KUCHING: There remains a significant lack of awareness regarding Sarawak’s tropical peatland and its importance in achieving environmental sustainability objectives, which could be a major contributor to Sarawak’s economy.
As a response, Datuk Dr Lulie Melling, president of the Malaysian Peat Society (MPS) and director of the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI), announced that an informative session will be organised to raise public awareness about this vital natural resource.
On Sept 23, Lulie will deliver a presentation titled ‘Discover The Hidden Treasure: The Tropical Peatland of Sarawak’ to around 200 experts, planters, and students at the TROPI Complex in Kota Samarahan.
“The purpose of this session is to foster awareness about one of Sarawak’s valuable natural resources, which is peatland.
“Many Sarawakians are unfamiliar with what peat is about, so the aim of the presentation is to educate the public about peat and highlight the importance of the commitment in our peat research at TROPI, which is supported by our state government and MPS,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
She stressed that peatlands have the potential to contribute to sustainable economic development, particularly as natural carbon sinks. Currently, 70 per cent of the total peatland in Malaysia is located in Sarawak.
Lulie also pointed out that approximately 50 per cent of the oil palm plantations in Sarawak are situated on peatland, underscoring the economic significance of responsibly managing these peatlands for the benefit of current and future generations.
“Thus, MPS and TROPI’s peat research aligns with the environmental sustainability agenda as part of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations promoted by our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and demonstrates the government’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda with particular emphasis on SDG 13 (Climate action) and 15 (Life on land) through the MPS-TROPI partnership,” she said.
The talk is also supported by the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development. Participants will spend half a day attending the presentation, touring TROPI’s international-standard laboratory, and exploring an exhibition on peat-related topics from 8am to 12.30pm.
