YSD Advances PSPC’s Conservation Efforts With High-Tech Offensive Against Poaching In Royal Belum - Media

Media

YSD ADVANCES PSPC’S CONSERVATION EFFORTS WITH HIGH-TECH
OFFENSIVE AGAINST POACHING IN ROYAL BELUM

Advanced surveillance technology marks a new era for biodiversity conservation in Malaysia’s heritage park

Gerik, 21 February 2024 – In a significant leap for conservation efforts at the Royal Belum State Park (RBSP) to save the Malayan Tiger, Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) and the Perak State Parks Corporation (PSPC) announced the fourth phase of their collaboration. Since 2017, YSD has contributed almost RM5 million to PSPC towards a strategic partnership aimed at protecting the nation’s natural heritage in one of the world’s oldest rainforests.

Encouraged by the park’s achievement of the Conservation Assured Tiger Standard (CATS) accreditation, this latest phase introduces sophisticated monitoring technologies to enhance PSPC’s surveillance capabilities, including through the collection of real-time data to facilitate quicker and more effective responses to threats, in particularly encroachment and poaching. This is instrumental in ensuring the preservation of the park’s rich biodiversity, especially its highly valued and critically endangered flora and fauna species.

The collaborative efforts with the locals, and the Orang Asli rangers and their community, are integral to this advancement. Their knowledge, skills, and dedication, further enhanced by the ongoing training and access to the latest technologies, are pivotal in addressing conservation challenges. The introduction of real-time surveillance camera traps is to boost PSPC’s ability in monitoring and taking enforcement actions against illegal activities, strengthening the park’s defensive measures.

“YSD’s collaboration with PSPC marks a time of tech-driven forest patrolling and defence system in RBSP. With this shift, powered by insights from and the involvement of the local community, PSPC’s efficacy is enhanced to continue protecting the park’s ecosystem, especially our endangered Malayan tigers,” said YSD CEO Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin. “The contribution by the Orang Asli is pivotal, as local wisdom is merged with new technology and tools to meet conservation’s challenges head-on. This approach changes how we protect nature and redefines the potential for community-led and technology-enhanced conservation.”

Since 2017, the collaboration has facilitated significant growth in operational capabilities, expanding from a patrol team of two rangers and three Orang Asli general workers to now a
force of 12 patrollers across three teams covering an area of 15 patrolling blocks in RBSP. The 4th phase project expansion is crucial for employing the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) and meeting the stringent CATS requirements to safeguard the critical tiger population in RBSP.

“The CATS accreditation for RBSP is a milestone that reflects our commitment to preserving the majestic species and its habitat. With support from YSD, this 4th phase enables us to expand our conservation work using proven strategies and new technologies for more effective conservation and park management,” emphasised PSPC Acting Director Mr Lau
Ching Fong.

YSD’s long-term collaboration with PSPC is supplemented by their work with Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia (RIMAU) through YSD’s RM1.35 million support to strengthen the protection and habitat conservation for the Malayan tiger, as emphasised by Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Budget 2023. Following the stakeholder engagement with the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change (NRECC) YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad last year, YSD is committed to initiatives ensuring the survivability of the species, including ongoing educational efforts for the Orang Asli children through Menraq Muda programme by RIMAU.

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