LAHAD DATU: The forest restoration project in the Silam Coast Conservation Area (SCCA) is expected to have a great impact not only on environmental conservation but also on supporting the socioeconomic development of the people in the surrounding area.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Ariffin Mohd Arif said SCCA is a forest area that has been disturbed with almost 70 per cent of this area having been destroyed due to illegal land clearing for the opening of oil palm plantations.
He said following that, the State Government through the Forestry Department and the Sabah Foundation Group had taken the initiative to manage this area as a conservation area.
“I was informed, in 2015, a scientific expedition was held at SCCA which was attended by State Government agencies, Public Higher Education Institutions and non-governmental bodies.
“The findings from the expedition found that this area consists of coastal forests and mangrove forests that have a high biodiversity value.
“The expedition has also recorded 24 species of mammals, 60 species of birds and 63 species of mangrove trees, 57 genera of corals, 147 species of coral reef fish and 40 species of marine invertebrates,” he said at the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) Signing Ceremony between the Yayasan Sabah Group and Preferred by Nature (PbN) here Thursday.
His speech was read by Yayasan Sabah Director Datuk Seri Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar
Also present were PbN Executive Director Peter Feilberg and Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd Executive Chairman Datuk Jasnih Daya.
Dr Mohd Arifin said forest restoration is no longer a foreign matter for Yayasan Sabah Group which has more than 30 years of experience in handling forest restoration such as the INFAPRO project in Lahad Datu and INIKEA in Tawau.
Under the MoA, the Yayasan Sabah Group will venture into a coastal forest restoration project with PbN.
“I understand that this forest restoration project will include a 100-hectare conservation area site. This initiative will be fully funded by PbN with funds amounting to RM1.2 million for a period of eight years with the Yayasan Sabah Group responsible for supervising and monitoring the restoration works and ensuring success sustainability of this project.
“In this regard, the State Government is proud that this forest restoration project is in line with the Forest Master Plan under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan in which this initiative supports the forest conservation programme so that this priceless natural treasure is preserved for future generations,” he said.
He thanked PbN for the support provided through funds for this project and hoped that the collaboration between the Sabah Forestry Department and the Yayasan Sabah Group with PbN would continue in the ecosystem restoration project in this area since a total of 360 hectares of SCCA land still has the potential to be restored.
He also hopes that this project collaboration can be extended to the mangrove swamp forest and coral reef areas around the SCCA area.
“This conservation area also has the potential to be developed as a recreational destination due to the presence of geological diversity such as basalt rock shaped like a ‘pillow’ consisting of the ‘Darvel Bay Ophiolite Complex’ rock, which is the oldest sedimentary rock in Sabah.
“I hope the local community will take this opportunity and cooperate with the Yayasan Sabah Group in maintaining the sustainability of this area for the sake of future generations,” he said.
Dr Mohd Ariffin also expressed his appreciation, especially to the security forces who always work tirelessly in the task of maintaining security around this conservation area.
