PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 — The National Biodiversity Council (NBC) must be further empowered as the primary platform to strengthen policies and strategies for biodiversity conservation nationally, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
For one, the proposed establishment of the Malaysia Biodiversity Centre (MBC) as a national centre of excellence for biodiversity would complement biodiversity management initiatives at the state level and make the establishment of the Malaysian Natural History Museum a reality.
“Apart from that, the participation of Orang Asli or Orang Asal as well as local communities in environmental conservation and preservation activities, including through appropriate social forestry programmes, should be given attention,” he said.
Anwar was speaking at the opening of the National Biodiversity Conference and launch of the National Biodiversity Policy (DKBK) 2022-2030 today.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad read out his speech.
Efforts to improve biodiversity management are challenging because it falls under the jurisdiction of the states and is a sector that crosses various domains.
“Hence, to strengthen and enliven the biodiversity conservation agenda in the country, several initiatives have been taken at various levels, like setting up the National Tiger Conservation Task Force (MyTTF) by NRECC, the Pahang Biodiversity Council, the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, and the Sabah Biodiversity Centre,” he said.
Anwar also suggested that state governments develop biodiversity plans aligned with the DKBK 2022-2030.
The sincerity of private companies, corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations, and individuals in assisting the Federal and state governments in strengthening biodiversity conservation and preservation efforts was very much welcomed.
The newly-launched DKBK 2022-2030 is the result of a review of the 2016-2025 DKBK, which considers current national needs and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework based on the country’s conditions, priorities, and capabilities.
As a government concerned with biodiversity conservation, Anwar said transformative steps have also been taken, as announced in Budget 2024, to strengthen efforts to combat encroachment, illegal logging, and wildlife poaching.
Among those announced was the increased allocation for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation to RM200 million next year from RM150 million this year to empower state governments in preserving and gazetting protected areas.
Malaysia is committed to maintaining at least 50 per cent forest cover of its land mass. At present, it has a forested area measuring 18,045,600 hectares, which is 54.58 per cent of the country’s land mass.
“Based on reports by the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch and the University of Maryland on deforestation, Malaysia has managed to maintain the lowest rate of loss of primary forests.
“Overall, Malaysia reduced deforestation of primary forests by 57 per cent in 2022, placing Malaysia fourth among the top 10 countries in reducing deforestation of primary forests in 2022,” he said.
In his speech, Anwar also announced he will attend the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai from December 1 to December 2, coinciding with the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP28).
The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver a national statement to voice Malaysia’s views and efforts in addressing climate change issues, especially those directly related to forest management.
— Bernama
