HSBC pledges RM200,000 for forest conservation, restoration
KOTA KINABALU (Bernama) - HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad has pledged a RM200,000 grant to the Sabah government for the conservation and restoration of the Deramakot forest reserve in Sandakan.Datuk Sam Manan, director of the Sabah Forestry Department, through which the grant was pledged, said the grant would go towards conservation work in the southern part of the forest, which has a high population of orang utans.
“There are about 1,000 orang utans in the southern part of Deramakot forest and we expect the number to increase with movements of these animals coming from the nearby Malua and Ulu Segama forests.
“That could add up to half of the Sabah population of orang utans, which is about 11,000 to 12,000,” Sam told reporters at the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the state government and HSBC here yesterday.
He said the conservation project, to be undertaken by HSBC for two years, covered 500ha (the Deramakot forest is 55,083ha in size) and is targeted to ensure that the orang utans’ habitats were sustainable for their continual survival and growth.
HSBC deputy chairman and chief operating officer Irene M Dorner said the grant was not only to conserve the endangered orang utan but also to engage the local communities in the restoration process.
“Ultimately, we hope this programme will result in a model orang utan conservation area for other stakeholders to follow as well as create ecotourism opportunities for the local people,” she said.
At the ceremony, Dorner presented Sam with a RM200,000 cheque for immediate implementation of the project.
