Latest news with #IndraSunjoto
The Sun
05-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Scientific workshop for conservation area in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU : In a significant step towards sustainable conservation, the Forest Research Centre of the Sabah Forestry Department, in partnership with Sawit Kinabalu Group's Conservation and Biodiversity Unit, convened the second scientific expedition workshop for the Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA). Held at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan, the gathering perused findings from the expedition to Sungai Pin in September last year. The workshop was also a pioneering public-private initiative to elevate conservation standards in oil palm-managed landscapes. Over 100 stakeholders, including community representatives, NGOs and government agencies, collaboratively addressed key environmental challenges. One of the objectives was to formulate a roadmap for Green List certification under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) by 2028, a first for oil palm-associated conservation areas. The workshop also undertook a comparative analysis of the 2024 scientific findings against baseline data from 2019, revealing measurable ecological trends. It also integrated community perspectives from local stakeholders and conservation-linked NGOs, while developing a unified framework for biodiversity conservation and landscape management. The event was graced by Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests (Planning and Management) Indra Sunjoto, representing the department's Chief Conservator Datuk Frederick Kugan, alongside Sawit Kinabalu Group chief sustainability officer Nazlan Mohamad. The day's agenda included nine cutting-edge research presentations across three thematic sessions and interactive workshops generating actionable conservation strategies. Plenary discussions were also held, focusing on biodiversity monitoring protocols, threat reduction measures and multi-stakeholder collaboration models 'This workshop marks a transformative approach to conservation in agricultural landscapes,' said Indra Sunjoto. 'By aligning scientific rigour with community engagement, we're setting new benchmarks for sustainable land management.' The outcomes will support SPnCA's application for IUCN Green List status, making Malaysia's first oil palm company-led conservation area while meeting global standards for a protected area.
Borneo Post
01-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Scientific expedition workshop to propel Sungai Pin Conservation Area towards IUCN Green List goal
Indra Sunjoto (fourth right) and Nazlan Mohamad (third right) with other officials on stage during the opening ceremony of the workshop. KOTA KINABALU (July 1): The Forest Research Centre (FRC), under the Sabah Forestry Department, successfully co-organized the 'Bengkel Ekspedisi Saintifik Sg. Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA) Siri 2' on June 30 at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok, Sandakan. The initiative is a public-private collaboration with the Conservation and Biodiversity Unit of the Sawit Kinabalu Group. It stems from a stakeholder engagement proposal following the recent SPnCA expedition held in September 2024. The workshop aimed to present key findings from the 2024 scientific expedition and ecosystem services assessment, in comparison with the findings five years ago from the first expedition; reflect on social and community insights, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) linked to the conservation area; forge a shared direction towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable landscape management; and to support SPnCA's journey toward IUCN Green List recognition by 2028, a pioneering goal for an oil palm-managed conservation site. More than 100 participants, including community stakeholders, NGOs and government agencies, joined together to contribute their perspectives and expertise. The Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests (Planning & Management), Indra Sunjoto, represented the Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, to officiate the event. The Sawit Kinabalu Group was represented by its Chief Sustainability Officer, Nazlan Mohamad. The programme began with a project overview and featured nine research presentations across three thematic sessions in the morning. This was followed by interactive breakout discussions and a final plenary session to consolidate recommendations for future management, focusing on biodiversity monitoring, threat mitigation, and stakeholder collaboration. The outcomes of the workshop will support Sawit Kinabalu's commitment to the IUCN Green List and further drive SPnCA's ambition to become the first conservation site in Malaysia led by an oil palm company to meet international protected area standards. The Sabah Forestry Department remains a dedicated partner, working alongside the Sawit Kinabalu Group to align science, policy, and public engagement in advancing sustainable forest management and conservation leadership in Sabah.
