KUCHING: The Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) paid a courtesy visit to Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to brief him on Sarawak’s progress in documenting traditional knowledge and implementing the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism.
The delegation, led by SBC Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Dr Yeo Tiong Chia, was received by Wan Junaidi and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, at the Astana Negeri today.
During the visit, SBC shared its efforts to utilise the ABS framework as a platform to uplift the livelihoods of rural communities through the commercialisation of traditional knowledge.
This includes collaborations with local indigenous communities to transform traditional resources into value-added products.
Sarawak remains a pioneer in this initiative as the first state in Malaysia to implement a Benefit Sharing Agreement (BSA) with indigenous communities, beginning in 2019 with the signing of the first agreement involving Litsea cubeba, or Sarawak Litsea, a unique plant used to produce essential oils.
Wan Junaidi and Fauziah were introduced to LitSara®, a flagship natural product developed through the first Benefit Sharing Agreement, featuring a range of personal care items made from essential oils in collaboration with the Penan and Lun Bawang communities.
He commended SBC’s commitment and suggested the establishment of a dedicated premise to promote and market the products developed under the ABS initiative.
Both of them also expressed their appreciation and support for SBC’s continued efforts to promote Sarawak’s biodiversity through a scientific, inclusive, and sustainable approach that brings real benefits to local communities.
