Malaysia’s seven Ramsar sites reflect the strong commitment of local communities and stakeholders to conserving the nation’s wetland ecosystems.
“Malaysia is fortunate to possess a rich and diverse wetland ecosystem covering more than 5.19 million hectares,” said Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup recently, as reported by NST online.
Malaysia’s seven Ramsar sites are Tasek Bera in Pahang, which was designated in 1994; Tanjung Piai, Pulau Kukup and Sungai Pulai in Johor (designated in 2003); Kuching Wetlands National Park in Sarawak (designated in 2005); and Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands and Kota Kinabalu Wetlands in Sabah designated in 2008 and 2016, respectively).
He said wetland ecosystems held high conservation value, providing economic benefits through natural resources and tourism, while delivering 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, he said Malaysia acceded to the Convention on Wetlands, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1994.
He added that the convention, established in 1971, was the world’s oldest modern multilateral environmental agreement and had 172 contracting parties.
“As of last year, 2,546 wetlands of international importance, known as Ramsar sites, had been designated worldwide.”
Arthur said this year’s World Wetlands Day theme of “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage” highlighted the close relationship between wetlands and cultural practices, traditions and knowledge systems of local communities.
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