US Gives Grant To Tiger Conservation Project In Endau-Rompin Parks

Bernama 12 May 11;

JOHOR BAHARU, May 12 (Bernama) -- The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has awarded a grant of RM150,000 to World Conservation Society-Johor (WCS-J) for tiger conservation projects at the Endau-Rompin National Park.

Paul W. Jones, the US ambassador to Malaysia who presented the grant, said the USFWS has been collaborating with WCS-Johor and the Johor National Parks Corporation (JNPC) in their conservation efforts at Endau-Rompin for a decade.

"We have worked together to provide tiger conservation education and workshops to local educators and leaders. And we have supported and continue to support the 'Tigers Forever' program," he said during the grant presentation ceremony in Johor Baharu Thursday.

The grant, he noted, was meant to carry out a project, titled "Conservation of the Tigers of the Endau-Rompin Landscape through improved Law Enforcement and Expansion to the Southeast and Southwest."

The funds, provided by the US, will be used to help WCS to further expand law enforcement coverage in the southeast and southwest of the Kota Tinggi region.

He added that over the past five years, the US had directly provided RM1.5 million to WCS-Johor to support Malaysia's goal of doubling its tiger population by 2020.

According to Jones, Malaysia has some of the most bio-diverse ecologies in the world and the US has been proud to support conservation efforts through the Heart of Borneo programme and the Coral Triangle initiative.

"The beautiful and diverse flora and fauna of Malaysia are treasures for the entire world. The US is committed to helping protect these treasures," he said.

Meanwhile, JNPC director Abu Bakar Mohamed Salleh pointed out that the state government had embarked on the Johor Wildlife Conservation Project in 2007 to spearhead conservation efforts in that region.

The 10-year project, he said, was meant for the conservation of two core umbrella species -- the Asian Elephant and the Malayan tiger.

Dr Melvin Gumal, Director of Malaysia Program at WCS, added that the grant would be used efficiently and effectively to protect endangered tigers and their environment.

-- BERNAMA