KOTA KINABALU: Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir yesterday received the Man and the Biosphere Programme Crocker Range Malaysia certification for inclusion in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves from Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais in the City Hall.
Witnessing the handing over were City Hall’s Director of City Planning, Alijus Sipil and JICA volunteer Kazuya Nishimura.
Nais said the Man and the Biosphere Programme was established at the 1970 General Conference of Unesco aimed at addressing the economic, educational, scientific, cultural and recreational needs of humankind.
The 26th International Coordinating Council for Man and Biosphere programme under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) approved the Crocker Range as a Biosphere Reserve (CRBR) at its session in Jonkoping University in Sweden in June last year.
According to Nais, the certificate was presented to him on Oct 18 last year, adding that the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve is the third international recognition for Sabah.
The CRBR is located on the west coast of Sabah (north of Borneo), southern part of Mount Kinabalu (World Heritage Site), and stretches about 120km north and south and 40km east and west, with some areas within the jurisdictions of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
Nais explained that the CRBR was not only crucial for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, but also provided perpetual water resources for the growing population of one million within the west coast and interior parts of Sabah.
It is also a platform for sustainable development where interaction and involvement of people in decision making process are compulsory and developments are based on the result of continuous scientific research and monitoring.
Congratulating Sabah Parks for their achievement in obtaining the certification, Madingkir said it is about time that the people should be made aware of the importance of protecting and conserving our environment.