KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Mangrove Action Plan will be launched to transform the management and conservation of mangrove forests in Sabah.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said 60 per cent or 378,195 hectares of the country's mangrove forests are in Sabah.
"Sabah has the largest mangrove forests in Malaysia so it is important that we have an action plan that will serve as a guide on mangrove management and conservation.
He said it is also in accordance with the Blue Carbon initiative.
"It is a global programme being coordinated to focus on the conservation and preservation of the seaside ecosystem for climate, biodiversity and prosperity of the people," he said in a statement after endorsing the plan during the weekly state cabinet meeting here yesterday.
The Sabah cabinet was also informed that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and non disclosure agreement have been signed between the Sabah Biodiversity Centre and Yayasan Petronas for the Seaweed Mapping project and community initiative.
The Seaweed Mapping project and community initiative would be conducted for five years, he said.
The collaboration is expected to provide a complete seaweed distribution map in Sabah to be used as a reference for the conservation, protection and sustainable development of the seaweed ecosystem.
At the same time, the community initiative organised by the state government through the Sabah Biodiversity Centre and Yayasan Petronas would involve communities living in the marine and seaweed ecosystem areas in conservation and awareness efforts.
"It will also contribute to the state government's Blue Economy initiative," he said.