KUCHING: The People’s Vigilante Corps (Rela) can play an important role in environmental and wildlife protection and conservation alongside the state enforcement agency, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).

Environment Assistant Minister Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Zen said yesterday SFC would need all the assistance it could get from the people across the community in enforcing the Sarawak Wildlife Ordinance because of the vastness of the state.

“Just like mankind, plants and animals are God’s creations and they deserve to co-exist with us on earth.

“We also need to protect and conserve our plants and animals, especially those facing extinction so that they will continue to co-exist in the future,” he said when closing a two-day environmental awareness programme at Kampung Telaga Air, about 40 km from here.

SFC in collaboration with Rela Ranger Trainers of Kuching City North, Kampung Telaga Air Village Security and Development Committee and K-Bistari of Kampung Telaga Air organised the programme.

Dr Rauf said the people must realise that their lives were much intertwined with the environment they lived in and to destroy one’s living environment would be damaging to themselves at the end of the day.

Citing an example, he said the people should stop hunting ‘kluang’ or flying foxes because the animals were important pollination agents for durian trees.

“Your durian trees won’t bear fruits for you if you hunt down all the flying foxes,” he pointed out.

Dr Rauf also called on the villagers to plant more trees, particularly mangrove trees along the riverbanks as they could act as wave breakers.

“These trees also help to reduce soil erosion,” he said, adding that the natural barriers could replace man-made bunds that had been damaged.