Celebrity Conservationist Visits Malaysia
Added to website: 01 July 2002
Broadcaster and conservationist, Professor David Bellamy OBE, visits Malaysia this month (14-18 July 2002) to launch an exciting new project to protect the stunning, but threatened, coral reefs and islands off the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
The Malaysia Reefs and Islands Conservation Project is a collaboration between UK-based Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) and the Marine Parks Section of Malaysia’s Ministry of Fisheries.
The project’s pilot phase, scheduled for September 2002, will mobilise international teams of volunteers to survey the reefs of Pulau Perhentian and assist with management planning for their protection and sustainable use. The programme will also include a range of local and national conservation education and awareness schemes, as well as targeted technical training for Marine Parks Section staff and other project counterparts. The pilot phase will last three months, after which the project will be ongoing and extended to other islands.
During his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Professor Bellamy will highlight the importance of coral reefs as a source of food and livelihood to millions of people living in Malaysia. The well-known TV celebrity and environmental campaigner (who is also the President of CCC) will be giving a series of media interviews and public lectures, including a talk to students at The National Science Centre and a public lecture entitled “The Green Renaissance: Putting the World Back into Working Order”.
Accompanying Professor Bellamy is Peter Raines, CCC’s Founder and Managing Director. “Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of this project,” says Raines, “is that it will enable Malaysians from all walks of life to become directly involved in a practical marine conservation programme. CCC’s Conservation Diving Scholarship scheme will provide them with new skills such as scuba diving and marine survey techniques - both vital for monitoring the long-term health of Malaysia’s reefs and in helping put them back into working order. There will also be many opportunities to bring to international attention the remarkable initiatives and commitment of the Government of Malaysia to protect marine biodiversity in Malaysia.”
Malaysia has 3,600km 2 of coral reef, supporting over 550 species of coral. Up to 91% of reefs are at risk from human impact.
