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©The Sun
(Used by permission)
by Dr Dionysius Sharma
Malaysia is truly blessed. We have lush rainforests older than the Amazon and
magnificent coral reefs more diverse than the Great Barrier Reef.
Over the past 10 years, discoveries of new species have totalled 360 in Borneo
alone – an astonishing three discoveries a month – when other parts of the world
hardly have anything left. And the list goes on.
However, these can go in a blink, if we do nothing to conserve our environmental
heritage and treasure.
Fifty years from today, WWF-Malaysia would like to see:
• Marine conservation in the forefront of environmental work, seeing how both
the peninsula and east Malaysia are surrounded by seas.
All the states in Malaysia border rich seas and Malaysia actually has more sea
than land. All Malaysians should recognise that Malaysia is a country with some
of the highest marine biodiversity in the world.
We’d like to see Malaysia’s seas being managed for sustainable fisheries
production, including using measures such as gazetting protected areas that
cover adequate and representative habitats, ensuring clean water free from
pollution, and restoring populations of depleted fish and marine mammals
including dugongs.
WWF-Malaysia would also like to see the growing population of marine turtles
find suitable nesting, breeding, foraging, migrating and resting habitats in
Malaysia’s waters and beaches. In time, we hope to see the leatherback turtles
making a full comeback from the brink of extinction in Terengganu.
More protected forest areas established, as they are crucial for the
conservation of habitats, species and highly valuable natural resources.
They also provide ecological services such as watershed protection that ensures
clean freshwater supply, climate regulation and soil protection.
Subsequently, we hope by 2057, all commercial forestry is certified by
internationally-recognised standards.
>> Endangered species like tigers, rhinos and orang utans grow in population and
humans and wildlife co-exist in harmony. One of the many reasons these species
are nearly extinct is because they are hunted for trade – be it for medicine,
delicacy or simply for decorative ornaments.
Therefore, WWF-Malaysia hopes the illegal wildlife trade will come to a complete
halt and Malaysia ceases to be the regional hub for illegal wildlife trade.
>> Environmental Education (EE) would have been mainstreamed comprehensively and
holistically within our national education system. This means that:
(i) we have an EE Policy that takes cognisance of all the environmental
education related movements, such as Education for Sustainable Development, for
our national schools.
(ii) all school children will learn about the environment, and they will be
given the knowledge and skills on how to act in a responsible and caring way to
contribute towards sustaining the planet and its natural resources, as well as
reverting some of the serious environmental disasters we are currently
witnessing.
(iii) all our primary and secondary national school teachers are trained in a
systematic way to be environmental knowledge storehouses, and to implement
activities that can help develop environmentally-conscious youth.
(iv) the resources and infrastructure
required to mainstream EE is in place and there is coordination among all
relevant parties – the government, education agencies, schools, teachers, and
other EE practitioners.
>> Enough general awareness raised on conservation issues that each Malaysian
takes it upon himself or herself to practise sustainable habits at home, at work
and at play, for example, by recycling and reducing wasteful consumption.
Dr Dionysius Sharma, 43, is WWF-Malaysia executive director and CEO. A
respected wildlife expert, he joined the environmental group in 1990.
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