Felda Global Ventures (FGV) Holdings, the world’s largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO), contributed RM1.7 million to a five-year biodiversity conservation initiative with Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) here Thursday.
FGV, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pontian United Plantations (PUP) Berhad inked an agreement with BCT, witnessed by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and BCT chairman Tan Sri Benard Dompok.
The ceremony saw BCT honorary secretary Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambo and FGV head of plantations (East Malaysia) Denys Collin Munang signing a memorandum of agreement to re-establish a Mega Diversity Corridor in the Lower Kinabatangan Basin Project.
The five-year project is a first-of-its-kind to support the re-establishment, restoration and protection of key migratory routes for wildlife to safely migrate within the Lower Kinabatangan Basin.
A key aspect of the project is to provide sustainable alternative livelihood for the local communities living along the Kinabatangan River via a sustainable community eco-tourism programme.
Animals migrating through the Lower Kinabatangan Basin include the Borneo Pygmy elephants, orang utan and proboscis monkeys. It is estimated there are currently over 300 pygmy elephants and 750 orang utans in the Lower Kinabatnagan Basin.
With the cooperation of the Sabah Wildlife Department, the project entails mapping the land parcel, enhancing forest protection, development and implementation of an eco-tourism and forest related sustainable livelihood in one of the project sites located in the Kinabatangan region.
FGV group president and chief executive Datuk Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah, in a statement issued soon after the signing ceremony said the project reflected FGV’s commitment to sustainable practices in business.
Meanwhile, BCT chairman Tan Sri Bernard Dompok congragulated the FGV management for supporting the Mega Biodiversiti Corridor in Lower Kinabatangan Basin project.
