Najib submits five environment management plans for ECER sustainable development

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak (pix) today submitted five Environment Management Plans to develop sustainable national and state parks in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) to the governments of Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Johor.
According to a statement issued by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) here the plans were to conserve, preserve and develop national parks that straddles Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan; Endau-Rompin National Park between Pahang and Johor; Tasik Chini in Pahang, which is also Unesco's first Biosphere Reserve in Malaysia; Setiu Wetlands in Terengganu and Tanah Tinggi Lojing in Kelantan.
"The plan is the result of studies undertaken by ECERDC to ensure balanced development in ECER so that socio-economic development projects that are implemented will also take into account the importance of the environment.
"The document outlines development plans to spur conservation and preservation efforts in these national parks," said the statement.
Najib, who is also ECERDC chairman presented the documents to Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said,Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in the Prime Minister Office here.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ali Hamsa.
The national parks located in ECER are the world's oldest tropical rainforest that are estimated to be over 130 million years old and have one of the world's richest rainforest biodiversity.
"In efforts to spur socio-economic transformation in this region, it is vital for ECER to ensure that this environmental sustainability and regional natural assets will continue to be reserved," added the statement. – Bernama