Kuala Rajang Islamic welfare trustee board takes up Blue Carbon Project

KUCHING (Sept 12): Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Islam Kuala Rajang (Lakikr) has taken the initiative to embark on carbon trading under the Blue Carbon Project.

Lakikr is the first trustee board in the country to get involved in the Blue Carbon Project at a mangrove trees area, said Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh.

“I hope many more trustee boards emulate Lakikr to get involved in the carbon trading industry,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a Blue Carbon Project contract agreement between Lakikr and Worldview International Foundation (WIF) at a hotel here yesterday.

Len Talif said such initiative also goes to show the commitment of Lakikr in improving environment conservation.

“In the agreement, Lakikr and WIF would collaborate to conduct carbon assessment research in a specific area.

“Lakikr has also been given a timber felling licence on a 40,000 hectare of peat land, but 30,000 hectares from that total acreage is for carbon trading purposes,” he disclosed.

Len Talif explained that Lakikr has obtained the permit to conduct research under the Blue Carbon Project for a period of two years from the Sarawak Forestry Department.

Out of the 30,000 hectares of land, 10,000 hectares have been allocated to the WIF to conduct research on mangroves stock carbon.

He added that such research is also vital to ascertain how much mangroves stock carbon there is for assessment, including how much carbon can be traded from the specified area as well as its platform to get international recognition.

“After an assessment is ascertained in that two-year period, and is accepted by the relevant parties, God willing, we will get the licence for carbon trading,” said Len Talif.

Meanwhile, Len Talif said besides the 30,000 hectares of land for carbon trading, the rest of the area will be used for the harvest of mangrove trees for the piling and charcoal industries.

He informed that those involved had also been told to replant mangrove trees.

Also present during the event were Lakikr secretary Udin Bujang, WIF director Nick Laidlaw and WIF country director Dato Selvakumal.