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Book by local communities launched

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Pungga (fourth right) launches the book with (from right) WWF Malaysia patron Rewi Hamid Bugo, WWF Germany representative Hari Arti Khalsa and Chan.

KUCHING: A coffee table book entitled Warna-Warni Borneo: Panda CLICK! Bersama Masyarakat Kapuas Hulu, Kalimantan Barat dan Kapit, Sarawak has been launched by the participants of Panda CLICK! with the support of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia and WWF Indonesia.

The 200-page book is produced by communities from eight villages in Kapit Division, Sarawak and Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, who came together under one interactive and visual programme known as Panda CLICK! to provide readers with photographic insights into their daily lives.

Featuring photographs by the farmers and homemakers from the interiors of Borneo themselves, it also summarise the profile and landscape of their villages, customs and traditions, relationship with nature, as well as issues and challenges they faced.

The contributors (farmers and homemakers) were given the opportunity to learn how to use pocket-sized digital cameras to document their daily lives and surrounding via basic photography workshops by WWF Malaysia and WWF Indonesia.

Bukit Mabong district officer Douglas Pungga officiated at the book launching held at the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) Creative Heritage Innovation Centre here on Tuesday.

Pungga (fourth right) launches the book with (from right) WWF Malaysia patron Rewi Hamid Bugo, WWF Germany representative Hari Arti Khalsa and Chan.

Speaking at the event, he said this book reflected not only the beauty and culture of the people, but also the diversity of flora and fauna found in the area.

He called upon the participants to continue documenting the activities in their villages.

“This process can help the government to keep track of developments and problems occurring in each area,” added Pungga.

Meanwhile, WWF Malaysia conservation director Dr Henry Chan said that the photographic documentation could serve as a tool to urge the government and its departments to increase annual allocation towards conservation efforts, especially when it involved development between the Malaysian and Indonesian border.

“Only through sustainable development can we ensure that nature and natural resources can be conserved for the well-being of the public and wildlife,” he added.

A photo exhibition was also held with 50 photos from Panda CLICK! participants in Malaysia and Indonesia displayed at the event.

The exhibition will be continued at the Sarawak State Library, Petra Jaya from December 19 to January 19, 2020. It will be open to the public.

This book is a joint publication by WWF Malaysia and WWF Indonesia under the transboundary conservation project, Green Economy in the Heart of Borneo, supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany.

The English version of the book will be made available at the end of 2020.

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