Malaysia: Kota Kinabalu mangrove forest set to become Ramsar site

The Star 27 Feb 14;

KOTA KINABALU: A remaining patch of mangrove forest located close to the city’s downtown area is set to become Sabah’s second Ramsar site.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin said the Ramsar designation for the 24ha Kota Kinabalu Wetlands Centre (KKWC) would help draw international recognition of the mangrove forest’s ecological importance.

“This is certainly good news for Sabah,” he said after launching the International Weltands Day Celebration at the KKWC on Wednes-day.

Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, designated under the Ramsar Convention.

Sabah’s first Ramsar site is the 79,000ha bio-diversity rich Lower Kinabatangan-Segama wetlands in the east coast.

Yahya said the designation of KKWC as the state’s second Ramsar site would help the conservation or careful use of remaining wetlands.

He said some padi cultivated areas in Japan and China were classified as Ramsar sites as the ecological traits of these areas were preserved and were sustainably developed.

“We can learn from this, particularly in our padi cultivation areas,” said Yahya, the state Agriculture and Food Industries Minister.

“Wise use of wetlands will be beneficial for local communities.”