KOTA KINABALU, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- The European Union (EU) and Sabah Forestry Department officially launched a RM16 million programme today, to work together on 'Tackling Climate Change Through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development'.

The four-year programme aims to contribute to Sabah's sustainable and low-carbon development, as well as cooperate on a Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degredation (REDD+) strategy to reduce emission from deforestation and forest degradation.

Through the agreement, both parties will also cooperate in promoting sustainable management of forests, as well as the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

The programme will enhance the institutional capacity of the Sabah Government and develop necessary systems and tools to design and implement the state's REDD+ strategy.

At the signing ceremony, the Sabah Forestry Department was represented by its director, Datuk Sam Mannan, and the EU, by EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation Luc Vandebon.

Mannan said the programme was designed to meet Sabah's needs, in particular to support its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from forest degradation and deforestation.

He said the joint efforts would also help Sabah to effectively engage local communities in forest management and rehabilitation, both on government and community lands.

Vandebon said the EU was keen in working with Sabah because the state had clearly set specific goals to ensure that its forest were managed sustainably, and the state's likelihood to be the first state in Malaysia to start carbon trading through the amendment of the Forest Enactment.

-- BERNAMA