KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): Gamuda Land, the property arm of Gamuda Bhd, signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with three higher educational institutions on Feb 3 for research on environment conservation. 

The signing was held in conjunction with the Wetlands Festival 2024, organised by the developer's Gamuda Parks initiative, at Gamuda Cove, Selangor, according to a press statement on Wednesday.

The three higher education institutions Gamuda Land signed MOUs with are International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

In the statement, Gamuda Land executive director Khariza Abd Khalid said, “Through these collaborative research partnerships, we are not only implementing adaptive management strategies that resonate across social, environmental and economic spheres. These have the potential to foster commercial ventures within the eco-tourism sector, further cementing our dedication to holistic sustainability and community enrichment.”

The statement also shared that Gamuda Parks will collaborate with IIUM on research and conservation studies focused on vulnerable forest tree species listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

With UPM, Gamuda Parks will be extending its facilities to the students from the faculty of design and architecture, where they will be able to experience industrial training and develop expertise through research on landscape architecture and sustainable waste management. Students will also get the opportunity to participate in GParks Youth programmes led by Gamuda Parks, encouraging youth participation in advocacy for climate change, it added.

Gamuda Parks and UTM will work together to connect academia and the industry through the sharing of space, materials, equipment, and facilities for teaching, learning and lifelong education. 

According to the statement, Gamuda Parks will bring industry-specific expertise to the table by serving as a key advisory panel and contributing insights from the perspective of the industry sector. This collaboration entails knowledge exchange where UTM students benefit from the practical, real-world applications generated through this academic-based partnership.

Gamuda Parks’ Wetlands Festival 2024, which ran from Feb 3 to 4 in conjunction with World Wetlands Day, garnered around 1,000 attendees. Among the festival’s activities were the Eco Glamping Competition and Nature Playscape Competition, both of which were conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia to foster creativity and innovation in structural design incorporating natural elements and sustainable concepts. 

Attendees also had the opportunity to engage with indigenous communities during the Orang Asli Workshop and learn about their traditional art and crafts, as well as support local artisans through the selling of indigenous art and crafts merchandise. The GParks Ranger Environmental Workshop was conducted to empower young kids with the knowledge and skills to become stewards of the environment, while the Arboretum Gallery Tour took visitors on a journey through an interactive gallery showcasing the biodiversity of the Wetlands Arboretum.