Julia Chan, New Straits Times 6 Aug 09;
KOTA KINABALU: A five-year study on how the proper management of rainforests can mitigate the impact of global warming will take place in the Danum Valley Conservation Area.
The HSBC Malaysia Rainforest Carbon Project, managed by the Royal Society's Southeast Asia Rainforest Research Programme (SEARRP), will also study the role of tropical rainforests in the carbon cycle.
The Sabah Foundation as well as rangers and researchers of the Sabah Forestry Department will be involved in the RM1.5 million study, which will cover about 50ha in Danum Valley, plus a series of 1ha blocks.
SEARRP research coordinator Professor Rory Walsh said: "A large part of the project aims at transferring knowledge and training to local rangers and stakeholders. Things like plant identification, computer databases and management will be taught to the Sabahans working in the area.
"We hope to study large tracts of rainforest representative of the forests in the entire region to answer many scientific questions that will be useful not only to the local communities but also the science society at large."
HSBC Malaysia deputy chairman and chief executive officer Irene Dorner said the bank had taken on the project to raise awareness of the gravity of climate change and because it wanted to support something that reflected its sustainable business practice.
In conjunction with the project, SEARRP has developed a field training programme to provide 24 selected HSBC staff with a better understanding of the forestry sector, including the principles of sustainable forestry and the environmental and social impacts as well as plantation issues.
SEARRP has been operating for more than 20 years.
