| Universiti Putra Malaysia

UPM - TRCRC - Bioversity - CIRAD pioneers forest conservation efforts

By Khairul Anuar Muhamad Noh

Photo by Marina Ismail

 

                                         

 

SERDANG, 28 Nov - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and the Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Center (TRCRC) joint knowledge and expertise with two international organisations to pave the way in conserving the nation's forests.

The two international organisations, The French Centre for International Cooperation in Agricultural for Development (CIRAD) and Bioversity International, will work together with UPM and TRCRC in conducting research and activities to restore damage caused by deforestation and in carrying out forest replanting projects.   

Chairman of TRCRC Malaysia, Tun Jeanne Abdullah, said that the multi-disciplinary understanding on forestry enables the expertise of the four parties to be combined and contribute the concept for the conservation of the country's tropical rainforests.

"Each party has its own roles and expertise. This collaboration can bring pride to the country, and we need to return to the forest conservation efforts.

"I hope more parties and stakeholders will start taking up efforts to conserve the forests, and this responsibility should be born by everyone with love and enthusiasm towards our forests," she said when representing TRCRC in signing a memorandum of understanding with UPM. UPM was represented by its Vice-Chancellor.

UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dato' Dr. Aini Ideris said the collaboration enables experts from each entity to share experiences and research findings on the efforts to sustain the conservation of tropical rainforests.

"UPM and TRCRC, as the local organisations, will strive to seek funding from the public and private agencies in Malaysia while Bioversity and CIRAD will provide scientists to handle the collaboration between UPM and TCRCR," she said.

The collaboration has also made the UPM’s forest conservation project  with Mitsubishi Corporation lasted for 26 years and successfully planted 300,000 forest tree seedlings in Sarawak and Selangor as a successful model for forest conservation.

Also present at the event was the Director of  theTropical Forestry and Forest Products Institute (INTROP), Prof. Dr. Paridah Md. Tahir, the leader of the UPM-Mitsubishi Corporation forest restoration project, Prof. Dato' Nik Muhamad Nik Ab. Majid, Dr. Riina Jalonen, Head of Bioversity International Malaysia Office and TRCRC Executive Director, Dr. Dzaeman Dzulkifli.

 

 

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