KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is committed to taking a proactive role in biodiversity conservation and preservation of natural heritage for future generations, said Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
He said that Malaysia, as one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, with 20% of all animal species of the world, forests that are more than 100 million years old, and being part of the Coral Triangle, is committed to managing its biodiversity sustainably.
He added that Malaysia was one of the first parties to integrate the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) into its National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) for 2022-2030.
"For Malaysia, sustainability is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort. We are determined to implement our NBSAP effectively, by conducting baseline studies, developing a national monitoring system to measure progress, and establishing a centre of excellence for biodiversity.
"We actively collaborate with the private sector to mainstream biodiversity at both national and global levels, with support from the Malaysia Platform for Business and Biodiversity,” he said.
He was delivering Malaysia’s statement at the High-Level Segment of the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16) in Cali, Colombia, on Tuesday (Oct 29).
In his speech, Nik Nazmi also noted that Malaysia had just launched its National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) 2.0, a roadmap for Malaysia’s climate and biodiversity goals, on Sept 30 in Putrajaya.
Nik Nazmi also said that Malaysia recognises the country’s indigenous and local communities as custodians of biodiversity and partners in conservation, through the appointment of community rangers to protect wildlife and forests.
"Their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices are being documented and protected through the Access-Benefit Sharing Framework,” he said, adding that the world needs to continue efforts to strengthen their participation at the global level.
While acknowledging the support Malaysia has received from global biodiversity funds for the full implementation of the NBSAP, Nik Nazmi emphasised the need for more sufficient and accessible financial resources to further support its implementation.
"Also pressing is the necessary capacity and technology transfer, in accordance with the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR). These questions must be addressed, urgently and equitably, as our flora and fauna wait for no one. Our children’s survival waits for no one. We cannot delay any longer,” he said. - Bernama
