Heart of Borneo project beginning to take shape

Muguntan Vanar, The Star 5 Oct 09;

KOTA KINABALU: The ambitious tri-nation rainforest conservation initiative is taking shape two years after Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei signed a declaration for the “Heart of Borneo” project.

The three nations are now discussing possible common positions as they propose to take another step forward towards institutionalising protection and conservation arrangements in the 220 sq km area that covers nearly a third of Borneo island.

Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said there was a need for officials of the three nations to revise possible approaches and mechanisms.

Kurup, who opened the Third Trilateral Heart of Borneo meeting here on Monday, said that Malaysia remained committed to the project that would not only benefit the three participating countries, but also the world at large.

“Forests are like the proverbial goose that lays the gold eggs and we must therefore ... protect them,” he said in reference to Borneo’s rich biodiversity.

He said the Federal Government had allocated RM10.8mil to Sabah and Sarawak to implement various projects, including inventories and a survey of baseline information, in Heart of Borneo areas.

He said that Malaysia was also strengthening its existing transboundary conservation efforts with neighbouring countries under the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) in ensuring the protection and conservation of highland forests.

Representatives from Indonesia and Brunei also spoke of action plans taken in their respective areas towards the Heart of Borneo project.

All three countries have worked out their strategic plans of action in the core areas in Borneo, the third largest island in the world.

The trilateral meeting here will be a platform for officials and experts to discuss and exchange information on the management and biological conservation of natural resources.

Pulse still strong at Heart of Borneo’s third annual Tri-national meeting
WWF 9 Oct 09;

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah – Agreements and resolutions announced at the third annual Heart of Borneo (HoB).

Tri-national meeting which concluded on 6/10/2009 proved that the ‘pulse’ of conservation and sustainable development - the lifeblood of the HoB Initiative - is still strong.

Opening the meeting, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, the honourable Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseh Kurup, stressed the important role played by the HoB Initiative in establishing protected areas, maintaining productive forests and ensuring sustainable land use.

He said the HoB was a crucial part of South East Asia’s natural heritage and it provided tremendous value in terms of ‘goods and services’ vital for livelihood development. However, he warned that the task was far from complete and looked to the three governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia to agree on methods of effective implementation of agreements reached at the meeting.

Following the summit’s conclusion, a paper released by summit officials highlighted the importance of sustainable financing to make the HoB vision a reality. It also stressed the need to promote HoB as a priority area for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) and the opportunity to showcase this initiative during a side event at the climate change talks in Copenhagen later this year.

WWF’s Heart of Borneo Initiative Leader, Adam Tomasek, said he was encouraged by the development of individual national country plans and their on ground implementation, which would be the foundation of success for this three country initiative.

“Whilst the progress during this summit was encouraging, it must be tempered by the fact that the HoB still faces some enormous threats. Forest fires, deforestation, wildlife trade and rampant resource extraction pose real challenges that must be addressed if the governments are to achieve their shared objectives, as agreed under the HoB Declaration in 2007.1

“As the world struggles with global climate change, it is vital for the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia to position the HoB Initiative as part of the solution,” he said.