| James Kon |
THE United States Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Craig Boyd Allen, had praise for Brunei’s efforts in the conservation of its pristine forests and marine environment, during an interview yesterday, on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the ‘Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Training’, at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
Citing Brunei’s conservation efforts, Allen said, “I salute the Brunei Government for the Green Heart of Borneo, and its coral initiatives. Both are super-valuable initiatives, and contributing to biodiversity on a global basis. This is an area where Brunei is a leader and should be proud of.”
He added, “Your forests are filled with unidentified species. This is a treasure waiting to be explored. The more you explore it, the more you appreciate it.”
Next month, the Government of Brunei Darussalam, together with the support of the Australian Government, will host the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit 2016.
Allen said, “This is yet another opportunity for stakeholders and relevant authorities to further discuss issues pertaining to the conservation of the rainforest.”
Photo shows Liaw Lin Ji, the founder and President of Brunei Biodiversity and Natural History Society (BruWILD) presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Craig Boyd Allen, Ambassador of the United States of America to Brunei Darussalam. – JAMES KON
The US Ambassador also shared his views on the global issue of wildlife trafficking, “Unfortunately, a lot of plants and animals are endangered, and are being trafficked in large numbers. This is a big concern, because it creates an incentive to capture a rare species, which is unsafe for animals as well as plants. Third, this could lead to the transfer of diseases,which are unknown to the traffickers.
“There are good number of species that are close to extinction, like the rhinoceros – and all for the wrong reasons, since some people think that their parts have medicinal benefits. Once we lose a species, we lose it forever. We may also lose other species that are dependent on the lost species.”
He continued, “The wildlife trafficking and biodiversity are mega issues. The victim of this crime is all of mankind. We cannot afford to lose the many species that have thrived in the unique niche of the global environment for millions of years. The consequences will be profound.”
He also disclosed that the United States was pleased at the tightening of wildlife trafficking regulations in the Asean region, and expressed the hope that all Bruneians would respect their country’s wildlife biodiversity.
In terms of educating the public on wildlife conservation, Allen said, “I think we need to educate young people on the value of biodiversity, and the intrigue pattern that different species have within a network of the environment. The more you learn about it, the more you will respect them.”
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