Cintai Tioman is a 10-year programme designed to enhance the resilience of coral reefs and the community on Pulau Tioman. Reef Check Malaysia, with the help of Yayasan Sime Darby as a sponsor, aims to meet several objectives through the programme, including:

• Reducing local impacts on the reefs

• Building capacity of the local community and empowering them to take more significant roles in coral reef conservation and management

• IUCN Green List Accreditation for Tioman Island Marine Park

BOOSTING SAFETY & LEADERSHIP IN TIOMAN GUIDES

We organised a ‘Safe and Leadership’ course from 15-17 February, conducted by the Malaysia Nature Guide Association (MANAGA). This course is an extension of part I of the Basic Guide Course, which trains participants to be more confident in guiding and performing movements in a safe and correct order.

A total of 17 participants from Kampung Juara, Kampung Air Batang, Kampung Salang, Kampung Tekek and Kampung Mukut participated in this course, which was held in Kampung Juara.

Ghost Net Removals

Building awareness from young

After receiving numerous reports of ghost nets sightings, together with TMCG, the Department of Fisheries Pahang, dive shop operators, and the Tioman community, we have removed an estimated 1,000kg of ghost nets around Tioman Island.

The irresponsible behavior of some parties who throw nets that are no longer in use into the sea leaves these nets drifting and causing harm to marine life. Several turtles have died from being caught in these nets, also known as drift nets.

In January, our team brought the students from Tabika Kemas Kampung Tekek and kids from Kampung Juara to visit the habitat of the Flying Fox (Pteropus Hypomelanus).

During the programme, we explained the importance of protecting and conserving the Flying Foxes and preventing opportunistic killings. We hope that this session can provide the younger children with knowledge of the importance of the ecosystems on Tioman Island.

Workshop on Responsible Tourism & Co-management

environmentally-friendly resorts/chalets on tioman

A workshop was organized for tourism industry players on Tioman Island to convey the role and responsibilities of tourism, the introduction of the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard, and the tourism market changes after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, we also held a meeting with all TMCG members in each village to explain the function of a marine park and conservation work on Tioman Island.

We recently conducted the Green Hotel assessments in several resorts on Tioman to evaluate the differences between the improvement suggestions made last year and the results of actions taken this year.

Ten additional resorts are now a part of this program, which aims to encourage resort and chalet operators to conduct business operations in an environmentally-friendly manner and save energy.