KUCHING: An ongoing research project on peat ecosystem sciences in Sarawak has been extended with a grant of RM7.5mil from the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
Welcoming the extension, the Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa) said it would enable the research on “Ecosystem Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics of Tropical Peatland” to continue from 2017 to 2020.
The project started in 2014 at an estate of Sarawak Oil Palm Bhd (SOPB) in Sebauh, Bintulu, in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen and University of St Andrews.
“With the extension, the grant will total RM15mil of research funds allocated to Sarawak from 2014 to 2020 to better understand peat resources in the state.
“More importantly, the research will provide invaluable information on peat and enable better sustainable management of peat in oil palm estates,” Soppoa said in a statement.
The association said another ongoing project on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon pool study at SOPB’s Lambir estate, Lambir Hills National Park and MPOB’s Belaga research station had been allocated RM2mil for the study period from 2011 to 2016.
It said this study augured well for a better understanding of the mineral and peat areas where oil palm is planted.
“The three different sites of scientific studies in Sarawak show the commitment of MPOB to further build up knowledge of planting oil palm in mineral soils and peat, which will further contribute to global understanding of peat resources,” Soppoa said.
In addition, it said another RM39.1mil had been allocated for the state’s Tropical Peat Research Laboratory from 2008 to 2015 for scientific research on peat areas planted with oil palm.
It said this covered comparison studies between oil palm-planted areas and those without, to provide better understanding of the relationships between the land and environment.
Taken from The Star
