YESTERDAY was International Day for Biological Diversity — a day to celebrate the diversity of life on Earth. We are part of this amazing, intricate yet fragile web of life that makes this planet our home and to some six to 10 million other species.
In September this year, the world community will adopt a new set of development goals known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are envisaged to deflect the global development trajectory to a more sustainable pathway, while taking into account elements of wellbeing and inclusive growth. These goals will be based on a different set of responsibilities among developed and developing countries.
Whatever the outcome of the SDGs, Malaysia is in an interesting position as we will soon be embracing developed-nation status, as mentioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when tabling the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).
The six main thrusts of the 11MP is much welcomed as they embrace a balanced development agenda that gives equal emphasis to economic growth, protection of the environment and the people’s wellbeing.
Having green growth as one of the key thrust areas is crucial for our country, which is blessed with amazing biodiversity. It is our expectation that this green growth pathway will emphasise on conserving and sustainably utilising our rich biodiversity, which is an important element in the country’s development.
The recent announcement that the Sumatran Rhino is extinct in the wild in Sabah, and the drop in the Malayan Tiger numbers to an average of 300 in the wild, as well as the loss of almost 90 per cent of Malaysia’s demersal fish stock, reflects a trend of biodiversity decline.
If we do not arrest this rapid decline, our development agenda will not be sustainable in the long run as biodiversity provides a crucial ecosystem and provisioning services, as well as cultural and aesthetics that are vital to the development, wellbeing and identity of this nation.
Examples of these services are providing clean water, pollination services, flood mitigation, soil enrichment, climate regulation, natural products, medicine, and ecotourism and recreational opportunities.
The 11MP has put forward a solid framework to enable Malaysia to grow in a sustainable manner and the implementation should have clear programmes to arrest the decline of biodiversity.
This focus will also enable Malaysia to meet its international commitments under the Global Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which are to be met by 2020. These targets are set forth by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which Malaysia and 195 countries are parties.
Among the 20 global biodiversity targets that need urgent action is having more terrestrial and marine protected areas, which are seen as the cornerstone for biodiversity conservation. The target is to have 17 per cent terrestrial and 10 per cent coastal and marine protected area.
Malaysia has about 10 per cent terrestrial protected areas and less than two per cent marine protected area. In the next five years, we need to devote much effort in achieving this, and 11MP has the right policy direction that can facilitate the achievement of these targets.
The 11MP will be the opportune time to start incorporating these values and to allow Malaysia to embrace a holistic development
indicator, which is not just based on economics but also factors in environment and social parameters.
To facilitate these actions, we need to encourage stronger science-policy interaction on biodiversity management, such as investing in basic sciences research and capacity building.
We, too, need to place importance on awareness to enable Malaysians to internalise appreciation for our rich biodiversity, which is vital as it is not only part of our life but also our heritage and future.
In keeping to our commitment for balanced growth, we have made bold pledges at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference. Among others, committing to keep 50 per cent of our nation’s land under forest cover in perpetuity.
This pledge, as well as the promising 11th Malaysian Plan, complemented with the right implementation actions as well as us, the rakyat, doing our part, will give the right impetus to enable the mainstreaming of biodiversity into all aspects of our sustainable development agenda towards transforming Malaysia into a holistically developed nation.
N.K. Arasu, Broga, Selangor