Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) has committed RM1.5 million to improve the management and protection of the 30,000-hectare Kenyir State Park in Terengganu which was gazetted as a protected area in 2018. The three-year project, YSD’s first support for environment conservation in Terengganu, is a tripartite collaboration between YSD, Nature Based Solutions Sdn. Bhd. (NBS) and Terengganu State Parks Management Council (TSPMC).
The project’s long-term goals are to enhance forest protection and biodiversity conservation through improving park management, and to collaboratively engage local communities in protection and conservation efforts. These objectives also align with the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan, Central Forest Spine Master Plan for Ecological Linkages, and the National Policy on Biological Diversity.
“In line with TSPMC’s motto of ‘Think Future, Go Green’, Terengganu State Parks is committed to an open and collaborative approach towards conserving our joint natural heritage such as Kenyir State Park. We welcome the launch of this partnership, which will leverage our respective strengths to achieve better outcomes for people and nature. Moreover, our partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NBS in forest and wildlife protection further strengthens the bond between government and civil society organisations to protect the flora and fauna in the area. We do hope that more corporate entities will follow YSD’s lead and join forces to support nature preservation for the benefit of humankind” said TSPMC Director, YM Tengku Mohd Arifin bin Tengku Dato’ A. Rahman.
(KSP rangers being trained by Panthera to set camera traps / Wong Pui May, NBS)
Chief Executive Officer of YSD, Dr. Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin said that the RM1.5 million would be used in developing the Kenyir State Park management plan and legal regulations, expanding the capacity of the rangers, conducting biodiversity surveys and local community outreach and engagement initiatives. YSD’s support is also hoped to increase the livelihood of the local Orang Asli communities by employing them as field workers and rangers.
“The protection of Kenyir State Park is critical as the forests within the park provide vital ecosystem services by providing a source of clean water for consumption, flood mitigation and erosion control as well as clean hydropower energy production. Our support will also accord protection of key wildlife habitats for highly threatened wildlife species thriving within Kenyir State Park, such as the Malayan Tiger, Sun Bear and Tapir” said Dr. Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin.
This habitat protection will benefit at least 43 mammal species, 18 of which are listed as highly threatened under the IUCN Red list as well as over 290 bird species. The project is also expected to generate considerable positive and sustainable impact to the local economy, communities and the environment.
This is YSD’s third project in supporting boots on the ground to reduce poaching activities in Malaysia’s state parks subsequent to the projects in Royal Belum State Park, Perak and in Sabah in collaboration with Perak State Park Corporation and Sabah Forestry Department, respectively.
Under its Environment pillar, to date, YSD has committed over RM159 million towards the protection of high conservation value ecosystems, vulnerable and endangered species as well as initiatives promoting the preservation of the environment and biodiversity.
(First deployment of KSP patrol team on 14 Mar 21 / Faiz Yusoff, NBS)
Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) is the philanthropic arm of the 3 Sime Darby companies founded in 1982 and is one of the oldest corporate charity foundations in Malaysia. Under their Environment pillar, they have so far committed RM159 million towards the protection of high conservation value ecosystems, vulnerable and endangered species as well as initiatives promoting the preservation of the environment and biodiversity.
Nature Based Solutions (NBS) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to the development of sustainable financing models that enable the long-term protection of natural forests in Malaysia.
Terengganu State Parks Management Council (TSPMC) is a goverment agency established on 28 March 2018 by the State Government of Terengganu and commissioned to manage Terengganu state parks with an aim to work collaboratively with implementing partners to achieve the overall goal of improving the management and protection of the Terengganu state parks.
