Malaysia Biodiversity

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    1/15

    Highlights

    y 78 plant species found only in Malaysia are endangered and may require conservationmeasures.

    y Malaysia has protected over 23% of its territory, exceeding a global target of 10%.y Mangrove and inland swamp areas are priorities for additional protection.y Many centres of plant diversity are in need of conservation measures.y Malaysia shares all its ecofloristic zones and moist forest types, endangered species and

    their habitat with several neighbouring countries. This situation provides opportunitiesfor bilateral and multilateral biodiversity management strategies to be developed andimplemented at a regional scale.

    y Being party to many global and regional conventions, Malaysia might harmonize itsnational and regional conservation strategies and action plans to meet multiple objectives.

    y National investment in protected areas could be increased to approach the global average.

    mys

    Country Characteristics

    General

    Land area: 329,758 km2

    Population (1990): 17,566,982

    Per capita income (1992): US$ 3,275

    Comprising the three separate territories of Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia stretches over2,000 km from peninsular Malaysia to the northeastern end of the island ofBorneo. It sharesborders with Thailand, Indonesia and the enclave states of Singapore and Brunei. A centralmountain chain divides Malaya, separating fertile western plains from a narrow eastern coastalbelt. Sarawak and Sabah are characterized by swampy coastal plains rising to mountains on theborder with Indonesia. Since 1987, Malaysia has been experiencing average economic growthrates of 8% a year.

    Environmental concerns

    Logging is the overwhelming environmental concern of groups such as Sahab Alam Malaysia(Friends of the Earth, Malaysia). Unprocessed log exports from Sarawak have risen from 6.7million cubic metres in 1980 to 15.8 million cubic metres in 1991. World Bank estimates suggestthat trees are being cut down at four times the sustainable rate. Indigenous forest communitiessuch as the Pernan are being destroyed and some species of wood such as Ramin are nearextinction. In 1992, the state of Sarawak began to take action to diversify the economy. There isgreat pressure to maintain economic growth, however, and the profits from logging are attractive.

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    2/15

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    3/15

    Amphibians 57 0 0

    Higher plants Ferns 93 10 0

    Gymnosperms 16 12 0

    Dicots/Monocots 1,926 381 78

    Total 2,199 404 78

    Conserving centres of restricted-range birds and plant diversity

    Two centres of restricted-range birds are in urgent need of conservation measures. Severalcentres of plant diversity are at risk and require protection.

    Centres of plant diversity entirely within Malaysia

    Centres of plant

    diversityLocation Assessment: Critical > Urgent > High

    Endau-Rompin StateParks

    Malaysia(PeninsularMalaysia)

    Protection needs strengthening; at risk

    Limestone flora ofPeninsular Malaysia

    Malaysia(PeninsularMalaysia)

    Many outcrops severely threatened, some atrisk, a few safe

    Montane flora ofPeninsular Malaysia

    Malaysia(PeninsularMalaysia)

    Most areas outside National Park are severelythreatened

    Palau Tioman

    Malaysia

    (PeninsularMalaysia)

    Threatened; protected status not enforced

    Taman NegarMalaysia(PeninsularMalaysia)

    Safe at present, but frequently threatened

    Trengganu HillsMalaysia(PeninsularMalaysia)

    At risk

    East Sabah lowland/hillsipterocarp forests

    Malaysia (Sabah)Threatened, some areas seriously threatened;protection of reserves needs strengthening

    Kinabalu Park Malaysia (Sabah) Boundaries strengthened

    North-east Borneoultramafic flora

    Malaysia (Sabah)Inadequate coverage of protected areas;threatened

    Lambir Hills Malaysia (Sarawak) Encroachment around boundaries; threatened

    Distribution of ecofloristic zones

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    4/15

    These are zones ofpotential vegetation. Six ecofloristic zones lie within Malaysia's territory.

    Ecofloristic zones in Malaysia

    Key to legend:

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    5/15

    mangrove, swamp, lowland evergreen & hill forests, 126,444km sqmontane forests (1,000->1,600m), 5,586km squpper dipterocarp & montane oak forests, 341km sqmoist evergreen mixed & dipterocarp forests,

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    6/15

    Protected areas

    Currently 23.7% of Malaysia lies within protected areas.

    Conserving ecofloristic zones

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    7/15

    The mangrove, swamp lowland evergreen and hill forests zone requires greater protection.

    Ecofloristic zone protection in Malaysia

    Malaysia, insular

    Malaysia, peninsular

    Conserving moist forests

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    8/15

    Mangrove, inland swamp and lowland rain forestin peninsular Malaysia require greater levels ofprotection.

    Moist forest protection in Malaysia

    Malaysia, insular

    Malaysia, peninsular

    mys

    Opportunities for International Cooperation

    Conserving endangered species

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    9/15

    Malaysia shares a number of endangered species with neighbouring countries. These speciesmay provide opportunities to focus bilateral or multilateral conservation strategies.

    Endangered species shared between Malaysia and 1-5 countries

    Higher speciesgroup

    Endangered species Countries sharing species

    Mammals Pongo pygmaeus Brunei

    Cynogale bennettiiBrunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, VietNam

    Tapirus indicus Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam

    Reptiles Tomistoma schlgelii Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand

    Callagur borneoensis Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand

    PlantsDendrobium

    lavidulumSingapore

    Dendrobium flexile Singapore

    Eria pudica Singapore

    Oberonia fabellata Singapore

    Shorea richetia Indonesia (Kalimantan)

    Shorea induplicata Indonesia (Kalimantan)

    Nenga gajak Indonesia (Sumatra)

    Pinanga adangensis Thailand

    Conserving centres of restricted-range birds and plant diversity

    These areas, shared exclusively with Indonesia, are subject to many threats. Developing andimplementing multilateral biodiversity conservation strategies with Indonesia, is required.

    Centres of restricted-range birds and plant diversity shared between Malaysia and

    neighbouring countries

    Centres of restricted-range

    birdsLocation

    Priority for conservation: Critical >

    Urgent > High

    Bornean mountains Malaysia,Indonesia

    Critical

    Sumatra and Peninsular MalaysiaMalaysia,Indonesia

    Urgent

    Centres ofPlant Diversity Location Assessment

    Lanjak - Entimau WS, Batang AiNP, Gunung Bentuang dan

    Malaysia/Indonesia Boundaries and lower slopes at risk

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    10/15

    Karimun

    Limestone flora ofBorneo Malaysia/IndonesiaSome major areas safe, some relativelysafe but unprotected, most othersthreatened

    Conserving ecofloristic zones

    The ecofloristic zones found in Malaysia are also found extensively in neighbouring countries.Malaysia might coordinate the development and implementation of ecosystem level conservationstrategies with these countries (see charts over the page).

    Conserving moist forests

    Several moist forest types are regionally extensive in South-East Asia. These countries could bepartners for sharing biodiversity conservation strategies (see charts over the page).

    Transboundary protected areas

    Protected areas that meet at international borders present opportunities for more effectiveprotection and management of ecosystems and species. These protected areas pairs oftenconserve larger contiguous portions of ecosystems than normally possible within nationalborders thereby securing more habitat for species, especially those requiring large ranges.Ecosystem components such as lakes, rivers and mountains, which often define internationalborders, can be managed and conserved more effectively. Transboundary protected areas canprovide opportunities for neighbouring countries to share knowledge and experience inecosystem approaches to management. The establishment of formal management agreementscentred on biodiversity conservation is one option.

    Examples of transboundary protected areas in Malaysia

    Transboundary protected

    areasCountries

    sharingType of area

    IUCN

    categorySize

    (hectares)

    Lanjak EntimauGunung Bentuang

    MalaysiaIndonesia

    WildlifeSanctuaryNature Reserve

    IV 168758

    International Conventions

    Malaysia is party to many global conventions and regional treaties/conventions that contribute tothe conservation of species and ecosystems, including the Convention on Biological Diversity.By fully meeting its obligations under these agreements, Malaysia's biodiversity will be moreassured. Harmonizing national and regional conservation strategies and action plans that meetthe objectives of several conventions is one strategy (see table two pages on).

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    11/15

    Distribution of Malaysia's ecofloristic zones in South-East Asia(only zones which occupy more than a 10% of Malaysia are shown)

    Malaysia, insular

    Malaysia, peninsular

    Distribution of Malaysia's moist forest types in South-East Asia

    Malaysia, insular

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    12/15

    Malaysia, peninsular

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    13/15

    Multilateral conventions and treaties involving Malaysia

    Global Conventions YearStatus

    Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, Rio) 1992 P

    International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA, Geneva) 1983 P

    United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, Montego Bay) 1982 S

    Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES, Washington)

    1973 P

    Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage(WHC, Paris)

    1972 P

    Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as WaterfowlHabitat (Wetlands, Ramsar)

    1971 D

    Convention on the High Seas (High Seas, Geneva) 1958 P

    Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas(Liv. Res. High Seas, Geneva)

    1958 P

    International Plant Protection Convention (Plant, Rome) 1951 P

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    14/15

    Regional Treaties YearStatus

    ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation ofNature and Natural Resources(ASEAN Agt., Kuala Lumpur)

    1985 S

    Agreement Establishing the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAsian Fish, Bangkok)

    1967 P

    Amendment to the International Plant Protection Convention (Plant, Rome) 1967 P

    International Plant Protection Convention (Plant, Rome) 1956 P

    Notes: D - terminated; P - State is a party to treaty (where treaty is not yet in force, the State hasexpressed its consent to become a party); S - signature only.

    mys

    Investment in Conservation

    National investment

    Malaysia has a high percentage of its land area in protected categories. The

    national investment in protected areas is about average for the region but only 12% of the globalaverage.

    International investment

    Official Development Assistance figures show that Malaysia received 0.18% of the totalassistance given by major donor countries/agencies. The region of Oceania received 15% of theworld total. The proportion directed to biodiversity conservation is unknown.

    In general, countries with high biodiversity receive relatively low levels of domestic investmentand little foreign aid.

    Investment in Conservation

    Investment in

    ConservationAmount Regional/global context

    Area protected23.7% of ecofloristiczones protected

    Regional average is 3.6% land area protected forSouth and South-East Asia and 9.0% for InsularSouth-East Asia; global average is 5%

    National investment(1991)

    US$55.33 per km2, for2,790 national percapita income

    Global average is US$ 447/km2. Regionalaverage is US$58 per km2

    Staffing levels for No information The global average is 15.7 persons per 1,000

  • 8/8/2019 Malaysia Biodiversity

    15/15

    protected areas(1993)

    km2. The regional average is 17.6 persons per1,000 km2

    Official developmentassistance (1993)

    Malaysia received US$101 million

    Total ODA assistance was US$ 56.3 billion. FarEast Asia received US$ 8,582 million

    http://life.nthu.edu.tw/~d868210/jpg/hwk2/content.html