KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) remains committed to supporting the conservation of Orangutans as an endangered and protected wildlife species.
MPOGCF, in a statement today, said the foundation initiates, collaborates and supports environmental and wildlife conservation initiatives as well as sustainable practices related to and within the Malaysian palm oil industry.
“To that end, this year MPOGCF has provided funding to the Sabah Wildlife Department amounting to RM1.5 million in our effort to support its population survey on the status and long-term viability of Orangutans in Sabah,” the statement read.
It said MPOGCF has also commenced the 1 Million Forest-Tree Planting campaign in 2019, a 10-year project in collaboration with the Sabah Forestry Department.
The campaign was held as part of the industry’s initiative in Orangutan habitat reforestation, with an estimated investment of RM28 million.
Prior to that, the industry through the Malaysian Palm Oil Council has funded two key Orangutan conservation initiatives in the Borneo states, such as a population survey on Orangutans living in Sabah’s agricultural landscape by the Borneo Conservation Trust, together with the HUTAN-Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation programme which was completed in 2018.
“Survey areas include assessing the status of Orangutan conservation as well as the trends in Orangutan distribution, densities and conservation threats, among others.
It said the second initiative was the Orangutan Conservation Programme in Sarawak, a collaboration with the Sarawak Forestry Corporation since 2014 which was completed in 2017, with the publication of a full scientific report alongside Orangutan conservation efforts in Sarawak’s protected areas; the national parks of Ulu Sebuyau, Sedilu, Gunung Lesung and Maludam.
It added that these initiatives reflect the role that the palm oil industry has been playing as an active partner in Orangutan conservation alongside its continuous advocacy in sustainable oil palm practices.
“MPOGCF will continue to work closely with the parties mentioned and various key stakeholders at local and international levels who are actively involved in Orangutan conservation, including biodiversity and sustainability initiatives in the Malaysian palm oil industry,” it said.
Source: BERNAMA