Japan NGO supports Sabah mangrove rehabilitation

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Chiba University students presenting their contribution to Sam, witnessed by Professor Shigeyuki Baba (left), deputy director (development), Fidelis E. Bajau (fifth right) and other senior officials from the Sabah Forestry Department.

Chiba University students presenting their contribution to Sam, witnessed by Professor Shigeyuki Baba (left), deputy director (development), Fidelis E. Bajau (fifth right) and other senior officials from the Sabah Forestry Department.

Japanese and local undergraduates showing their great enthusiasm of having to wade in the mud to plant mangrove trees.

Japanese and local undergraduates showing their great enthusiasm of having to wade in the mud to plant mangrove trees.

SANDAKAN: The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), led by its executive director Professor Shigeyuki Baba, with a staff and five students from Chiba University of Japan, visited Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) from August 25 to 29.

The purpose of their visit was to enhance their collaboration and cooperation with SFD on mangrove rehabilitation, as well as to promote awareness on the importance of mangroves to the younger generation.

Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Sam Mannan met the entourage at its headquarters in Sandakan on August 26.

He was very impressed with the profound continuing support from ISME on mangrove rehabilitation in Sabah.

During this courtesy visit, the Chiba University undergraduates presented a contribution of RM3,200 to the department for mangrove rehabilitation activities.

It is interesting to note that the students came on their own expenses to show their commitment on mangrove planting activities.

Sam also expressed his appreciation to ISME for its great hospitality during the department’s recent official visit to Okinawa in late July for the 10th Project Steering Committee meeting.

On the same occasion, the delegation from SFD met with the president of University of Ryukyus and with the corporate social responsibility manager of Tokio Marine in Tokyo.

ISME is a non-profit and non-governmental scientific society established in 1990, with its headquarters based in Okinawa, Japan.

With its membership of 40 institutions from 93 countries, ISME is world renowned for mangrove rehabilitation and promotes research and training on mangrove ecosystems.

ISME has extended its collaboration with SFD for another five years since 2014, with funding from Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co Ltd, Japan. A book on the first phase of the project (2011-2014) has been jointly published.

While in Sabah, the entourage visited several mangrove rehabilitation sites in collaboration with ISME, namely Sg ISME and Sg Lalasun within Sandakan, Desa Arca in Kunak, and the mangroves in Beluran.

The Japanese students, together with a few local university students who are on internship at the Forest Research Centre, Sepilok, planted some propagules at the degraded sites.

According to Sam, such field visits were also essential to monitor the progress of planting operations and to discuss limitations and problems encountered.

Apart from that, the students also visited some natural attraction sites, such as the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, Rainforest Discovery Centre, Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok, Sepagaya Waterfall and Tower of Heaven in Silam, Lahad Datu.

“The visit was significant in enhancing the collaboration of the on-going project on mangrove rehabilitation in Sabah.

“The SFD-ISME project is indeed a hallmark of successful collaboration. The long-term friendship between both partners has driven the project beyond its objectives. It is envisaged that such smart and cordial partnership will benefit the state towards the realization of sustainable mangrove management,” Sam said.