Cheruk Tokun: The National Conservation Trust Fund (NCTF) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) has allocated RM22.59 million to fund 117 conservation projects.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced that 72 projects are currently in the implementation phase with a funding commitment of RM6.59 million, while 35 projects have been completed with an allocation of RM14.2 million.
One of the completed initiatives is the Conservation of Seladang in the Royal Belum State Park – Temenggor Forest Reserve Complex, carried out by the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA) in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan). This project was presented to the Second National Biodiversity Council, which acknowledged the Seladang as an endangered species of national importance. A Seladang Conservation Management Plan is set to be developed to stabilize its population, as highlighted in a speech by Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan on behalf of the minister at the Biology Exploration Workshop (Avian) with the Seberang Perai Community.
The workshop was a collaborative effort between Think City, Nature Sustainable Ecosystem Society (NEST), and the Seberang Perai City Council, focusing on sustainable urban planning and community involvement. Minister Nik Nazmi further elaborated on findings from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Perhilitan, which identified the extinct green peafowl and endangered species such as the Malayan crested argus and the mountain peacock-pheasant. Contributing factors to these threats include habitat loss, illegal trade, and hunting.
Malaysia is home to 814 bird species, with a significant number found in the Peninsula and Borneo. Birds are crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance and serve as indicators of environmental health. Avian coordinator Dr Siti Norasikin Ismail stated that NEST’s collaboration with the Shorebird Peninsular Malaysia Project has boosted interest in birdwatching activities. NEST is undertaking a study to document forest birds in key locations in Seberang Perai, aiming to raise awareness and foster community involvement in conservation efforts.
The two-day workshop aimed to engage the local community in birdwatching activities, encouraging a deeper appreciation for biodiversity and conservation. Participants were divided into groups for field activities to identify bird species, furthering efforts to preserve the natural ecosystem and promote Seberang Perai as a destination for birdwatching and environmental activities.