Putrajaya: The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) will organise the Biodiversity Forum 2026 (Bio-D Forum 2026) on June 3 and 4 at The Everly, Putrajaya, focusing on promoting collaboration to address human-wildlife conflicts within oil palm plantation landscapes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the biennial forum is co-organised with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and will be held under the theme 'Coexistence in Malaysian Oil Palm Plantation Landscapes'. MPOGCF's general manager, Hairulazim Mahmud, stated that the forum serves as a platform for biodiversity conservation efforts and strategic collaboration aimed at balancing economic development with environmental conservation.
Hairulazim Mahmud expressed hope that the forum will encourage more stakeholders to recognise the importance of coexistence for biodiversity conservation, income stability, and the sustainability of plantation operations. The forum aims to enhance understanding, dialogue, and collaboration among stakeholders, including industry players, policymakers, researchers, conservation experts, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations.
A total of 500 participants are expected to attend, either physically or virtually, to discuss topics such as human-wildlife coexistence, challenges in implementing coexistence initiatives, landscape connectivity, and biodiversity sustainability management.
According to MPOGCF, the forum underscores its commitment to advancing Malaysia's palm oil industry's sustainability agenda through science-based approaches, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and conservation initiatives that benefit both the environment and local communities. Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Mohamad, a Fellow of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), will deliver the keynote address on the first day, while Prestige Group trade advisor Muhammad Al-Shafieq Mustafah will deliver the keynote on the second day.
The event will feature 20 speakers from academia, government agencies, conservation organisations, and the plantation industry. Additionally, 30 project posters related to the forum's theme and topics will be exhibited and evaluated throughout the event.