A wide range of stakeholders comprising the government and private sectors, civil societies and academia from Indonesia and Malaysia converged here recently in a meeting to mark the beginning of a new trans-boundary conservation project, Green Economy in the Heart of Borneo (HoB).
WWF senior officers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany and Japan working on sustainability and green economy also attended the event.
Held at Kapuas Hulu District Office on April 20, the half-day meeting was declared open by its district chief (Bupati) AM Nasir who welcomed the project, saying it was in line with the district’s conservation strategy that promotes balance in ecology, economy and social development in the area.
Kapuas Hulu District welcomes the project collaboration between government agencies, businesses, communities and civil societies as the implementation of a green economy helps foster sustainable development.
“The project is very strategic because it supports the implementation of our commitment as a Conservation District launched in October 2003, so that the region and its natural resources can still provide the functions of ecological, economic and social balance,” he said.
WWF-Malaysia Sarawak programme leader Dr Jason Hon said Kapuas Hulu District’s endorsement of the trans-boundary conservation project was a significant start to the long-term collaboration in the HoB involving governments, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and communities from Malaysia and Indonesia.
He said a similar kick-off event would be held in Sarawak to obtain the commitment of the state government and other stakeholders to the project.
The meeting also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the government of Kapuas Hulu and WWF-Indonesia which aimed at, among others, strengthening the commitment of both parties in supporting the project implementation.
A two million hectare site, spanning northern West Kalimantan to southwest Sarawak, has been identified for this HoB Trans-boundary Corridor project, funded by the International Climate Initiative of the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Moving towards green economy in the Heart of Borneo
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