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Borneo Post
4 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
INFAPRO – From a degraded forest to rainforest rehabilitation model
The signboard at INFAPRO Studies Centre. Behind is its nursery.-Photo by Emin Madi KOTA KINABALU (Aug 17): The Innoprise-Face Foundation Rainforest Rehabilitation Project (INFAPRO), located in Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, buffering the world-renowned Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) in Lahad Datu, stands as one of Sabah's most iconic forest restoration initiatives, now widely regarded as a model for tropical rainforest rehabilitation in the region. Launched in 1992, INFAPRO is a long-term restoration and conservation effort under a collaboration between Rakyat Berjaya Sdn Bhd, a wholly company of Yayasan Sabah Group, and the Netherlands-based Face the Future (Forest Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Emissions) Foundation. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the project sought to plant trees to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The project aims to rehabilitate 25,000 hectares of severely degraded rainforest, using indigenous dipterocarps through enrichment line planting. This includes fast-growing pioneer species as well as forest fruit trees. According to Yayasan Sabah, between 1992 and 2022, INFAPRO successfully rehabilitated 11,864.5 hectares (about 47.5%) of the targeted area. Over two million trees were planted, sequestering more than 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. INFAPRO was certified with the Voluntary Carbon Standards (VCS) by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNIPCC) in 2011 and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 2012. It is the first forest project certified by the VCS AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) in Asia. The restored area now exudes a rare natural beauty, transforming the once-degraded landscape into a serene haven of lush greenery and thriving wildlife. Through enrichment planting using indigenous species, INFAPRO strives to restore the natural biodiversity of Sabah's rainforest. The primary species selected for the project include indigenous dipterocarps from the genera Shorea, Parashorea, Dipterocarpus, Vatica, Hopea, and Dryobalanops. These species are well-suited as pioneers in open and severely degraded areas, while also providing food sources for birds and other wildlife. INFAPRO's operational centre is just 11 km from the Danum Valley Studies Centre (DVSC). This allows close collaboration with both local and international scientists, and provides opportunities for both centre to working closely and allows local and international scientific communities to carry out research activities. Dr Hamzah Tangki, Senior Manager of the Conservation and Environmental Management Division (CEMD) at the Yayasan Sabah Group, noted that the project success has attracted numerous local agencies, researchers, students, and conservationists from around the world. 'More than 10 postgraduate studies have been conducted at INFAPRO, along with around 100 publications related to the project's research and activities between 1992 and 2024. 'We are also developing environmental education activities at INFAPRO in related to share the project objectives to sequester the carbon dioxide emission through forests restoration,' he said. Dr Hamzah explained that most research priorities at INFAPRO are often focused on investigating large-scale rehabilitation issues and responding to challenges that arise during project implementation. 'These efforts support nursery and field operations by improving rehabilitation techniques and silvicultural treatments, aiming for higher survival rates and enhanced plant growth,' he said. Long-term monitoring on the carbon offset verification is considered crucial aspect to reflect to the INFAPRO outcome by time. To further realise INFAPRO's potential as an eco-tourism destination, beside the majestic panoramic of recovered forest and wildlife, several facilities such as trails have been developed within the project site for tourism packages. The INFAPRO forest also plays a vital ecological role by replenishing food sources for primates and insects, which in turn support birds and reptiles in the area. Notably, INFAPRO became Malaysia's first forestry project to initiate a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Carbon Offset Verification (COV) programme in 2002. Carbon offset verification involves a rigorous third-party approval process to ensure the project meets carbon market standards, including criteria such as additionality and permanence. INFAPRO is also the first project globally to adopt an Improved Forest Management (IFM) approach using an 'avoidance of re-logging' methodology — officially approved by the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Board in November 2010. Jazirul Marmoh, the officer in charge of INFAPRO, stated that the project currently employs 34 staff to support the INFAPRO operation, which mainly to maintain the nursery and project area. 'At this moment, we have more than 100,000 tree seedlings of 24 species in our nursery, ready for use whenever needed to support the forest restoration,' he said. Jarizul added that the INFAPRO base camp has been renamed the INFAPRO Studies Centre to better reflect its role as a hub for forest restoration, research, training, education and nature-based recreation activities.
Barnama
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Veteran Journalist Emin Madi Says Receiving PGDK Award Great Honour For Him And Bernama
KOTA KINABALU, June 21 (Bernama) – Veteran journalist Datuk Emin Madi, who is also a stringer with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Sabah bureau, described the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award he received today as a significant recognition for himself in the world of journalism. Emin, 75, said the PGDK, which carries the title 'Datuk' is also seen as a very high recognition from the Sabah government to Bernama as a whole, especially the Sabah bureau staff who operate in the state. "I am very grateful, and thankful, to the state government for this award to journalists in Sabah. I believe many more journalists and writers deserve an award like this," he said to Bernama here today. Emin was met after the 2025 Sabah State Honours and Awards investiture ceremony held at Istana Seri Kinabalu today (June 21) where 60 individuals received their respective awards conferred by Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Musa Aman. Also present at the event was Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and a line-up of state government leaders. Apart from Emin, two other Bernama Sabah bureau staff members, namely the head of the bureau, Fadzli Ramli, who was awarded the Ahli Darjah Kinabalu (ADK), and Sabah bureau photographer Zamain Singkui, who was awarded the Bintang Setia Kinabalu (BSK), will receive their awards in the next session (of the ceremony), the date of which is yet to be confirmed. Born in Tambunan on Nov 29, 1949, Emin began his career as a journalist in the 1970s before becoming an editor at a local newspaper, "The Sabah Times", and served as the press secretary to the former Minister of Land and Cooperative Development, Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam. Emin, a father of two, has been with Bernama since the 1990s and has written various articles in both Malay and English, as well as novels including "Salarom" and "The Green Gold of Borneo". "Salarom" won third place in the Sayembara Penulisan Novel Sempena 50 Tahun Merdeka competition, organised by Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka, in 2007 where there were no first- or second-place winners. The novel was published in 2008.
Borneo Post
20-06-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
19 media practitioners receive state awards
Emin Madi … PGDK Yong Ted Phen … ASDK KOTA KINABALU (June 20): A total of 19 media practitioners have been given state awards in conjunction with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman's 74th official birthday. Leading the list is veteran senior journalist Emin Madi, who receives the 'Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu' (PGDK) award, which carries the 'Datuk' title, followed by See Hua Daily News chief reporter Yong Ted Phen who receives the 'Ahli Setia Darjah Kinabalu' (ASDK). Nancy Lai … ADK Julia Chan … ADK Six people are conferred the Ahli Darjah Kinabalu (ADK) award, namely The Borneo Post Sabah chief reporter Nancy Lai, Sabah Bernama bureau chief Fadzli Ramli, senior correspondents for Malay Mail, Julia Chan and The Vibes, Jason Santos, Astro Awani multiplatform news lead editor Assim Mohamad Hassan, as well as Daily Express stringer Marutin Ansiun. Jenne Lajiun … BSK As for the Bintang Setia Kinabalu (BSK) award, there are 11 recipients, including The Borneo Post Sabah senior reporter Jenne John Lajiun, The Star's Stephanie Lee, Daily Express' Sherell Ann Jeffrey and Larry Ralon, Overseas China Daily News' Wong Chian Kyun, Sabah Media's Normimie Diun and Astro Awani Sabah's Abdul Hafiz Mustadi. Also receiving the BSK from the media fraternity are Sabah Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)'s Salmariwaya Sali, Sabah Information Department Media and Corporate Communications Division assistant director Diana Dominic and photographer Azman Jumat, as well as Sabah Bernama senior photographer Zamain Singkui.
