CM: Protecting Sabah’s biodiversity involves all
Published on: Friday, June 14, 2024
By: Mohd Izham Bin Hashim
Hajiji also emphasised the importance of research as a core component in ensuring the best course of action. He noted that stakeholders, including the government, need to be informed and guided by facts and research findings before making decisions.
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s priceless biodiversity is a national heritage and its protection is a shared responsibility to ensure that it can be enjoyed for posterity, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor.
“Good stewardship of the state’s natural resources is not possible without clear policies,” he said, reiterating the state leadership’s commitment towards conservation and protection of the state’s natural assets so it can be enjoyed by present and future generations.
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Speaking at the State-level Awards for Biodiversity Research, Hajiji reiterated the state leadership’s commitment towards conservation and protection of the state’s natural wonders, so it can be enjoyed by present and future generations.
To this objective, he highlighted that the launch of the state government’s Sustainable Development Goals (2016-2030) under the Sabah Maju Jaya Initiative, as well as the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2034) and the Sabah Biotechnology Blueprint (2024-2034) would pave the way for integrated management of the state’s natural resources.
“The integrated management of Sabah’s much prized natural wonders would not only ensure the sustainability of its biodiversity resources, but would also improve the economy of the state and the livelihoods of its people,” he said at the State-level Biodiversity Research Awards for 2023 on Tuesday.
Hajiji also emphasised the importance of research as a core component in ensuring the best course of action. He noted that stakeholders, including the government, need to be informed and guided by facts and research findings before making decisions.
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“The value of research is integral especially towards providing beneficial impacts resulting in improved preservation of flora and fauna, the state economy, human health and Sabah’s infrastructure development,” he said. His speech was delivered by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir.
In the face of challenges such as climate change, earthquakes and pandemic outbreaks, Hajiji believes that research can be an important reference point for the government in terms of the approaches or directions that need to be taken to meet the challenges, but also to provide research benefits for economic progress and to improve the welfare of the people.
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In addition, he noted that integrated approaches would also encourage greater involvement of various parties, including government agencies, private non-governmental organisations (NGOs), communities and civil society, in planning, management, development and monitoring.
“We look forward to the full implementation of the blueprint and the two plans agreed at a meeting on 29 May and will be the government’s policy to ensure planned conservation and biotechnology sector to explore ways to contribute to the development of the state,” he said.
He further noted that the launch of the two main policies which support the management and sustainable use of biodiversity resources would also significantly contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (2016-2030), which is a key driver in the development of the state under the SMJ initiative.
Meanwhile, Hajiji noted that the two plans, which comprise the Sabah Biodiversity Strategy (2024-2034) and the Sabah Biotechnology Blueprint (2024-2034), are two key policies that not only ensure Sabah is on the right track not only in terms of conservation but also in terms of systematic, structured and sustainable use of biodiversity resources.
“The development of the two policies can promote the state’s development based on guidelines for a sustainable future, the two policies have been carefully formulated with consultation between agencies, the private sector, NGOs, civil society and the community based on international standards and requirements in a systematic way.
“The two policies have also been enacted in accordance with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which is aimed at realising biodiversity goals by 2030,” he said.
Hajiji is also glad the state has the highest number of active researchers in the country and that the State Government will continue to support the Sabah Biodiversity Centre to promote research findings to further develop of the state.
Among those who attended the event were Director of Sabah Biodiversity Centre (SABC) Dr Gerald Jetony, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Fuziah Salleh and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Director of the Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation, Professor Dr Fiffy Hasnidah Saikim
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