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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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