By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, Oct 21: Sarawak develops its own seedball machine capable of producing up to 3,000 seedballs per day, offering an alternative method to support forest restoration programmes, particularly in areas that are difficult to access.
According to Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR) Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the seedball machine was created following the collaboration between the Sarawak Forest Department and the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS).
Awang Tengah, who is also Deputy Premier, added that with the seedball machine’s ability to restore forests in hard-to-reach areas, it expands the range of practical and efficient forest rehabilitation options.
“To bolster conservation efforts and facilitate the transfer of expertise and technology, several other strategic partnerships have been or will be implemented,” said Awang Tengah, who is also the Bukit Sari assemblyman during his ministerial winding up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly today.
Among the strategic partnerships that have been or will be implemented are:
- A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), the Sarawak Forest Department, and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) to carry out ”Wildlife Monitoring and Rescue” (WiMoR) operations at the Baleh Hydroelectric Project (HEP);
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the SFC, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, and Universiti Malaya to conduct research on the effectiveness of ”Reef Ball” artificial reefs as a means of protection and marine resource enrichment, as well as to assess the socio-economic impact of these projects on local communities. This initiative follows the success of Phase 1 of the Sarawak Reef Ball Project, which was recognised by the Florida-based Reef Ball Foundation (USA) as the ”World’s Longest Reef Ball Barrier Reef”.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the SFC and Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) for collaboration in areas related to eco-tourism and human capital development, and;
- Collaboration between SFC and TEGAS in the implementation of STEM programs, innovation, and public awareness regarding conservation and the environment. – DayakDaily
