JAGOI BABANG: Malaysia and Indonesia have reinforced bilateral cooperation in wildlife protection and cross-border trade management following a strategic meeting held at the Pos Lintas Batas Negara Jagoi Babang.
The meeting which took place on Wednesday (Apr 29) was organised by Indonesia’s Badan Nasional Pengelola Perbatasan which brought together enforcement and technical agencies from both countries to address shared challenges in managing wildlife and natural resources along the border.
Among the Indonesian agencies present were Bea dan Cukai Jagoi Babang, Pos Imigrasi Jagoi Babang, Balai Karantina Hewan, Ikan dan Tumbuhan Kalimantan Barat, Loka Kekarantinaan Kesehatan Entikong, and Pamtas Yonarhanud 1 Kostrad.
Sarawak was represented by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).
The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral coordination in enforcement and management efforts related to wildlife and natural resources in border areas.
Key issues highlighted included the protection of wildlife and protected plant species, with both sides sharing information on species safeguarded under their respective laws.
The meeting also addressed regulatory requirements governing the export and import of wildlife and plant species, with emphasis on compliance to prevent illegal activities.
In addition, both countries emphasised the importance of closer enforcement collaboration and public awareness initiatives to combat wildlife smuggling.
During the session, SFC also highlighted its ongoing “1000 Site Visit to Save Wildlife” campaign, aimed at raising awareness among communities and industry players on the importance of wildlife conservation and legal compliance.
Through such engagements, SFC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation to ensure sustainable biodiversity conservation and effective forest resource management.
