Bernama 5 Jul 13;
KUCHING, July 5 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd, a state-owned company engaged in forestry and wildlife protection and conservation, is preparing a proposal to gazette the Lawas coastline in the northern tip of the state as a marine protected area.
Its managing director and chief executive officer, Datuk Ali Yusop, said here today that the seagrass beds and mangroves along this coastline were found to be inhabited by endangered marine species.
"The findings from numerous studies in the past few years have confirmed that this ecosystem supports viable population of the endangered dugong, sea turtles, dolphins and sea horses."
Ali said this in his speech before the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), here.
He said the Lawas marine protected area was among the three currently in the proposal stage as they also suggested the creation of similar areas in Similajau and Pulau Bruit in the Bintulu and Mukah Divisions respectively.
Sarawak already has two marine national parks at Pulau Satang-Talang-Talang, near Kuching, and Sibuti, near Miri.
Ali said the MoU which Sarawak Forestry Corporation sealed with UMT today would facilitate the acquiring of scientific information from the Lawas coastal area as well as to get the best method to protect and conserve the ecosystem there.
Speaking to reporters later, he said they were open to more collaborations particularly with Brunei in protecting the Lawas ecosystem, which is located within Sarawak's territory in the Brunei Bay.
Ali said in working towards establishing the marine protection area there, continuous researches were conducted to get as much insight as possible of the area.
Meanwhile, UMT vice-chancellor, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo said the Brunei Bay was an important area for research on endangered marine species due to the existence of the suitable ecosystem.
"It (the bay) also has the potential for eco-tourism and maritime development, which definitely requires proper and environmental-friendly development planning," he added.
-- BERNAMA
