Biodiversity conservation, management equally important — Awg Tengah
LAWAS: The state government is committed to striking a fine balance in the conservation and management of the state’s rich biodiversity.
This was stated by Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan when he officiated at the appointment ceremony of honorary wildlife rangers for Lawas District at Hotel Seri Malaysia yesterday.
We must conserve the treasures which nature has endowed to our state, which also serves as resources for the local community’s economic activities such handicraft, cottage industries and so forth. — Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment
“We must conserve the treasures which nature has endowed to our state, which also serves as resources for the local community’s economic activities such handicraft, cottage industries and so forth,” he said.
Locals traditionally source their raw materials for handicrafts and traditional medicine from nature, and the minister said this remained an integral way of life and source of income for many communities in the state.
The honorary rangers were introduced in the state after the enactment of Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 to boost environmental sustainability for development of eco-tourism to generate income for local communities and the state.
The state government, through the ministry, has targeted to establish 1 million hectares of totally protected areas in Sarawak.
Awang Tengah said the forests of Sarawak also hold promises of advancement of medicine to benefit mankind, including potential to treat AIDS patients.
He said Lawas has its natural treasures in Gunung Murud, a popular eco-tourism attraction, and this area has potential for further development.
“For the coastal region, gazetting the waters of Lawas and Kuala Lawas as marine protected areas will protect the marine resources against encroachment by trawl nets,” he said.
On the appointment of honorary rangers, he said they play a vital role in helping the state government monitor environmental conservation in the state.
“Conservation is not solely the responsibility of the government but also society, and this needs greater public awareness,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) CEO Wong Ting Chung in his speech urged the appointed rangers to act as conservation agents to raise awareness among the people to protect the ecosystem in their respective areas.
He said SFC has organised 43 community awareness and educational programmes under its honorary wildlife rangers programme.
Among those present at the function were Lawas District Officer Hussaini Hakim, heads of government departments and community leaders.