Community
SDG – NASH
Support on Biodiversity and HCV Training To Smallholders (SDG – NASH)
BRIEF PROJECT
The collaborative efforts between Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), Sime Darby Guthrie (SDG) and National Association of Smallholders Malaysia (NASH) in implementing a comprehensive training program for smallholders in Malaysia’s oil palm industry. This program specifically targets smallholders who are new to biodiversity and High Conservation Value (HCV) principles and are working towards achieving and maintaining Sustainable Certificates. The program serves as awareness training, aiming to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills. Through subsequent years of coaching, participants will serve as local trainers / coaches to other smallholders.
PROGRESS AND PERIOD DATE
A knowledge-sharing workshop will be held on November 2024. The duration of this project is three years, from January 2022 to December 2024.
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK (UNIMAS)
Forest Mosaics Within Small Scale Oil Palm Plantations (UNIMAS)
BRIEF PROJECT
Most of the indigenous community involved in oil palm plantations consists of small-scale farmers who are not fully dependent on the income generated from the oil palm estates; instead, the community maintains large areas in forest condition for non-timber forest products. Currently, there is no study that examines the effectiveness of forest conservation in forest fragments within small-scale oil palm plantations. Therefore, this project aims to document the plant diversity of the forest patches among the smallholders of oil palm plantations in the Iban community based in central Sarawak.
PROGRESS AND PERIOD DATE
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been sent to panel of lawyer Choo De Wei for amendments until 16 October and after that will send the MOA to UNIMAS until 28th October 2024.
This project will take two years (Januari 2025 – December 2026).
UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA (UKM)
Human-Wildlife Conflict Strategic Plan (UKM)
BRIEF PROJECT
This project aims to develop an action plan that supports coexistence between humans and wildlife in oil palm plantations in Malaysia. Considering the increasing conflicts between humans and wildlife that have negative impacts on both parties, this study will investigate the current situation of these conflicts, including their causes and effects. Through public surveys assessing the acceptance and perceptions of local communities, the project will evaluate how residents view their interactions with wildlife and the challenges they face. An analysis of the potential for coexistence with wildlife in oil palm plantations will also be conducted, emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices and effective conservation strategies.
PROGRESS AND PERIOD DATE
Field data collection is currently underway. The period for this project is 3 years, starting from Sep 2023 to Sep 2026.
Barn Owl for Smallholders Initiatives, BOSI (BORG)
BRIEF PROJECT
The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) has introduced the Barn Owl for Oil Palm Smallholders Initiatives (BOSI). In collaboration with the Barn Owl Research Group (BORG) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), MPOGCF aims to promote an environmentally sustainable method of integrated pest management for smallholders in oil palm plantations. The barn owl, scientifically named Tyto alba javanica, has demonstrated significant effectiveness in controlling pests in these plantations. The BOSI initiative involves providing and installing nest boxes to encourage barn owls to inhabit the area. With the BOSI program, smallholders will not only effectively decrease the rat population but also reduce the use of rodenticides, which can negatively impact biodiversity in oil palm plantations.
PROGRESS AND PERIOD DATE
Project completed and payment has been made.
Sg. Ara Human-Elephant Coexistence Project (EF)
BRIEF PROJECT
The elephant population in Johor has faced significant challenges due to forest fragmentation and infrastructure expansion, leading to increased human-elephant interactions (HEI). In response, the Human–Elephant Coexistence (HEC) Project in Sungai Ara, Kota Tinggi, aims to empower local stakeholders to strive towards achieving coexistence with elephants to complement wildlife conservation, promote community safety and reduce crop damages while ensuring the consistency of palm oil supply in the market. Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) has allocated funds to support local communities.
The project focuses on three objectives:
- Improve management of HEI with smallholders in Sungai Ara through capacity building and application of physical barriers.
- Connect neighboring plantations and smallholders to achieve human-elephant coexistence via an integrated management plan.
- Strengthen data collection to evaluate the impact of the human-elephant coexistence strategy for adaptive management.
Additionally, an early-warning system will be trialed along the Sungai Ara plantation border to address the frequent elephant sightings. Workshops and stakeholder consultations will enhance community engagement and establish local HEC committees.
Through these efforts, MPOGCF aims to ensure the sustainability of both biodiversity and the Malaysian palm oil industry, fostering hope for the future of elephants in Johor.
PROGRESS AND PERIOD DATE
Early-warning system pilot, monitoring and reporting, electric fence maintenance and reinforcements are currently on-going. The period for this project is until Dec 2024.
MALAYSIAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MTDC)
IDEATHON (MTDC)
BRIEF PROJECT
MPOGCF is seeking suitable R&D to address and reduce conflicts between local communities and wildlife. This proposal outlines the structure and objectives of the MPOGCF-MTDC Ideathon.
Objectives:
- The main goal is to implement the MPOGCF-MTDC IDEATHON 2023 to find innovative solutions for human-wildlife conflicts in oil palm plantations in Malaysia.
- MTDC’s proposed role as a technology broker for MPOGCF includes:
- Early warning systems to alert communities about the presence of wildlife.
- Non-harmful tools to deter wildlife from encroaching on farms and homes.
- Tools to track wildlife movement and identify potential conflict hotspots.
- Solutions to raise awareness and promote mutual respect between communities and wildlife.
- Acting as a bridge between MPOGCF and local researchers to develop suitable innovations.
PROGRESS AND PERIOD DATE
Letter of Appointment has been sent to MTDC for further action till 18th October 2024.
