Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is on the brink of a landmark moment in conservation, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the much-anticipated Elephant Corridor project in the next few days.
This significant step underscores the Government’s dedication to protecting wildlife while promoting sustainable economic growth.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said all the necessary steps have been covered, and is confident of managing it properly when the project takes off.
“We have applied for an empty space from the State Government to create a bigger area for the project,” she said.
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“This strategic move is to minimise the incidence of human-elephant conflict. The reserve (to be converted into a food corridor) is a 9km stretch and 15 meters from the Kinabatangan River.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“The planting site covers 33.35 acres and this project will be implemented by Sabah-registered RESPECT (RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust) and funded by Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) Japan set up by Saraya Company Limited.
“My team and I will be going to Sandakan soon to visit the site and witness the signing of the MoU.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“This project means a lot economically, because it reduces human-elephant conflict and brings harmony to communities impacted by wildlife encroachment, particularly in oil palm plantations,” she added.
She also said the project would attract international tourists, especially those from Europe who seek unique wildlife adventures.
“With sights like elephants and orang-utans in their natural habitats, paired with the scenic beauty of Sungai Kinabatangan, I believe the project will be very successful,” she said.
On AirAsia’s target of five million guest arrivals to Sabah, Liew said it is a vote of confidence in Sabah’s tourism industry.
“We warmly welcome this commitment from them. Our (State Government) target remains at 3.5 million arrivals this year,” she said.
“By bringing in more tourists, the domestic economy will experience a boom, positively impacting the livelihood of the people in Sabah.”