Field Work at DGFC to continue
Field Work at Danau Girang Field Centre to continue
The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) is continuing its collaboration with Cardiff University for another five years with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) witnessed by Datuk Masidi Manjun, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, on 17th July 2009.
The collaboration between SWD and Cardiff University was first initiated for a period of two years beginning July 2007 and has brought students from the United Kingdom as well as local Malaysian students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah and other international institutions such as University of Hanover to name a few.
“During the coming five years we expect to see the centre expand its research and teaching activities to include research on the interactions at an ecosystem level between forests, oil palm plantations and freshwater environment,” added Masidi.
The number of field courses will increase with up to 10 courses from overseas as well as regionally and local courses.
“On top of these important activities, we hope Danau Girang Field Centre, in collaboration with the SWD and other NGO’s such as HUTAN and others can play an increasing role in biodiversity assessment and monitoring at the Kinabatangan floodplain,” said Masidi. The Minister also emphasised the importance of Kinabatangan having received international recognition such as that via RAMSAR listing. “This important floodplain is now a part of the international recognised RAMSAR site,” added Masidi.
“The Kinabatangan is an incredible place and a testament to the rich biodiversity found here in Sabah,” stated Professor Mike Bruford of Cardiff School of Biosciences. Bruford also thanked the previous Director of SWD, the late Datuk Patrick Andau for his role in the original MoU agreement.