All ears: Madingkir being briefed by Yayasan Sabah’s Conservation and Environmental Management Division group manager Dr Waidi Sinun (left) on INIKEA’s Resource and Wildlife Survey.
KOTA KINABALU: Wildlife is returning “home” thanks to the effective restoration of severely degraded forests in Sabah, says Assistant Minister to the Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Abidin Madingkir.
Abidin said the Innoprise-IKEA Tropical Forest Rehabilitation Project (INIKEA) has successfully made the Sungai Tiagau Forest Reserve home to new wildlife sightings and attracted animals to reclaim their habitat.
Established in 1988 through the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd (ICSB) and the Sow-A-Seed Foundation, INIKEA aims to enhance biodiversity and aid in the recovery of degraded forests in the state.
Spanning 18,500ha within the southern part of Yayasan Sabah’s Forest Management Area, INIKEA is now part of the Sungai Tiagau Class I Forest Reserve (Protection) that was gazetted in 2012.
Speaking at the launch of the Innoprise-IKEA Tropical Forest Rehabilitation Project (INIKEA) Resources & Wildlife Survey 2023 Seminar here on Thursday, Madingkir expressed confidence that the event would be instrumental in deepening participants’ understanding of the abundance of resources and wildlife in the rehabilitated forest.
The seminar also served as a forum for researchers and scientists to present their survey findings, focusing on the distribution of wildlife, potential threats such as poaching and forest fires, the impact of surrounding land use, the potential for tourism development, focusing on critical aspects such as attractions, logistics and accessibility, and exploring future avenues for flora and fauna research.
According to Madingkir, the INIKEA project has restored about 14,300ha by reintroducing native tree species that logging and forest fires had destroyed.
“This project has become one of Malaysia’s largest enrichment-planted areas and the longest active forest restoration area,” said Madingkir, who believes that through active participation in sharing feedback and exchanging findings, valuable input could be obtained to support the development of INIKEA’s inaugural strategic management plan.
Madingkir added that the expertise from the Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Parks, Sabah Museum, Hutan Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Programme, WWF-Malaysia, Sabah Environmental Trust, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Universiti Teknologi Mara could all jointly make a significant contribution towards the formulation of INIKEA’s strategic management plan.
Madingkir also said the Yayasan Sabah Group remains committed to implementing sustainable forest management methods, reinforcing its environmental and social responsibility, and that by forming strong partnerships with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector, the group ensures that restoration efforts are both environmentally sustainable and socially beneficial.
