UNDP Conserving Malaysia’s Parks

Almost two years into its implementation, the Marine Parks Project funded by the Government of Malaysia, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) is well on its course to conserve the three islands chosen under this initiative.

The islands are Pulau Redang (Terengganu), Pulau Tioman (Pahang) and Pulau Sibu-Tinggi (Johor).

According the national project manager for UNDP’s Marine Parks Project, Ramzi Abu, the five-year project began in 2007 and the planning itself took about six years.

“Actually the project is called Conserving Marine Biodiversity Through Enhanced Marine Park Management and Inclusive Sustainable Island Development and UNDP is the project manager.

“Normally, UNDP projects are funded by the World Bank but because this marine parks project falls under biodiversity and involves environment, we received funds (US$2 million) from Global Environment Facilities (GEF)”, he told Bernama in an interview here recently.

GEF is a global partnership among 178 countries, international institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.

MARINE PARK PROJECT

Marine Park is a sea-zoned area of two nautical miles from the lowest sea level during low tide and is established to protect and conserve various marine habitat and aquatic life.

The project is to assist the Malaysian Government to integrate development planning with effective conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, resources and ecosystems.

As the implementing agency for this project, the Malaysian Marine Parks Department (DMPM) would ensure improved marine resource conservation and management at the islands of Redang, Tioman and Sibu-Tinggi.

These three locations would be used as pilot sites where the management plan model and activities could be replicated to other marine parks in Malaysia.

The project’s goal is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity and sustainable island development in Malaysia.

This five years project targets 164,534.2 hectares of Malaysian sea (project sites only), for the conservation of marine bio-diversity.