SFCSB engages stakeholders to promote sustainable devt

KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd ( SFCSB) recently held an engagement session with stakeholders of Lambir Hills National Park ( LHNP) for a project entitled Promoting Ecological Sustainability through Integration-Lambir Hills National Park and its surroundings’ at a hotel in Miri.

The project which is funded by Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment Malaysia under its National Conservation Trust Fund ( NCTF) is part of the long term strategies by Malaysia to promote sustainable development by managing natural resources and conserving the environment.

LHNP offers an excellent site for the project – one that is widely considered as having the best representation of the Mixed Dipterocarp Forest ecosystem in Sarawak and is surrounded by local communities’ settlement and oil palm plantations.

The objective of the workshop was to inculcate better understanding among surrounding stakeholders and communities whereby the ecosystem services from an ecologically functioning LHNP promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable manner for the benefit of all parties.

In the long run the changes in mindset would translate into action for protection of an ecosystem on a more holistic and landscape-based approach.

SFCSB’s CEO Zolkipli Mohamad Aton, who officiated at the workshop, expressed his delight in seeing the strong attendance made up of all the relevant communities and stakeholders, local agencies and academicians, setting the project on the right footing.

He said SFCSB as the implementing agency hoped that the current avenue for SFCSB in addressing similar concerns such as the ‘ Honorary Wildlife Rangers’ and its communication, education and public awareness programme ( CEPA) would work in tandem with the project in achieving its goal for the well-being of LHNP and all its communities.

A total of 53 participants from 40 stakeholders attended the workshop.

Two papers were presented for deliberation at the workshop, by Dr Roland Kueh Jui Heng from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Bintulu Campus and Monica Mone Lubong from Malaysia Palm Oil Certification Council.

Topics discussed were ecological sustainability and principal requirement for palm oil certification based on environment, natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystem services.

A group discussion was held where inputs were gathered for follow- up workshops and trainings for the local communities and stakeholders.