Malaysia: Malaysia is justifiably proud of its seven wetland sites that have been internationally recognised as Ramsar Sites, reflecting the strong commitment of local communities and stakeholders to conserving the nation's wetland ecosystems. Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup highlighted the importance of these sites in a recent statement.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the recognised sites include Tasek Bera in Pahang, designated in 1994; Tanjung Piai, Pulau Kukup, and Sungai Pulai in Johor in 2003; and Kuching Wetlands National Park in Sarawak in 2005. Sabah is also home to two Ramsar sites, namely the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands and Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, which were designated in 2008 and 2016, respectively.
'Malaysia is fortunate to possess a rich and diverse wetland ecosystem covering more than 5.19 million hectares,' Arthur mentioned in a Facebook post today, in conjunction with World Wetlands Day, observed on February 2 each year. He emphasized that wetland ecosystems hold high conservation value, offering economic benefits through natural resources and tourism, while also providing critical ecosystem services such as flood mitigation, water catchment, coastal protection, and carbon storage.
As a testament to the country's commitment to the conservation and wise use of wetlands, Arthur noted that Malaysia acceded to the Convention on Wetlands, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1994. The Ramsar Convention is the world's oldest modern multilateral environmental agreement, established in 1971, and currently has 172 Contracting Parties. 'As of 2025, a total of 2,546 wetlands of international importance, known as Ramsar sites, have been designated worldwide,' he added.
On the celebration of World Wetlands Day this year, Arthur stated that the theme 'Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage' was chosen to emphasize the close relationship between wetlands and the cultural practices, traditions, and knowledge systems of communities around the world. He assured that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), as Malaysia's national focal point for the Ramsar Convention, remains fully committed to supporting the efforts of state governments to conserve wetland ecosystems, in line with the goals and targets of the National Biodiversity Policy 2022-2030.