KOTA KINABALU, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- The designation of the lower Kinabatangan-Segama as a Ramsar site is another milestone in the biodiversity and ecosystem conservation initiative in Sabah, State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman said today.
He said the designated area comprised three contiguous protected forests -- the Trusan Kinabatangan forest reserve, Kulamba wildlife reserve and Kuala Maruap and Kuala Segama forest reserve -- with total area of 78,803ha.
"This area is not only the biggest Ramsar site in Malaysia but is even larger than the total combined area of the five previously designated sites in the country, three in Johor and one each in Sarawak and Pahang," he said at the certificate presentation ceremony for the first Ramsar site in Sabah here. His speech was delivered by Deputy State Secretary Datuk Gregory Joitol.
Ramsar Site In Kinabatangan-Segama Another Milestone In Biodiversity Conservation In Sabah
Sabah Biodiversity Centre Director Abdul Fatah Amir handed over the official certificate to Datuk Sam Mannan, Director of the Sabah Forestry Department.
The official certificate was awarded at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar COP10) in Changwon, Korea, on Oct 28.
The convention on Wetlands is an inter-governmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
Sukarti said the lower Kinabatangan-Segama wetlands area was very rich in biodiversity and had very unique ecosystems.
"The site is a very good representation of coastal mangrove forest and rare peat swamp forest and rich in fauna such as sumatran rhinoceros, proboscis monkey, tembaedau, Borneo pygmy elephant and storm's stock.
"It is also recognised as an ecologically important spawning and nursery ground for fish and prawn. This designation is also a recognition of the importance of wetland ecosystems in conservation of fauna and flora," he said.
Speaking to reporters later, Sam said the certification was a world recognition for Sabah in the conservation of wetlands.
-- BERNAMA
Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands declared Ramsar site
Jaswinder Kaur, The New Straits Times 28 Oct 08;
Home to the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros, Borneo pygmy elephants and a range of other wildlife, the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands on Sabah's east coast was today designated as a Ramsar site at an international conference held in Changwon, South Korea. The state's first Ramsar site which extends over 78,803 hectares of mangrove forests and peat swamps, is almost the size of Malaysia's smallest state of Perlis and covers 80,302ha.
Comprising the Trusan Kinabatangan, Kuala Maruap, Kuala Segama forest reserves and the Kulamba Wildlife Reserve, the country's sixth Ramsar site is larger than the five other designated sites put together (55,355ha), making this certification perhaps the most significant one to date.
The other five Ramsar sites in Malaysia are the Kuching Wetlands National Park in Sarawak, Pulau Kukup, Sungai Pulai and Tanjung Piai in Johor and Tasek Bera in Pahang.
Ramsar Convention Secretariat deputy secretary general Dr Nick Davidson awarded the official certificate to Sabah Biodiversity Centre director Abdul Fatah Amir at the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar COP 10) which kicked off today.