Malaysia: Save Sabah forest with just RM15

Ruben Sario The Star 26 Mar 12;

KOTA KINABALU: The public can now do their part in conserving a key Sabah rainforest by contributing as little as RM15.

The money will go towards rehabilitating some 50sq m area within the 34,000ha Malua forest reserve that is critical for the long-term survival of orang utan, pygmy elephants, sun bears and other threatened wildlife species.

Alternatively, they can contribute RM300 to conserve some 1,000sq m of the forest reserve which borders the pristine Danum Valley in Sabah’s east coast.

The contribution can be paid within minutes using the website www.protectmalua.com developed by Malua BioBank, a Sabah-based project for the restoration and protection of critical wildlife habitat and forest ecosystems.

The contribution can also be sent as a gift for birthdays and other special occasions via personalised online certificates featuring animals such as orang utan, sun bears, pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, rhinos and hornbills.

Malua BioBank manager Merril Halley said the Protect Malua site made it easy for everyone to contribute towards rainforest conservation.

“This has to be one of most cost-effective and enduring ways for individuals to contribute to the restoration and protection of prime rainforest,” said Halley.

Contributions will be used to restore the degraded forest which was logged before a ban was imposed in 2008 by the state government.

The funds will be used for forest restoration activities over the next five years, 20% of which will be channelled into the Malua Trust, an endowment that will fund its protection in perpetuity.

Besides providing food for wildlife, restoring the forest will help lock up a massive additional 8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 50 years.

The Malua BioBank project is based on a new approach to conservation which recognises that deforestation is driven by the profitability of alternative land uses. It is a joint initiative involving the Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Foundation and Eco Products Fund.

Malua Advisory Committee chairman Cynthia Ong urged Malaysians, particularly Sabahans, to support the Malua BioBank.

“Sabah has pioneered a ground-breaking and innovative mechanism for sustainable conservation financing and we would like to see individuals, families and corporations stepping up to support its success,” she said.

Just click to help forest restoration
New Straits Times 26 Mar 12;

KOTA KINABALU: A conservation effort has gone online in a bid to make it easier for people to be part of it.

They can now make their contributions via the Internet to help restore a logged-over forest reserve, called Malua, in Lahad Datu, here.

Malua, which stretches to about 34,000ha, was logged until 2008, and restoring it is crucial for the survival of its wildlife habitat.

Using this new approach, the public can visit www.protectmalua.com and donate RM15 to restore 50 sq m of the forest or RM300 to restore 1,000 sq m.

The step taken by the Malua BioBank, a Sabah-based project, would help restore and protect wildlife and forests.

It also involves the Sabah Forestry department, Sabah Foundation and Eco Products Fund, a company that protects forests through a host of business models.

Malua BioBank manager Merril Halley said the Protect Malua site made it easy for people to contribute towards rainforest conservation.

"The online tool also lets users learn about the importance of Malua and decide how much rainforest they would like to protect in just one click."

Sabah Forestry director Datuk Sam Mannan said the project would help put a "price" on the ecosystem, especially those who had been making profits by exploiting it.

Malua advisory committee chairwoman Cynthia Ong urged Malaysians to support the effort, a "first of its kind" to protect the tropical rainforest.

"The global conservation and financial worlds are watching us as we move forward with this initiative," she added.