KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will launch the Sabah Mangrove Action Plan  as way forward to transform the management and conservation of mangrove forests in  Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor. 

He said the action plan is important and crucial since 60 per cent or 378,195 hectares  of the country's mangrove forests are in Sabah. 

"Sabah has the largest mangrove forests in Malaysia so it is important that we have an  action plan that will serve as a guide on mangrove management and conservation," he  said. 

"It is also in consonance with the Blue Carbon initiative, a global programme being  coordinated to focus on the conservation and preservation of the seaside ecosystem for  climate, biodiversity and prosperity of the people," he said. 

The Chief Minister said the State Cabinet had endorsed the Sabah Mangrove Action  Plan during its weekly meeting today, and it would be launched soon. 

Speaking at the Chief Minister's Department post-cabinet meeting, Hajiji said the  Cabinet was also informed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Non Disclosure Agreement have been signed between the Sabah Biodiversity Centre and  Yayasan Petronas for the Seaweed Mapping project and community initiative. 

The Seaweed Mapping project and community initiative would be conducted for five  years, he said, adding the collaboration is expected to provide a complete seaweed  distribution map in Sabah to be used as a reference for the conservation, protection and  sustainable development of the seaweed ecosystem. 

At the same time, the community initiative organised by the State Government through  the Sabah Biodiversity Centre and Yayasan Petronas would involved communities living  in the marine and seaweed ecosystem areas in conservation and awareness efforts. 

"It will also contribute to the State Government's Blue Economy initiative," he said. 

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