|
PUTRAJAYA: The deputy prime minister has called to heighten joint enforcement initiatives among state governments, the Wildlife Department and Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department to curb encroachment and poaching. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this was one of the many steps needed to ensure the sound management and conservation of biodiversity.
Effective measures would enable Malaysia to enjoy its rich biodiversity as a new source of wealth, he said in a statement yesterday after chairing the sixth National Biodiversity-Biotechnology Council, now renamed the National Biodiversity Council.
He said the council had agreed to expand the National Biodiversity Integrated Spatial Data Base Development Project to the whole peninsula (Phase 1) as well as pilot areas in Sabah and Sarawak (Phase 2).
The project, which uses remote sensing technology and geographical information system, would be a more effective way of creating a balance between biodiversity conversation and development.
"The council is also taking note of efforts by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in keeping an inventory of the country's biodiversity wealth. It is crucial for us to know our biodiversity and the need for conservation to use it as a driver of new wealth," he said.
The council also adopted the paper Common Vision on Biodiversity aimed at driving biodiversity into the mainstream of the country's development.
This, he said, would require all sectors and activities related to biodiversity to take into account sustainable management, conservation and utilisation of biodiversity.
A National Biodiversity Centre would be set up in line with the National Diversity Biology policy, which is aimed at strengthening the institutional framework for the management of biology diversity.
The issue of Malayan tigers, which are fast dwindling in numbers, was also touched on at the meeting attended by several ministers, menteris besar and chief ministers.
The council adopted the National Tigers Action Plan (NTAP), an integrated approach for the management and conservation of the Malayan tiger in its natural habitats.
The plan, Muhyiddin said, was to save the rare species from extinction as they now numbered about 500, from 3,000 in the 1950s.
The NTAP, among others, would focus on the conservation of tigers in-situ at conservation sites.
"Through this action plan, the management of the tigers' habitat could be strengthened by increasing the wildlife corridor network and protection areas." With the plan in place, Muhyiddin said the council expected the number of Malayan tigers to increase to 1,000 by next year. Source: New Straits Times
|
