Canada- based company to jointly carry out a campaign to promote awareness on mangrove conservation among the younger generation.

Under the MoA, SWCS will receive funding from Talisman Malaysia Limited ( TML) for two projects, namely Paper Making and Clothes Dying.

The projects will engage young pupils and students from schools across the state in a fun, out- of- the- classroom activities where they will create and use products made from mangrove trees.

SWCS president, Zaini Aucasa, said after the signing that the programmes were aimed to expose and educate the younger generation about the importance of the wetland ecosystem and the increasingly urgent need to conserve them.

“Talisman will provide the funding and our role under the MoA is to ensure that the projects are fully implemented as planned to meet their objectives, said Zaini.

The launch was officiated by director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu, representing the permanent secretary to the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Michael Emban.

Senior Vice- President and Country Manager, Ron Aston, represented TML at the launch and the MoA signing.

FOR MOTHER NATURE: Laurentius signing a plaque following the launch watched by Aston (left) and Zaini (second right).