Malaysia - Overview

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Malaysia is one of the world’s megadiverse countries. The flora of Malaysia is very rich and conservatively estimated to contain about 15,000 species of higher plants with over 1,100 species of ferns and fern allies, many of which are endemic. The fungi constitutes another important flora diversity, but the total number of species is not known... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Malaysia has already designated more than 5,000,000 hectares of its forested land as protected area which covers watershed protected areas, wildlife sanctuary, and totally protected forest areas accounting for 15.3% of its land area. This includes 23 terrestrial National and State Parks encompassing more than 850,000 hectares... More »

Percentage of Forest Cover

Forest cover in Malaysia is estimated to be 19.52 million hectares or 59.5% of the total land area.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The document contains 15 strategies and 87 actions. Its objective is to ensure that biodiversity in Malaysia will be conserved and utilized in a sustainable manner. Its vision is to transform Malaysia into a centre of excellence for conservation, research and sustainable use of tropical biodiversity by the year 2020. In addition to the NPB, Malaysia has also developed a number of sectoral policies and laws governing biodiversity, such as the National Forestry Policy, National Environment Policy, 3rd National Agriculture Policy, National Wetlands Policy, Forestry Act 1984, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, National Park Act 1980 and Fishery Act 1985... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Malaysia has already fulfilled the 2010 target requirement of conserving 10% of national biodiversity. In building our national inventory of flora and fauna, 9 expeditions were carried out under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001-2005) which will be further increased to 15 under the Ninth Plan (2006-1010). Endangered species are continually protected through research, captive breeding, in-situ conservation and awareness programs... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Malaysia attaches great importance to establishing protected areas for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. At least 7 out of the 87 actions listed in the NPB are related to protected areas. In recent years, there has been a positive response to declare state lands as national protected areas, resulting in an increase in the number of National Parks... More »

Initiatives in Access and Benefit Sharing

Malaysia is in the process of formulating federal legislation on access and benefit-sharing. Presently, the guidelines developed by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department require that an agreement be signed between the bioprospector and the collaborating Malaysian agency. The states of Sabah and Sarawak already have legal instruments in place, namely, Sabah Biodiversity Enactment 2000 and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre Ordinance 1997... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Documentation of the status and trends of traditional knowledge and practices for biodiversity conservation is an ongoing activity for the establishment of an inventory of traditional knowledge on the use of species and genetic diversity, and related to implementation of the National Policy on Biodiversity.

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Ms. Wan Hasmah Wan Mohd	CBD Primary NFP, SBSTTA NFP, ICNP ABS NFP
Mr. Kangayatkarasu Nagulendran	CBD Secondary NFP, SBSTTA NFP, ICNP ABS NFP
Dr. Leng Guan Saw	CHM NFP, GTI NFP
Mr. Burhanuddin Mohd Nor	Protected Areas NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Ms. Wan Hasmah Wan Mohd	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP
Mr. Johnny Anak Andrew	BCH NFP