Mersing: The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan), is hosting the inaugural National Symposium on Asian Elephant Conservation and Management. The three-day symposium, taking place at Felda Residence Tanjung Leman, Mersing, Johor, from today until Tuesday, serves as a national platform to promote a modern, data-driven and landscape-integrated approach to elephant management.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the symposium, themed ‘Kehidupan Bersama’, highlights Malaysia’s ability to integrate development priorities with biodiversity sustainability. This is in line with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan 2023-2030 (NECAP 2.0) and the country’s commitments under the Siem Reap Declaration for Asian Elephant Conservation 2025.
MPOGCF stated that the event reflects Malaysia’s commitment to further enhancing conservation efforts, including strengthening ecological corridor networks, adopting advanced monitoring technologies, and implementing large-scale spatial planning. The symposium involves biologists, landscape managers, policymakers, industry players, and the research community, aiming to position Malaysia as a regional reference for sustainable, scientific, and multi-stakeholder management of Asian elephants.
According to MPOGCF, the symposium is bringing together 100 participants, including representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, and the palm oil industry. A total of 20 working papers will be presented by experts and researchers from MPOGCF, Perhilitan, the Department of Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), as well as by palm oil industry players and NGOs.
Discussions at the symposium cover three key areas: Habitat, Corridor, Connectivity and Landscape Management Strategies for Elephant Conservation; Use of Technology in Elephant Conflict Management; and Best Management Practices.
Meanwhile, Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim stated that the symposium was a starting point for closer cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure the survival of the Asian elephant population and maintain ecological balance in Malaysian forests.
MPOGCF general manager Hairulazim Mahmud emphasized the foundation’s commitment to serving as a bridge between the industry and government in carrying out high-impact conservation projects nationwide. He noted that the collaboration between Perhilitan’s technical expertise and industry support through MPOGCF opens a new chapter in the country’s conservation landscape, particularly in mitigating elephant conflicts in oil palm plantation areas and educating communities to balance human and wildlife needs.