Kristy Inus New Straits Times 12 Nov 13;
ENSURING SURVIVAL: 132ha of forest to be gazetted as part of Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary
KOTA KINABALU: POCKETS of land crucial to the survival of endangered animals in Kinabatangan were returned to the government yesterday.
Through the efforts of several organisations, including non-governmental organisations and government agencies, 10 plots of lowland forest totalling 132.19ha were purchased from private landowners.
The Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP) worked with International Union for Conservation of Nature Netherlands, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and Lands and Surveys Department to secure the land with funding from the international community.
The land will be gazetted as part of the fragmented Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, and its handing over ceremony was done at the Heart of Borneo (HoB) conference here yesterday.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman witnessed the handing over of the land titles by LEAP executive director Cynthia Ong to Sabah Wildlife Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu.
The department will now be able to create natural forested corridors for Borneo Pygmy elephants, orang utans and other wildlife.
Ong said it was crucial that the government and private sector supported efforts to reconnect the forests in the 26,000ha sanctuary.
"We encourage landowners and players in the oil palm industry to voluntarily give up land in critical areas so that it can be turned into corridors, not just within the Kinabatangan region, but also in other parts of Sabah.
"The land acquisition will allow wildlife to move from one part of the sanctuary to another, reducing risks associated with in-breeding and other issues such as food supply."
