On 12 February 2016, Copenhagen Zoo and Department of Wildlife and National Parks Jabatan Perhilitan Semenanjung Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and further develop their collaboration on wildlife protection that has been on-going since 1998.
The MoU was signed by Secretary General Dato’ Sri Azizan and Managing Director of Copenhagen Zoo, Steffen Stræde.
The cooperation includes a tapir conservation programme to protect the wild tapirs in Peninsular Malaysia. This involves wildlife experts studying the protected species in Krau Wildlife Reserve, Taman Negara in Pahang, and in Sungai Dusun as well as the development of Malaysian Tapir Conservation Action Plan (MATCAP). It is possible to see the endangered tapirs in Copenhagen Zoo and Malaysia’s National Zoo, Zoo Negara, in Kuala Lumpur.
Danish-owned United Plantations in Malaysia also runs conservation of jungle reserves and wildlife sanctuaries as well as promotes green corridors. To date, United Plantations has set aside more than 5,000 hectares of land for conservation purposes representing approximately 10% of our total planted area in order to encourage biodiversity and wildlife on our estates. In Indonesia UP has set aside approximately 35% of its land concession for the purpose of conservation. Riparian reserves are maintained to preserve flora and fauna, provide wildlife corridors, ensure water quality and prevent erosion. In order to develop effective conservation strategies, United Plantations needs the assistance of experts in these fields and has established a series of collaborations and partnerships. One such partner is Copenhagen Zoo.
Since 2007, UP has been engaging CPH Zoo’s Senior Research and Programme Coordinator (South East Asia Conservation Programme), Dr. Carl Traeholt as its External Environmental Advisor to provide Management with recommendations and views pertaining to its development in Indonesia with special emphasis on enhancing sustainability, biodiversity and conservation. This included reviewing the High Conservation Value Forest Assessments (later changed to High Conservation Value) undertaken for our properties and providing proposals in terms of further raising the bar of sustainable practices within the palm oil industry.
Sources: Embassy of Denmark in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; United Plantations
