KUCHING: Various conservation efforts in Sarawak remain the undercurrent theme of Sarawakian beneficiaries of the Shell Sustainable Development Grants 2013.
This was parallel with the Shell Sustainable Development Grants programme which focuses on environmental conservation and sustainable livelihood.
One such example is the fish farming project at the Tapang Pungga Micro Hydro Resevoir undertaken by the Sarawak Dayak Graduates Associate (SDGA).
SDGA committee member Dr Richard Belanda told The Borneo Post that this was the second phase of this project.
“The first phase of the project was the micro hydro resevoir itself,” he explained. “Now, with the fish farming project, we believe we can raise up to 10,000 fish fry in the resevoir, generating up to RM70,000 net profit per year from this.”
The resevoir has a capacity of 10,000 cubic metres, he noted, adding that the objective of this is to provide sustainable income for the Tapang Pungga Longhouse people as well as to protect the Sakum River catchment area from logging encroachment and to sustain the local fish species.
Shell Malaysia provided a grant of RM40,000 for this venture.
Richard said the aim of this project was also to provide an alternative income revenue stream to the locals, who opted for logging as a way to earn money.
Dr Benedict Poris
“The point we are trying to bring across is that there are a lot of other opportunities in rural areas without having to deplete natural resources. We just need the ideas to generate income.”
Meanwhile, Persatuan Warisan Bung Bratak is taking the helms for the conservation of the Bung Bratak Cultural and Biodiversity Heritage project which aims to conserve the only remaining virgin tropical rainforest within the Bratak region.
According to project deputy chairman Rayan Narong, this project will establish boundaries of the community rainforest, undertake more awareness raising programmes, tagging of historic materials and site and trees with the Shell Malaysia grant.
“We are also looking to divert some of the grant money towards research on the microorganisms and insects within the region,” he noted, adding that the group last year’s grants to conduct further research on the flora and fauna here.”
Shell granted this project with RM25,000 this year.
Part of the grant, Narong added, will also go towards the repair and upgrading of existing infrastructure as well as training the locals on homestay, handicraft and basic tourist guiding.
The third Sarawakian project given a grant by Shell Malaysia was the conservation of Bung Pengu Jembu. Chairman Dr Benedict Poris in speaking with The Borneo Post underscored the importance of conserving the Bung Pengu Jampu community rainforest within the Padawan-Penrissen region as it held much potential in terms of herbal medicines, ecotourism and so on.
“There are rare species here, such as the amischotolype marginata, which are medicinally used to cure diseases,” he explained. “This is one of the reasons why we want to have this area gazetted as a heritage site.
“Also, we hope to develop the area to allow tourists to come and savour the natural living habitats. This will help improve the livelihood of some village communities especially those who still love off the rainforest.”
The project was given RM25,000 by Shell Malaysia.
The aim of this project is to conserve the ancestral village at Bung Jagoi and the community rainforest along with the biodiversity therein.
The project also aims to be a potential centre for documentation of traditional knowledge especially for herbal medicine.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/20/conservation-the-main-theme-of-sarawak-grant-receivers/#ixzz2UD24mMCY
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