Progress of the Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Project in MALAYSIA 3rd Executive Project Steering Committee meeting 21-23 November, 2017 Trang, Thailand

PROJECT SITES: 1. SIBU & TINGGI ISLANDS (2) LAWAS Sibu-Tinggi, Johor Lawas, Sarawak

PROJECT PARTNER MY1 MY2 MY3 MY4 MY5

Baseline in 2015 Progress by 2017 Targets for 2018 Established NFC of GEF 5 Project to discuss on Dugong and Sea grass Conservation activities. Dugongs: limited information generated in 1999. Some information on dugong distribution based on systematic aerial surveys in 2014 (Johor). Communities: Community based management structure exists in the form of Community Consultative Committee (CCC) but inactive and not related directly to dugong (Johor). Incentives: No incentives for conservation related efforts. Baseline in 2015 Establish the Dugong and Seagrass Technical Working Group of Johor State in 2016, National Technical Working Group on Dugong and Sea grass Conservation in June 2017 and Community Working Group of Sibu and Lawas. Dugongs and seagrass: maps/ data on distribution, threats, occurrence, abundancy. Policies: a proposed Dugong Sanctuary and associated Management Plan (Johor), Draft recommendations to 2 sectoral policies on integrating dugongs and seagrasses Communities: 10 communities participate in dugong hotspots management/ monitoring; Commencement of alternative livelihood programme for womenfolk in Sibu Island (Johor), Honorarium Ranger (Lawas) Incentives: 3 incentives models introduced in 2 communities, involving local women; draft model of a public subsidy for community-based management Progress by 2017 Policies: Review the NPOA of Dugong and Sea grass Conservation Organise national seminar on dugong and seagrass conservation, National workshop for preparing the new NPOA of Dugong and Seagrass Conservation. Working with State of Johor on Dugong Sanctuary and Management Plan. Dugong-seagrass: A national database on seagrass and dugong Communities: community participating in monitoring and management, field visit and transfer of knowledge to other successful CBM project. Incentives: Training on incentive programme (alternative livelihood) and capacity building to help increase income of 5 community members. Targets for 2018

Results from Dugong & Seagrass Research (Sibu-Tinggi, Johor) Methods – distributional aerial surveys, acoustic surveys, social science interviews, habitat contaminants study (Johor) Number of sites and total size in hectares of the research area for dugongs – 1060 km2 (Johor) Status of dugong population in the research area in 2015 and today – endangered (< 100 animals) Dugong hotspots in the Project research area – Sibu Archipelago & Tinggi Island (Johor) Top 3 threats to dugongs – entanglement in fishing gear (gillnets, illegal longlines), boat strikes, lack of habitat protection (Johor); 3 key dugong research results from the Project – visual and vocal hotspots identified (Sibu & Tinggi Islands), population < 100 animals, threats and habitat utilization identified (Johor) The MareCet Research Organization owns the data and shared as technical/progress reports with local authorities and GEF DSCP and eventually will be published in scientific journals (Johor) Research work to be carried out by the Project until 2018 and key research deliverables – development of systematic monitoring via UAV (Johor) Genetic research to look at population structure and genetic diversity of the population (Johor); Behavioural ecology research relating to behaviour of dugongs while in the hotspot, entrance and exit times (Johor) how protection has been/ is/ is to be insured

Results from Dugong & Seagrass Research (Sibu-Tinggi, Johor)

Results from Dugong & Seagrass Research (Lawas, Sarawak) Suitable methodology for seagrass and dugong surveys using drone were successfully developed and improved continuously throughout the project Determine the High Conservation Area of dugongs in Lawas by observing the spatial and temporal distribution patterns using drone in on-going Determine the spatial and temporal patterns of seagrass distribution and coverage is in progress Provided information on dugong and seagrass in Lawas to the Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources II in October 2017

Dugong Survey Results for 2017 (Jan, Mar, Jul & Oct) Sector (Refer Figure 2) A B C D Total No. of sightings 1 2 3 No. of individuals 4 5 Sector size(km2) 3.70 4.07 3.60 3.95 15.32 Replicate or flight mission 8 32 Total survey effort (hours) 8.0 9.6 8.8 34.4 Survey distance or route covered (km) 44.40 48.84 43.20 47.40 183.84 Average sighting rate (sighting/ hour or sighting /km) 0.00 or 0.00 0.10 or 0.02 0.25 or 0.05 0.00 or 0.00 0.09 or 0.02 Average density (individual/area) 0.25 1.11 0.33 Dugong sighting via drone Conducting Dugong grazing trail and seagrass obesvation

Dugong sighting locations (Jan, Mar, July & Oct 2017 Results from Dugong & Seagrass Research (Lawas, Sarawak) Dugong sighting locations (Jan, Mar, July & Oct 2017 Mean Percentage (%) of seagrass cover recorded at permanent sampling station sampling stations

Project Policy Response To Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Needs In MALAYSIA The most important policy needs of dugong & seagrass conservation identified in 2015; Establishment of National Technical Working Group on Dugong and their habitats Review the NPOA of Dugong and Their Habitats Key policy gaps to effective dugong & seagrass conservation identified by 2017 Organized the first meeting on the National Technical Working Group on Dugong and Their Habitats in June 2017. Establish working committee to review the NPOA of Dugong and Their Habitats in July 2017. Establish the Dugong Technical Working Committee of Johor State Follow up actions by the Project – operationalization of the Dugong Sanctuary Management Plan and lobby for gazette of the Sanctuary (Johor) How information generated by the Project has been used to inform decision-making in your country The National Technical Working Group on Dugong and their habitats had agreed to organize National Seminar on Dugong and Their Habitats in 2018. This is the platform for the project partner of GEF 5 to share the information to relevant stake holder for future direction on conserving dugong an its habitats

Project policy response to dugong & seagrass conservation needs in MALAYSIA How sustainability of the National Facilitating Committee developed under the Project will be ensured after the end of the project The National Facilitating Committee will become the members of National Technical Working Group on Dugong and Their Habitats Policy work under the Project until 2018, listing key policy-related deliverables Review the NPOA of Dugong and Their Habitats Review the Federal Law including to strengthening on the protection of Dugong and their habitats Co-management training among stakeholders.

Community-based stewardship of dugongs and their seagrass habitats (1) Communities identified to conduct community-based stewardship 5 resort communities and 1 kampung community identified in Sibu Island 3 resort communities and 2 kampung communities identified in Tinggi Island Based on preliminary results, 22 individuals out of 73 showed great interest in becoming conservation leaders 3 major seagrass sites identified for community management (2 in Pulau Sibu Western Pulau Sibu ; Area south of Pulau Sibu encompassing Sibu Tengah ), 1 in Pulau Tinggi (Southwest Pulau Tinggi in front of Kampung Tanjung Balang). Dugong sighted in all three sites Common threats project is trying to address : Boat disturbance, physical disturbance of seagrass. Expected result: Community based monitoring programme, alternative livelihood.

Education & Awareness About Dugongs And Seagrass: Sibu-Tinggi, Johor Target groups: local communities, resort operator, school children, fishermen, government agencies- federal & state. Educational and awareness activities are carried out either on a scheduled basis or on an ongoing : Education Programme with the Nature Club of Sibu Primary School; Beach Clean-up Programme; Exhibition and Marine Conservation Events; Coffee Shop Talk with the local communities of Sibu. The locals communities know about dugong and seagrass. Through the awareness program, its increase their interest in participating in the management and conservation activities.

Education & Awareness About Dugongs And Seagrass: Lawas, Sarawak Completed the Conservation Education Program for schools in Lawas District (75 students) Conducted the Honorary Wildlife Ranger (HWR) Training and 70 HWR were appointed in Lawas

Project indicator Year 2015 Year 2017 1. Total area of seagrass (key areas for dugongs) under improved conservation management 100 ha 3 seagrass sites 150 ha 4 seagrass sites 2. METT scores in targeted protected areas (MPAs, LMMAs, others) in national programmes 30 50 3. Use of gill nets (beach seines), fixed fish traps and other damaging methods) by fishermen (which result in incidental dugong mortality) reduced 70 persons using bad fishing gear 4 dead dugongs 60 persons using bad fishing gear 5 dead dugongs 4. Community engagement in management (CBM) for dugong conservation in selected priority target areas (LMMAs, other seagrass protection zones, co-management of MPAs) 0 community members trained 0 locals involved in management of LMMA 84 community members trained 5. Number of community-based conservation/ monitoring systems established and functioning for dugong and seagrass) in priority target areas 0 community-based conservation systems in 1 MPA 3 community committees in 1 MPA 6. Number and uptake of incentive mechanisms (ie. market-based, social, cultural, religious) and management tools linking sustainable fishing practices and adoption of best practice (see also Indicator 3) 0 incentives 0 women participation 1 MPA of 5,000 ha 1 incentive opportunity identified 7. Availability and uptake of conservation management information (digital maps of dugong and seagrass distribution & status; ecosystem services valuation data; pilot studies – e.g. assessment of Blue Carbon potential) Map of dugong distribution covering 1,000 ha No seagrass data Maps and data of dugong seagrass across 2,000 ha Valuation of seagrass ecosystem services 8. Progress on implementation of national and regional Strategies/ Action Plans for dugong and seagrass conservation NPOA on Dugong and their habitats was produced in 2012 Review NPOA of Dugong and their habitats 9. Incorporation of dugong protection and dugong/ seagrass conservation in other sectors (e.g. fisheries, coastal zone management & regulations) Establishment of Marine Protected Area (MPA) Proposed to State and Federal Authority for gazzetting the Dugong Sanctuary Area at Sibu & Tinggi Islands

MALAYSIA - lessons learned What went well and why? Dugong and seagrass research generally been conducted successfully, with comprehensive results. Social science interviews completed successfully, better understanding of local stakeholders’ perceptions and intentions to participate in dugong and seagrass conservation. A field based staff has managed to integrate himself within the community, becoming the ‘bridge’ between community and authority. Local stakeholders are now more likely to get involved and willing to share opinions. What went wrong and why? Lack of communication between Project Partners. Overlap jurisdiction between Federal & State agencies on conserving dugong and seagrass. Overlap activities in Proposed Dugong Sanctuary How can we do better? Better and more frequent communication between all country project partners More frequent national facilitation meetings.

Next steps - Malaysia Continue with dugong and seagrass research (monitoring), development of marine education programmes for the schools, work with government agencies and local communities on the operationalization of the Dugong Sanctuary Management Plan (once gazetted) Co-management concept and training among stakeholder in managing LMMA including the Proposed Dugong Sanctuary. Alternative livelihood programme development on Sibu Island Support and assist on the Proposed Dugong Sanctuary, Johor. Strengthening the National Technical Working Group on dugong and seagrass Review the National Plan of Action of Dugong to strengthen the protection on Dugong and their habitats

TERIMA KASIH…