ID :
34886
Wed, 12/10/2008 - 15:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/34886
The shortlink copeid
NEED FOR INT` COOPERATION TO UNDERSTAND OCEAN CHANGE
KOTA KINABALU, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- There is a need for international cooperation and capacity building to understand the response of oceans to climate change, the impact of ocean change on marine life and to mitigate the adverse impacts, a seminar here heard today.
Prof Kamaruzaman Ampon the Vice-Chancellor of a Malaysian university,
Universiti Malaysia (UMS) Sabah said there was no doubt that the oceans were in
a crisis state caused by climate change, as they could no longer absorb the
impact of human activities without undergoing a change.
"The sea is a global resource and its status as a global commons and its
problems as a matter of global concerns should be recognised by the global
community.
"It is a challenging task because the sea covers 70 per cent of the earth's
surface, and no single country can manage it and no country can leave it to be
managed by other countries without its own share of responsibility," he
said.
He was speaking at the opening of the International Capacity Development
Programme: Seminar and Proposal-Writing Workshop for Marine-Related Institutions
here.
It was therefore hoped that the relevant national institutions would
redefine their priorities for more focused research on oceans and climate change
and develop approaches to knowledge-based management of coastal marine
resources, restoration of degraded marine critical habitats and replenishment of
depleted marine populations, among others, he said.
He said the university's Borneo Marine Research Institute was formulating
strategies to improve the resilience of coastal ecosystems and marine critical
habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses.
"We are sparing no efforts to help vulnerable communities to adapt to sea
level rise and oceanic processes that pose threats to the security of the
coastal zone.
"Sabah (in East Malaysia) has a long coastline measuring more than
1,800km and our economic and social interests are rooted deep in the coastal
zone, and obviously the health of the marine ecosystem deserves a great deal of
our attention," he added.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili said
international cooperation and capacity building were needed to forge
relationships with the international scientific community and bridge the gap
between scientists and government decision-makers.
In his opening address delivered by the ministry's deputy secretary general
Khatijah Mohd Yusof, he said the Malaysian government recognised the need to
translate research findings and programme outcomes into innovations and was
committed to moving towards commercialisation to produce products and services.
-- BERNAMA
Prof Kamaruzaman Ampon the Vice-Chancellor of a Malaysian university,
Universiti Malaysia (UMS) Sabah said there was no doubt that the oceans were in
a crisis state caused by climate change, as they could no longer absorb the
impact of human activities without undergoing a change.
"The sea is a global resource and its status as a global commons and its
problems as a matter of global concerns should be recognised by the global
community.
"It is a challenging task because the sea covers 70 per cent of the earth's
surface, and no single country can manage it and no country can leave it to be
managed by other countries without its own share of responsibility," he
said.
He was speaking at the opening of the International Capacity Development
Programme: Seminar and Proposal-Writing Workshop for Marine-Related Institutions
here.
It was therefore hoped that the relevant national institutions would
redefine their priorities for more focused research on oceans and climate change
and develop approaches to knowledge-based management of coastal marine
resources, restoration of degraded marine critical habitats and replenishment of
depleted marine populations, among others, he said.
He said the university's Borneo Marine Research Institute was formulating
strategies to improve the resilience of coastal ecosystems and marine critical
habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses.
"We are sparing no efforts to help vulnerable communities to adapt to sea
level rise and oceanic processes that pose threats to the security of the
coastal zone.
"Sabah (in East Malaysia) has a long coastline measuring more than
1,800km and our economic and social interests are rooted deep in the coastal
zone, and obviously the health of the marine ecosystem deserves a great deal of
our attention," he added.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili said
international cooperation and capacity building were needed to forge
relationships with the international scientific community and bridge the gap
between scientists and government decision-makers.
In his opening address delivered by the ministry's deputy secretary general
Khatijah Mohd Yusof, he said the Malaysian government recognised the need to
translate research findings and programme outcomes into innovations and was
committed to moving towards commercialisation to produce products and services.
-- BERNAMA
