KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is committed to encouraging its students and staff members to reject single-use plastic in an effort to contribute towards marine and environmental conservation.
The university’s Borneo Marine Research Institute director Prof Dr Rossita Sapawi said UMS had initiated a series of no plastic campaigns in the past, which drew an encouraging response from university residents.
“This is a continuous effort. We are not only carrying out the campaign within the institution but also with our strategic partners.
“Apart from doing research, the university also conducts an outreach programme where we encourage students to give talks to the community and share awareness on the usage of plastic, which is harmful to the environment,” she said.
Rossita was speaking to reporters after launching Oceans Celebration 2019 in conjunction with World Ocean Day at UMS’s Marine Museum and Aquarium here, today.
Speaking on the challenges to conserve the marine ecosystem, Rossita listed climate change as the main threat, stressing that data gathered by the university through research has shown that corals in the state waters are experiencing bleaching.
“Our corals are not very healthy. So we need to work with all stakeholders, government, and community in mitigating the problem, especially in relation to industrial and human activities,” she said.
Throughout the month-long Oceans Celebration Day, UMS has lined up several programmes focusing on outreach awareness at SMK Tebobon, empowering women for ocean and climate change, sustainable seafood cooking competition, and sustaining Kota Kinabalu’s marine heritage project, among others.