| The Fourth Klias Peninsula Community Dialogue Bongawan, SABAH - 15 February 2005 |
| The Fourth Community Dialogue will be held on 15 February 2005 in Bongawan, Sabah. It will feature an illustrative talk by prominent speakers in the field of plantation management, a business luncheon and the usual stakeholders interaction. A total of 20 community representatives and key stakeholders of the Beaufort District will attend the half-day awareness-raising activity. There will be a talk show targeted at the smallholdings and plantation owners, who will be briefed of peatland conservation measures being planned for their involvement as part of the environmental awareness campaign of a UNDP/GEF Peat Swamp Forest Project. It will be organized by the Beaufort District Office in association with Sabah Forestry Department and the community leaders themselves. A business luncheon is also planned that will present a forum for active exchange of experience and perceptions on the importance of conservation efforts to manage the remaining peat swamp forests of the Klias Peninsula. The Dialoge is planned to achieve the following objectives; namely 1. To create awareness and foster cooperation among the local communities and stakeholders in the protection and conservation of the peat swamp forests in the Klias Peninsula; and 2.To explore options for the enhancement of the local community participation and support in peat swamp forest conservation and wise-use resource management. I look forward to re-acquaintances with the leaders of these local communities, whom I met earlier during previous dialogues. I encourage these community leaders to exchange ideas, share experience and discuss future options for managing the vital resources of the Klias Peninsula peat swamp forests. |
| An invitation to participate in the Dialogue session |
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