SHAH ALAM, Nov 21 — The government will continue to increase the number of community rangers to ensure no threats to forests and wildlife, said Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change (NRECC) Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
To date, the government has added 1,500 rangers, most of them from the Orang Asli community, Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans, and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
He added the effort was also to increase the enforcement of permanent forest reserves, including in Sabah and Sarawak, against encroachment.
“We know the pressure on our forests and animals is very high. (Recently) more and more (forest encroachment) has been happening, so in our efforts to stop this, we need to increase the number of rangers,” Nik Nazmi said.
He was speaking at the officiation of the Regional Conference on Forest Connectivity and Biodiversity Conservation at the Setia City Convention Centre (SCCC), Setia Alam, today.
Over 600 Orang Asli have been selected as community rangers, and the number is expected to increase.
“In addition, the involvement of military and police veterans is apt because they have expertise and extensive experience in the forest,” Nik Nazmi said.
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the NRECC’s focus during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, at the end of this month, he said the ministry would focus on energy transition.
“Malaysia, as a country which is ready for the energy transition in the region, will exhibit the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR).
“Apart from that, we will focus on issues related to losses due to natural disasters experienced by developing countries, including small islands,” Nik Nazmi said.
The conference is scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 12.
— Bernama
