By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 13: Yayasan PETRONAS has taken an important step into the conservation of marine ecosystems through a Seagrass Mapping and Community-Based Programme, after inking two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) and Sabah Biodiversity Centre (SaBC).
According to a media release, these agreements focus on mapping seagrass meadows in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, respectively.
The first phase of the programme, which will run for two years, is set to kick off in Johor and Sabah where seagrass meadows form critical habitats for marine biodiversity.
Malaysia’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu attended the MoU signing ceremony between Yayasan PETRONAS, represented by CEO Shariah Nelly Francis, and DOF, represented by director-general Dato Adnan Hussain, at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) in Selangor on Sept 12.
The MoU with SaBC was signed on July 26.
Shariah Nelly highlighted that this programme, a key component of Yayasan PETRONAS’ environmental pillar, aims to advance environmental conservation in Malaysia, with a particular focus on seagrass preservation.
“We are committed to implementing initiatives that not only protect the environment and conserve seagrass ecosystems in Malaysia, but also strengthen community resilience in facing future climate challenges,” she said.
Shariah Nelly emphasised that the comprehensive seagrass mapping will contribute to a deeper understanding of ecosystem management and provide essential data for developing conservation plans.
Additionally, the partnership with DOF and SaBC will incorporate educational and awareness efforts for local communities, underscoring the importance of seagrass ecosystems in maintaining environmental health and community wellbeing.
“Seagrass mapping is one part of the programme. The other critical part of this programme is to involve communities living along the seagrass meadows to become stewards, inculcate a sense of responsibility and assist in efforts to protect this important habitat,” she added. — DayakDaily
