INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON DUGONG BEGINS IN LAWAS

LAWAS (Sarawak) (Malaysia), July 27 (Bernama) -- A three-day Southeast Asia
regional workshop on the dugong, a protected species under the Sarawak Wildlife
Protection Ordinance, commenced Wednesday with delegates from 11 countries
deliberating on the latest efforts to protect the vulnerable marine mammal.

The workshop, organised by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), is funded
by the United Nations Environment Programme and Convention on Migratory Species
(UNEP/CMS) Office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

SFC Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation general manager Wilfred
Landong said the workshop provided an avenue for deliberating and sharing the
research findings on dugong conservation projects undertaken in the Southeast
Asia region.

Welcoming the participants, he said the event aimed at coming up with
strategic recommendations on distribution of the dugong, their habitats and
risks from fisheries in the region, while also establishing collaborations on
conservation and research programmes with renowned institutions.

"For Sarawak, it will be a good avenue to build our capacity and facility on
dugong conservation and research," he noted.

Sarawak is an East Malaysia state.

Describing the workshop as a historical milestone in the implementation of
dugong conservation work in Malaysia, Wilfred said Lawas was selected to host
the workshop as its river mouth, Kuala Lawas, had been found to be a haven for
dugongs in the state.

"Kuala Lawas is the last frontier for dugong conservation in Sarawak," he
said, adding that the workshop was the second such event since the first one in
Abu Dhabi last year.

Leading dugong experts attending this workshop include UNEP/CMS dugong
programme officer Dr Donna Kwan, James Cook University of Australia researcher
Dr David Blair and UNEP/CMS technical advisor Dr Nicolas Pilcher.

Sarawak Second Minister of Resource Planning and Management Amar Awang
Tengah Ali Hasan would officially open the workshop Wednesday night.