Malaysia Pledges to Create a Wildlife Sanctuary
11/16/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: WWF Celebrates Malaysia's Pledge to Create Wildlife
Sanctuary
Source: WWF Press Release
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: November 16, 1999
WWF, the international conservation organization today welcomed the
announcement of Malaysia's eastern-most state of Sabah to protect
27,000 hectares of wetlands on the island of Borneo.
The new 'Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary', situated in the lower
Kinabatangan river floodplain, is a precious site for wildlife and a
vital source of freshwater for over 200,000 people in eastern Sabah.
It has been recognized by WWF as a 'Gift to the Earth', a special
conservation commitment to preserve the planet's natural wealth.
WWF's Living Waters Campaign, launched in response to the growing
crisis facing freshwater ecosystems worldwide, welcomed the sanctuary
as the fifth freshwater 'Gift to the Earth'. The campaign stresses
the need for more conservation actions worldwide. Preserving natural
freshwater resources continues to be a global concern as more than
1.3 billion people are today already experiencing water shortages.
"Water is a finite resource," says Richard Holland, Campaign
Director. "We must act urgently to conserve freshwater ecosystems if
future generations are to inherit a planet fit to live on."
The Kinabatangan River nourishes some spectacular wetland forests,
swamps and lakes. The new Sanctuary is a showcase of natural
treasures. Not just elephants and the unique proboscis monkey live
here, but also birds such as the fish-eating Oriental darter, rare
freshwater sharks, freshwater rays and Irrawaddy dolphins.
Speaking at the opening of the 1999 WWF Annual Conference, the Chief
Minister of Sabah, Datuk Osu Sukam, announced that the Sabah State
Government would make the Lower Kinabatangan floodplain a natural
heritage for the local communities.
"Besides benefiting the wildlife - and also providing much of the
water supply of eastern Sabah - the Kinabatangan area draws tourists
from all over the world," he added.
As a haven for nature tourists Malaysia's state of Sabah has long
been demonstrating the potential social-economic benefits of
wetlands, if they are managed in a sustainable way. WWF hopes that
responsible community-based ecotourism will help local people by
offering a continuous source of income while preserving the
environment.
For more information, contact:
Lisa Hadeed, tel: +41 22 364 9030, Lhadeed@wwfnet.org
Simone de Manso, tel: +41 22 364 9553, sdemanso@wwfnet.org
Notes to the editors:
* WWF's work in the Lower Kinabatangan is conducted under the
Partners for Wetlands initiative. This international initiative
promotes forest conservation, protection of water quality and
biodiversity conservation. Activities in Malaysia include tree-
planting, development of ecotourism models and elephant research.
Zambia and the Ukraine are among other countries which participate in
'Partners for Wetlands' Projects.
* The Kinabatangan wetlands, where water accumulates at least part of
the year, act as a transition bridge linking aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems. They help regulate water quality and quantity as well as
maintain the system's ecological functions, creating a sanctuary for
diverse flora and fauna.