Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia – The Palm Oil NGO (PONGO) Alliance and the Government of Sabah, Malaysia, have announced the beginning of a partnership to make the Kinabatangan landscape resilient for forests, wildlife and people. The partnership works towards sustaining wild populations of orangutans in a mix of oil palm plantations and natural forests. The partnership, in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is a commitment that outlines responsibilities of both parties.
Under this MoU, the Government of Sabah collaborates with PONGO Alliance on projects in the Kinabatangan region. This includes advising on forest corridors to re-establish forest connectivity across the landscape, methods for restoration of forests, planting and tending of orangutan food plants on lands outside Forest Reserves, and how to manage and monitor orangutans within plantations. The Government will also provide resources and support for adaptive conservation solutions that will support the Alliance’s efforts towards sustaining viable orangutan populations in the long-term.
PONGO Alliance will work with the Sabah Forestry Department within the government to provide proposals and engage oil palm Plantation landowners. The MoU is effective for five years till 2023.
“The signing of the MoU is a milestone for PONGO Alliance as it confirms the commitment of the Sabah government to support us in our efforts to shift the current paradigm and instill new measures to protect and promote continuity of orangutan habitat and populations living within the Kinabatangan landscape.” said John Payne, executive director of PONGO Alliance.
“The Government of Sabah remains steadfast in our decision to conserve Sabah’s rich and natural biodiversity. Through working with PONGO Alliance on issues of land use management, in addition to provision of governmental resources and support, we will be able to sustain the longevity of orangutans and other wildlife in Kinabatangan.” said Datuk Mashor Mohd Jaini, Chief Conservator of Forests, Sabah.
Please refer to PONGO’s website for the full statement.
