Malaysia - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Malaysia is one of the world’s megadiverse countries. It is also ranked 12th in the world, according to the National Biodiversity Index, which is based on estimates of country richness and endemism in four terrestrial vertebrate classes and vascular plants.

Malaysia has undergone rapid economic development since independence which is attributed to the utilization of the country’s rich natural resources and development of human capital... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

Threats to biodiversity in Malaysia include threats to ecosystems and species, such as land development, pollution, poaching and collection, encroachment, climate change and invasive alien species. While invasive alien species affect all sectors, based on past records, the agriculture sector has been most seriously affected in this regard... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

The National Policy on Biological Diversity (1998) provides direction for the nation, consisting of 15 strategies and 87 action plans for implementing the Convention. To supplement actions in the Policy and better address emerging biodiversity and environmental issues, a National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environmental Management was completed in 2008... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Malaysia attaches great importance to establishing protected areas for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. At present, 10.6% of Malaysia’s land area has been designated as terrestrial protected areas. With regard to marine protected areas, in 2013, the Department of Marine Park Malaysia managed 248,613 hectares of marine protected areas, covering 42 islands in Peninsular Malaysia and federal territories that have been gazetted as marine parks... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

The mainstreaming of biodiversity considerations has occurred in various policies, strategies and action plans. Wildlife protection in Peninsular Malaysia is regulated by the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) while, in Sabah and Sarawak, the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and the Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 apply respectively... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation