Brunei At Forefront In Tropical Rainforest Preservation
By CT Hj Mahmod

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei is at the forefront in the preservation of tropical rainforest in Southeast Asia, and this extends beyond environmental responsibilities and concerns, reported forestry specialist from the Nature Conservation Fund mission, which is part of a Japanese Business Association.

This was revealed by the Japanese Ambassador Mr Yoshinobu Nisaka, at the official opening of the International Symposium on conservation and Wise Use of Mangroves in Southeast Asia, being held at the Riverview Hotel.

Gracing the ceremony was Dato Paduka Hj Idris bin Hj Belaman, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, who highlighted the rapid diminishing of mangroves worldwide, and underscored ‘it is all the more urgent to seek ways and means to conserve the remaining mangroves before they too disappear".

The three-day symposium, the first such international symposium being held here, is one of the fruits of the ‘Conservation of pristine mangrove, forest and enhancement of public awareness on wetland and biodiversity in Brunei’ project.

A joint project by the Forestry Department, the University of Brunei Darussalam, and the RAMSAR Centre of Japan, a non government organisation devoted to promoting conservation and wise use of Asian wetlands.

Earlier, Awg Hj Saidin bin Salleh, Acting Director of Forestry Department, as Chairman, said this “project is aimed to draw up a Master Management Plan, for Selirong Island Forest Recreation Park”; a small island located in the Bay of Brunei and contains Rhizophora Apicula (Bacau) and several rare animals.

Dato Paduka Hj Idris said “Brunei Darussalam believed in conserving our natural heritage; most importantly, in sustainable and balanced development”.

“In this aspect, we are seriously looking into options to enhance the intrinsic value of our natural resources, without undue disturbance on the ecosystem. We are actively encouraging the establishment of downstream processing of forest produce resulting in value adding and a wider range of products”, he added.

Speaking on the joint project, he said “it reflects the noble aspirations of global efforts in conservation issues, it is an international co-operation in action, and expressed his pride that Brunei is involved in such global endeavours.”

Also present during yesterday’s opening and delivered their brief remarks were Ms Megumi Kawahara, Environmental Communication Office, Corporate Environment (RICOHO), and Dr Tatsuichi Tsujii, Technical Committee of RAMSAR Centre Japan.

Commencing from 6th till 8th October, the symposium will start off with a visit to Selirong Island, where a total of 40 foreign experts will get first-hand experience of the pristine mangrove forest before they present their papers.

The Master Management Plan will be presented by the end of the symposium, where more than 20 papers will be presented by experts from the region, including from all ASEAN member countries, Japan, Taiwan, India and Bangladesh. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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