Time to protect biodiversity

The DaMaI Rainforest Complex, which comprises the Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon (pic), has been nominated as Sabah’s second Unesco World Heritage Site.

KOTA KINABALU: The new state government must take on reforms in managing natural resources and strengthening biodiversity conservation.

Towards this end, Sabah Environmental Trust chief executive officer and founder Dr Rahimatsah Amat spelt out five initiatives that it could take.

This includes having more Unesco World Heritage Site national parks, looking into state marine resources and biodiversity, as well as protecting coastal and marine areas, water catchment areas and wildlife.

“The main aim is to have at least two more of our country’s national parks recognised as Unesco World Heritage Sites.

Secondly, with the success of the Heart of Borneo (HoB) Initiative for terrestrial conservation efforts in Sabah, the state government needs to start looking at its marine resources and biodiversity.

“The Sabah Blue Ocean Initiative (SBOI) is the next big thing for biodiversity conservation in pursuant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

The initiative is chaired by Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, the former assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment minister, and a report has been completed and is pending submission to the state Cabinet for endorsement, Dr Rahimatsah said.

On the protection of coastal and marine areas, he said that by 2020, at least 10% of such areas are targeted for conservation.

“Currently, Sabah has about 1.02 million hectares of marine protected areas (MPAs) or about 7.36% of its sovereign waters.

“A total area of 7.44% (1.03 million hectares) has been identified to be considered for protection, thus achieving MPAs exceeding the 10% requirement as specified under Target 11 of the Aichi Targets under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diverstiy,” he said.

He also said that up to 2014, 20 water catchment areas have been identified and mapped, amounting to 2.9 million hectares, but to date, these areas have yet to be approved as part of the catchment management plan.

“Subsequently, it is to be followed by declaring the said areas as water protection areas, water conservation areas, floodplain management areas, or river and shore reserves.

“Without a full-fledged Water Resources Director appointed under Section 12(1) of the Sabah Water Resources Enactment 1998, it will be impossible to administer Section 12(2) and the rest of the legislation.

“The Enactment provides the opportunity to collect charges and royalties (as Payment for Ecosystem Services) and rules can be created for the purpose of collecting these charges or royalties under Section 67(2)(a).

“Such charges and royalties will contribute to the state’s coffers,” Dr Rahimatsah highlighted.

Lastly, globally threatened species from poaching and wildlife trade need urgent attention.

“Over the years, incidents of wildlife poaching in protected areas, forest reserves and marine waters have been on the rise, with several major reports of the killing of elephants, tembadau and other mammals.

“These activities must be stopped immediately, and the need to address wildlife habitats and corridors has to be considered,” he said.

Dr Rahimatsah suggested that agencies such as the Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife Department, and the Land and Survey Department, among others, could be placed directly under the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry at the state level.

“All these five initiatives need serious commitment from the state to ensure that appropriate attention is given to having the right resources in manpower and finance to manage our natural resources and biodiversity,” he said.

-thestar online.