Given the ongoing Covid-19 related restrictions in Sabah, which have particularly impacted fieldwork by overseas scientists, we have been forced to furlough and place on unpaid leave a large number of Research Assistants. During this period, while we are operating with a much-reduced team, it will be essential that any fieldwork that can take place remotely is efficiently coordinated. For any scientists who are in a position to initiate fieldwork, please contact SEARRP’s Operations Manager, Adrian Karolus and Assistant Director for Science Coordination, Dr Mikey O’Brien who will be able to make the necessary arrangements. Thanks for your understanding.
Category: News
Important Update: SaBC has extended the Access & Export Licence application date until June 26th, 2020
Attention to all researchers and local collaborators: Due to the current Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Sabah, the Sabah Biodiversity Centre has extended the Access & Export Licence application 2/2020 date to June 26th 2020.
For further information please visit the SaBC website .
Covid-19
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and recently enacted Malaysian Government directives, we are suspending SEARRP operations – both field and office based – until further notice.
We have contacted SaBC and have been assured that, for scientists with pending applications, access permit dates will be amended to accommodate the revised schedules of visiting scientists. For further information – and to advise SaBC of field-work plans – please contact Alessandra Markos at SabC (alessandra.markos@sabah.gov.
We have also been assured by Yayasan Sabah that similar flexibility will apply to research applications to the Danum Valley and Maliau Basin Management Committees.
If you have any other concerns, please contact either the SEARRP Director, Glen Reynolds (glen.searrp@icloud.com) or Co-Director, Agnes Agama (agnesagama@searrp.org).
OECM Inception Workshop in Kuala Lumpur March 3rd, 2020.
Dr Agnes Agama and Melissa Payne hosted a recognising and reporting OECMs in Malaysia Inception Workshop in KL on March 3rd, 2020. The workshop aimed to develop a consensus on the criteria and methodology for site-based assessments, using the IUCN WCPA guidelines and tools as a basis for the assessments. In addition, Agnes and Melissa will use this opportunity to shortlist potential OECM project case studies that were submitted to SEARRP in February 2020, and once chosen these case studies will be taken forward to the site-based assessment stage of the project. SEARRP received over 40 applications of potential case studies from across Malaysia and together with the Advisory Group, they will review the different cases studies and analyse input from members on which sites should be shortlisted for the project. This is an exciting stage of the OECM project, which is investigating the potential of conserving important and vulnerable ecosystems outside of protected areas in Malaysia. To learn more about this interesting project please visit our website.
Dr Agnes Agama, SEARRP’s Co-Director, presenting in KL on potential case studies for the OECM project.
SEARRP’s 2nd Quarterly Newsletter is Online!
SEARRP is happy to issue our second quarterly newsletter! We have had a busy few months and it is a real pleasure to share with our partners some of the interesting projects and initiatives that we been involved with recently. We hope that these newsletters will be a helpful tool to keep stakeholders in the international community engaged in our work as well as provide pertinent information about changes and updates regarding the programme for all interested parties. Please take a minute to read what the SEARRP team has been up to HERE, and contact our communications team if you would like to be added to the email list for future updates and newsletters.
Update: Deadline for OECM Case Study Applications is Extended until February 15th, 2020!
Good News! All stakeholders that are interested in submitting their potential OECM case studies now have until February 15th, 2020 to complete their applications. SEARRP is accepting case studies that range from marine, coastal, freshwater and terrestrial habitats in Malaysia and all applications can be submitted in either English or Bahasa Malaysia. This is an excellent opportunity partners to engage in this exciting process and learn a lot more about OECMs in Malaysia! For more information and to download the application form please visit the OECM project page on our website or please contact SEARRP’s Science Impact Manager Melissa (melissa@searrp.org) if you have any questions about the criteria or application process.
OECM stakeholder meeting Kota Kinabalu
Reminder: Applications to Submit Case Studies for “Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures” (OECMs) are still open!
SEARRP is welcoming all interested parties to submit case studies of potential OECMs across marine, coastal, freshwater and terrestrial environments in Malaysia. Application forms are available for download in English and Bahasa Malaysia on the project webpage. A summary of the OECM criteria and IUCN OECM Guidelines is available on the project webpage, please read it through it, and ask any questions you might have, before submitting your application. Once you have completed the application form, please submit by email to melissa@searrp.org
Deadline for submissions is 5pm on the 31st January 2020.
Applications are now open! Call for case studies of potential OECMs in Malaysia!
SEARRP would like to invite all interested partners to submit case studies of potential Other Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) across marine, coastal, freshwater and terrestrial environments in Malaysia. The submission form is now available on our website and applications are in your choice of English or Bahasa Malaysia. The website gives a full overview of the scope of the project and details the criteria for applying for a potential OECMs. All submissions are completely voluntary and everyone is welcome to submit as many case studies as they would like, but please use one form per case study. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on the 31st of January 2020 and once completed all applications can be sent to SEARRP’s Science Impact Coordinator Melissa Payne.
OECMs achieve the in-situ conservation of important and vulnerable ecosystems outside of Protected Areas
SEARRP awarded a new grant from the GEF Small Grants Programme in Malaysia!
SEARRP is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a new grant from the GEF Small Grants Programme in Malaysia! Over the next two-years, we will be working with a range of partners and stakeholders in to investigate how “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) can conserve biodiversity that occurs outside of Malaysia’s protected area systems. We are very much looking forward to discovering marine and terrestrial OECMs across Malaysia and exploring how these sites can be recognised and reported. Read more about this project here.
SEARRP is investigating the potential for “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) to conserve important and vulnerable ecosystems outside of protected areas in Malaysia. Photo Credit @Chien Lee
SEARRP launches it’s new quarterly newsletter
Welcome to the first in a series of quarterly newsletters!!
At SEARRP we are continually looking to increase the scope, scale and impact of the organisation and over the next few months we look forward to outlining some exciting new initiatives, partnerships and opportunities – not just for science, but also training, capacity building and outreach – so do please keep an eye out for future newsletters. Click here to read the full newsletter, and be sure to keep an eye out for our next one!
Staring and climbing into the canopy of these magnificent trees in Danum Valley has led us to climbing the tallest tree in the tropics–read the whole story in the newest edition of the SEARRP newsletter
