10th Annual Community Beach Cleaning Program on Libaran Island
SANDAKAN – The Friends of Sea Turtles Education & Research (FOSTER), in collaboration with Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) successfully held the 10th Annual Community Beach Cleaning Program on Saturday (26 October 2024).
Mr. Alexander Yee, President of FOSTER, expressed his gratitude to Sabah Ports and STB for their ongoing commitment and to everyone who has supported FOSTER from the beginning.
“The 10th Annual Community Beach Cleaning Program is a testament to the dedication and cooperation of all parties involved in conserving Libaran Island’s environment and its crucial role in sea turtle conservation. We are immensely grateful to Sabah Ports, STB and all other contributors who have stood by FOSTER from the start. Your support has made this journey possible, and we hope to continue this partnership for many more years to come,” said Mr. Yee.
The beach cleaning effort not only aimed at maintaining the island’s pristine coastline but also supported FOSTER’s larger mission of protecting the endangered sea turtle species that nest on Libaran Island.
Since the inception of FOSTER’s conservation work in 2012, over 43,826 baby turtles have been safely released into the sea.
Mr. Yee added, “We encourage everyone who cares about marine conservation to continue supporting our initiatives. Every effort contributes not only to the welfare of the turtles but also to the well-being of the local community, who actively volunteer to keep the beach clean.”
Despite this decade of achievements, challenges remain. FOSTER continues to address issues such as the illegal harvesting of turtle eggs by villagers. “One landowner has even restricted our team from patrolling the beach in front of his property, which affects our conservation efforts. We appreciate the involvement of the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) in addressing this matter, and we are optimistic that a solution can be reached to safeguard our ongoing work,” Mr. Yee explained.
Sabah Ports’ commitment to protecting marine biodiversity aligns perfectly with FOSTER’s goals. Through this collaboration, Sabah Ports is proud to contribute to the sustainability of Libaran Island’s environment.
Pn. Siti Noraishah Azizan, General Manager of Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd stated, “We encourage industries and individuals to join us in supporting this vital cause for the future of our marine ecosystems.”
“The protection of marine biodiversity is a key focus of our sustainability efforts, and we look forward to working with FOSTER to launch impactful programs for marine life conservation on Libaran Island”, she added
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