— A study needs to be done to identify and assess the benefits enjoyed by the people of Sabah, especially the communities living around the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR), said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Dr Jamili Nais.
CRBR is a conservation area listed in the Man and The Biosphere Programme (MAB) network of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on June 12, 2014.
Jamili said the study was necessary to ensure that RBBC truly benefits the community in line with the goals and objectives of its recognition through the programme.
“If the benefits are less significant (to the community), it would be good for us to work together to formulate new action plans.
“This is to ensure that the benefits can also be enjoyed by the people in or around this biosphere reserve,” he said when launching a webinar in conjunction with the 7th Anniversary Programme of the Declaration of CRBR as a UNESCO MAB site here today.
The MAB is an inter-governmental scientific programme launched by UNESCO in 1971, and to date, there are 714 biosphere reserves in 129 countries including two in Malaysia, namely RBBC and Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve in Pahang.
Also present was Sabah Parks (TTS) director Dr Maklarin Lakim.
Meanwhile, Maklarin, in his speech said TTS has been entrusted by the Sabah government as the guiding agency in the preservation and conservation of the 350,584-hectare CRBR, which covers nine district administrative areas, namely Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Beaufort, Tuaran, Keningau, Tambunan, Ranau and Tenom.
“Sustainable management will promote conservation and development without negatively impacting the conservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystem services, especially to various biodiversity resources and clean water supply,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency