About RM10 Mln To Be Spent In Phase II Of Biodiversity

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September 11, 2007 21:08 PM

About RM10 Mln To Be Spent In Phase II Of Biodiversity Project

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is expected to spent about RM10 million in the next five years to carry out various environmental conservation programmes and activities under the Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation (BBEC) Phase II project.

Jica's director-general of global environment department, Takafumi Ito, said the project cost was cut by half compared to the RM20 million in the last five years under BBEC Phase I because the equipment and facilties used under the first phase project were still available.

"I am not sure of the concrete numbers but as I mentioned earlier, in BBEC Phase I, we spent about RM20 million. But in BBEC Phase II, the total badget will be less than half of the first phase budget because all necessary equipment and machinery have already been provided," Ito said.

He said this to reporters after the signing of an agreement on BBEC Phase II between Jica and the Sabah state government. Ito signed for Jica while Sabah was represented by State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman.

Under the agreement BBEC will focus on three main programme components, namely integrative bodiversity and ecosystems conservation area management, research and education, and public awareness.

Another target of the project is to enhance the capacity and capability of a planned biodiversity centre in the state.

Earlier in his speech, Ito said BBEC Phase II is expected to further enhance the Sabah Biodiversity Council and the planned Sabah biodiversity centre programmes in conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems in the state.

He said BBEC in Sabah was only one of the 96 projects that had been implemented by Jica in more 30 countries as part of its commitment in tackling forestry and nature conservation issues.

"BBEC is one of the biggest and most famous projects. It is obvious, the global environment and global warming issues are becoming more important and crucial day by day. From this point of view, BBEC is also becoming more expected and promising for both Malaysia and Japan in addition to global society," he added.

Meanwhile, Sukarti said the Sabah Biodiversity Council, which is the highest authority of biodiversity and ecosystems conservation in the state will meet some time this year to set up a biodiversity centre in Sabah which is responsible for the implementation of Sabah Biodiversity Enactment 2000.

"We hope with the support given by Jica under the BBEC Phase II programme, the centre will be able to implement, integrate and regulate the activities of biodiverity and ecosystems conservation in Sabah as provided under the Sabah Bidodiversity Enactment," he said.

-- BERNAMA