Report: State of Nature Conservation in Malaysia Symposium
Reflections from the MNS Symposium: State of Nature Conservation in Malaysia (SoNC 2025)
Text & photos by HY Leong
From 25–27 November 2025, the Dorsett Grand Subang hosted the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Symposium on the State of Nature Conservation in Malaysia (SoNC 2025). The event brought together scientists, policymakers, Indigenous leaders, and conservation experts to take stock of Malaysia’s biodiversity, three decades after the landmark 1991 report. Over three days, participants explored Malaysia’s incredible natural wealth—from lowland dipterocarp forests and coral reefs to wetlands—and iconic species such as the Malayan tiger and Bornean pygmy elephant. The symposium also highlighted urgent threats like habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change.
Key Themes and Discussions
Discussions focused on four main areas:
Flora – Plants, forests, and their ecological roles.
Fauna – Wildlife, species conservation, and ecosystem health.
Indigenous Peoples – Rights, traditional knowledge, and community-led conservation.
The Anthropocene – Human impacts on landscapes, wildlife, and climate.
Experts stressed that combining scientific research with local knowledge, improving governance, and having strong political support are essential for effective conservation.
Conservation Achievements and Challenges
The symposium highlighted both successes and ongoing gaps in conservation. Achievements included GEF-funded projects in Sabah and Sarawak, sustainable palm oil initiatives, and Indigenous-led habitat restoration programs. However, challenges remain, including limited funding, weak integration of science into policy, insufficient recognition of community-driven conservation areas (OECMs), and the need for stronger marine protection and cross-sector collaboration.
Spotlight on Species and Ecosystems
Fauna: Tigers now occupy only 7% of their historic range, and Borneo’s forests lost 29% of their area over a decade. Extinct species like the Javan and Sumatran rhinos highlight the urgent need for habitat restoration.
Birds and Waterbirds: Populations are declining due to habitat loss and the pet trade, emphasising the importance of wetland protection and long-term monitoring.
Plants, Fungi, and Fireflies: Malaysia’s plant diversity is vast but not fully documented. Lesser-known groups like fungi and fireflies play important ecological roles and need community-based conservation.
New Discovery: A previously unknown species of Thismia, found in Hulu Langat Forest Reserve by naturalist Gim Siew Tan, was officially named Thismia selangorensis, announced after the symposium.
Indigenous Knowledge and Rights
Speakers stressed that conservation cannot succeed without respecting Indigenous land rights, self-determination, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Malaysia’s national OECM framework is working to formalise protection while ensuring communities are actively involved in conservation decisions.
Governance and National Strategies
On the last day of the symposium, Dr Khairul Naim Adham from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (MNRES) shared how Malaysia is protecting forests and natural areas to meet both national and global conservation goals.
At the same time, YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad discussed how managing the environment in Malaysia is complicated because some powers belong to the federal government, while others are handled by the states. For example, forest and land matters are mainly managed by the states, but forest policies come from the federal level, and Sabah and Sarawak have their own systems. Things get even more complex when certain areas, like marine wildlife, are managed for economic or security reasons instead of conservation.
A major highlight was the Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT), which rewards states for conserving forests. EFT funding has been increased to RM250 million, encouraging the expansion of protected areas and recognition of the value of intact forests. Making EFT a law is seen as essential for lasting impact.
The speakers emphasised that strong political leadership, better coordination between federal and state governments, public engagement, and more scientific data are all needed to make conservation efforts effective and sustainable.
Looking Ahead
The symposium pointed out several important ways to improve conservation efforts. These include building stronger organisations that work on conservation, running long-term programs to keep track of wildlife and the environment, and involving local communities and everyday citizens in conservation activities. It also highlighted the value of using Indigenous knowledge to guide planning and the need for greater support and commitment from policymakers to make sure conservation efforts succeed.
Conclusion
It was challenging to follow the proceedings due to the 15-minute time limit imposed on each speaker, with presentations often delivered at a rapid pace or with slides omitted. The scheduling of three parallel sessions on the second day, held in different rooms across multiple floors of the hotel, further complicated the ability to attend presentations of particular interest. In addition, several speakers exceeded their allotted time, disrupting the overall schedule and making it impossible to attend subsequent presentations from the start when they were held in other rooms. Overall, the symposium provided a preliminary overview of the years of research conducted, with more comprehensive findings reserved for the final SoNC publication, anticipated in March 2026 in the Malayan Nature Journal for policymakers, researchers, and the public.
Despite these limitations, SoNC 2025 reinforced that Malaysia’s natural heritage is unique, irreplaceable, and under increasing pressure. While scientific knowledge and community-driven efforts are robust, decisive and coordinated action remains essential to safeguard biodiversity for future generations. Conservation, therefore, is not merely a responsibility but an urgent necessity for the survival of both nature and culture in Malaysia.
