KUCHING: A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and Japan Research Consortium for Tropical Forests in Sarawak (JRCTS) was signed today (Feb 15).
SFC was represented by its chief executive officer (CEO) Zolkipli Mohamad Aton while Dr Takao Itioka (Takao Ichioka), a professor from Kyoto University, signed on behalf of the consortium.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by SFC deputy CEO I Oswald Braken Tisen, SFC deputy CEO II Abang Arabi Abang Aimran and Japan-Malaysia Association (JMA) Sarawak coordinator Kazue Sakai.
In total, SFC will have 12 researchers involved in the project as well as the Japan Research Consortium.
The MOU is wide-ranging and covers field research on plants, wild animals, carbon and social science in totally protected areas (TPA) in Sarawak. The collaboration will commence this year.
Several SFC staff will be engaged in a long-term field research with the consortium and the deliverables in the project include training of SFC staff for postgraduate studies in Japan.
Zolkipli (left) and Oswald (right) signing the MOU documents while Kazue looks on. Photo: SFC’s Facebook 
The MOU signing ceremony between SFC and JRCTS on Zoom. Photo: SFC’s Facebook
