Ridzwan Abdul Rahman

School of Bioprocess Engineering

Universiti Malaysia Perlis

NATIONAL SEMINAR ON STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY OF THE ISLANDS AND

COASTAL WATERS OF MALAYSIA

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Conservation of Marine Biological Diversity

LET’S RECALL SOME OF OUR COMMITMENTS ON

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

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Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

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a contribution to poverty alleviation &

to the benefit of all life on earth

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`COUNTDOWN 2010’

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increase awareness on the importance of biodiversity to life on this planet

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BACKDROP Coral reef conditions continue to decline,

Fishing beyond MSY levels,

Ecological states and ecosystem functions and services affected by the use of destructive fishing practices in some areas ,

Livelihood of coral reef dependent populations affected by illegal, unreported & unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“Unregulated” coastal economic development

Global Climate Change

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Climate Change & Coral Reefs

Leading scientists and managers agree :-

• Global climate change is greatest threat to world’s coral reefs

• Ocean warming, increasing ocean acidification, more intense tropical storms;

• Plus over-fishing, pollution, sedimentation & coastal development

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• Means coral reefs are seriously threatened

CORAL TRIANGLE INITIATIVE LEADERS DECLARATION ON CORAL REEF, FISHERIES AND FOOD SECURITY, MANADO, 15TH MAY 2009

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CORAL TRIANGLE

THE CORAL TRIANGLE

1.6 billion acres - an area half the size of the USA

nursery of the seas

the world’s richest garden of corals and sea life

sustains 120 million people and feed millions more worldwide.

generates us$12 billion from nature-based tourism

3000 species of fish

500 species of corals - 75% of all known coral species

worldwildlife.org/coraltriangle/

CTI-CFF Goals. 1. Priority seascapes designated and effectively

managed;

2. Ecosystem approach to management of fisheries (EAFM) and other marine resources fully applied;

3. Marine protected areas (MPAs) established and effectively managed;

4. Climate change adaptation (CCA) measures

5. achieved; and

6. Status of threatened species improving. 14

CAN THE 5 GOALS OF CTI-CFF BE ACHIEVED THROUGH OUR MPAs?

12/20/2012 Inaugeral Lecture 15

MPAs in Malaysia

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No. Marine Protected

Areas

Gazettes No. of MPAs

1 Peninsular Malaysia Marine Parks Order of

1994 of the Fisheries Act 42

2 Sarawak The National Park and

Reserve Ordinance. 3

3 Sabah Sabah Parks Enactment,

1984 (amended 2002). 5

Total 50

Aprrox 1.5% of the marine area are protected as MPAs

Proposed Tun Mustapha Park

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MARINE PARKS MALAYSIA

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PAST PRESENT FUTURE

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MARINE PARKS Marine Parks is a protected area of sea zoned two

nautical miles from the shore at lowest low tide.

Boundaries of a marine park

MARINE PARKS MALAYSIA 1. Afford special protection to aquatic fauna and flora, to

preserve and manage the natural breeding grounds and

habitat of aquatic life, with particular regard to rare or

endangered species;

2. Allow natural regeneration where depletion has occurred;

3. Promote scientific study and research;

4. Preserve and enhance undamaged system and productivity

of the environment;

5. Regulate recreational and other activities in order to avoid

irreversible, damage to the environment, and

6. Improve the socio-economic conditions of the community in the MPA

"National Marine Parks Malaysia – policy and concept

History of Marine Parks in Peninsular Malaysia

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Provision for establishment of Fisheries Prohibited Ares in (Fisheries Act 1963

Provision for establishment of Marine Parks in Fisheries Act 1985

Most of FPAs were gazetted as Marine Parks in 1994.

2004 Marine Parks Section of DoF (Ministry of Agriculture) was moved to Ministry of NRE

2006 Dept of Marine Parks Malaysia was established in NRE

CORAL TRIANGLE INITIATIVE

MPAs MPA

NETWORK CTMPAS

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Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System

(CTMPAS)

A comprehensive, ecologically representative, and well-managed region-wide Coral Triangle MPA System

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CTMPAS

Is made up of prioritized individual MPAs and networks of MPAs that are connected, resilient, and sustainably financed.

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Over Arching Goals of CTMPAS

Designed to generate significant income, livelihoods, and food security benefits for coastal communities and conserve the region’s rich biological diversity.

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The ultimate target is that a significant percentage of the total area of each major nearshore habitat type within the CT region will be in some form of designated protected status.

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Over Arching Goals of CTMPAS

The aim is for 20% of each major marine and coastal habitat type to be strictly protected.

“No-take replenishment zones” to ensure long-term, sustainable supplies of fish.

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Over Arching Goals of CTMPAS

A more effective management and sustainable trade in live-reef fish and reef-based ornamentals by 2015.

No more decline in populations of sharks, sea turtles, marine mammals, corals, sea grasses, mangroves, and other threatened marine species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species or listed under the Convention on the Illegal Trade of Endangered Species (CITES),.

Followed by a clear trend towards an improved status by 2020.

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Over Arching Goals of CTMPAS

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SSME-1

SSME-2

SSME-3

MALAYSIAN SSME • Area: 29,000 km2 – 5% SSME area (600,000 km2) • 3 sub zones

MALAYSIAN CTMPAS

SSME-1: 7,500 km2 (26% SSME) SC Balabac Straits, South China Sea & Sulu Sea

SSME-2: 9,600 km2 (33% SSME) TIPHA – Selingan Group of Islands, Sulu Sea

SSME-3: 11,800 km2 (41% SSME) SC Sibutu Channel, Sulawesi Sea

MALAYSIAN SSME – small in area but significant to fisheries & species conservation

Are we going to be just as observer?

Attending meetings and workshops?

Deliberating on regional strategies and action plans?

Participating in short-term foreign funded programs in capacity building and knowledge transfer?

Are we embarking on an integrated research to gather necessary information for managing our marine ecosystem in the CT?

Malaysian universities: our roles in CTI-CFF

CONSTRAINTS

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Enabling legal/policy framework;

Adequate institutional framework and capacity;

Enabling planning framework;

Potentially supportive communities, sectors, governments;

Adequate knowledge generation and flow; and

Potential to generate sustainable funding.

STRATEGY Looking into a more systematic effort to

construct the governance system

Creating an enabling framework of laws, regulations, policies and plans, which facilitates conservation and minimizes threats

Placing a greater emphasis on the economics of MPAs, because their sustainability depends in part on making it part of the economic efforts of the CTMPAS

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Putting a concerted effort towards defining sustainable financing mechanisms

Improving system of monitoring (ecological and socio-economics, governance) of management effectiveness and results

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STRATEGY

STRATEGY

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Focusing on private sector interests, needs and financial support

Ensuring adequate institutional framework and capacity, including personnel, infrastructure and equipment, to bring both authorities and participating stakeholders to work together

Increasing attention to coastal community interests and needs;

Ensuring effective science and increased use of science in management decision-making;

Generating monitoring data and use the knowledge gained to guide and adapt policies and practices;

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STRATEGY

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Increase attention to capacity-building and communication

Use consultative processes to identify stakeholders, their interests, and to garner support

Empower the stakeholders through trainings and interaction

Paying increased attention to emerging threats such as climate change.

STRATEGY

Harmonizing existing legislations, overlapping jurisdictions and governance

Alternative livelihoods to reduce pressure on marine resources and ecosystems.

Bringing the private sector/industry into environmental conservation/ management.

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STRATEGY

CONCLUSION Need to move to the next level

Ecosystem approach management

Integrated approach

Informed decision -making

Public / stakeholder engagement

Benefit the local community most

International collaboration

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THANK YOU

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