Biodiversity is climate resilience: Malaysia's path to a greener, stronger future

The Star

13-05-2025

As we mark Earth Day this year, the theme 'Harnessing biodiversity for a climate-resilient future' reminds us of an often-underappreciated truth: the natural world is not just a passive backdrop to our lives but a dynamic system that underpins our economy, health and very survival.
In the face of rising global temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and increasing ecological fragility, biodiversity's role in bolstering climate resilience has never been more crucial. In Malaysia, we recognise that our rich natural heritage—spanning lush rainforests, vibrant coral reefs and one of the world's most unique ecosystems—is not merely something to be preserved for posterity. It's a frontline defence in the fight against climate change.
Aligning national ambitions with global commitments
Malaysia is proud to be a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which sets ambitious global targets to address biodiversity loss by 2030 through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). It provides a clear and comprehensive roadmap to implement transformative actions to achieve the vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050. Malaysia is hence, proactively aligning our national strategies with its vision.
Our updated National Policy on Biological Diversity (NPBD) 2022-2030 already places strong emphasis on mainstreaming biodiversity across all sectors, from agriculture and urban planning to infrastructure and finance. We are committed to strengthening the implementation of this policy, particularly in expanding protected areas, restoring degraded ecosystems and ensuring that biodiversity conservation elements are factored in at every level of decision-making.
A new era of monitoring with technology
Harnessing the power of technology is transforming how we protect biodiversity. AI-enabled camera traps, for example, are being deployed in conservation areas to monitor rare and endangered species with unprecedented efficiency. These innovations allow us to collect real-time data on wildlife movements, population trends, and threats like poaching, helping authorities and researchers respond swiftly and strategically.
Satellite tracking also plays a critical role in combating illegal logging and land-use change, offering high-resolution insights into forest cover and biodiversity corridors. Besides improving enforcement and transparency, these tools give policymakers the evidence needed to design smarter, more climate-aligned conservation interventions.
Development and conservation can—and must—coexist
For far too long, economic development and environmental protection were seen as conflicting goals. But Malaysia is charting a new course—one where infrastructure and biodiversity can be planned in tandem. New projects incorporate wildlife crossings and ecological assessments to minimise its impact on critical habitats. This marks a paradigm shift in our planning philosophy: biodiversity is no longer an afterthought but a foundational element in infrastructure design.
Integrating biodiversity into our development strategy is essential for long-term climate resilience. Healthy ecosystems protect against floods, landslides and droughts. Mangroves, for instance, act as natural buffers against storm surges and sequester large amounts of carbon. Conserving these ecosystems is far more cost-effective—and sustainable—than relying solely on man-made defences.
Financing biodiversity: A global challenge
Despite the central role biodiversity plays in climate action, financing for biodiversity conservation remains woefully inadequate. Developing countries like Malaysia are often asked to do more with less—to protect ecosystems that benefit the entire planet, while grappling with limited fiscal space and competing development priorities.
This is where international equity becomes crucial. Malaysia calls for fairer, predictable, adequate and easily accessible global financing mechanisms that recognise the disproportionate burdens borne by biodiversity-rich countries. Instruments like debt-for-nature swaps, biodiversity credits, and results-based climate finance need to be scaled up and better tailored to the realities of countries in the Global South.
Malaysia is also exploring innovative domestic financing models, including public-private partnerships and nature-based enterprises, to bridge funding gaps and catalyse community-led conservation.
Defending our forests — and our progress
One of Malaysia's proudest achievements in recent years is our improved deforestation rate. According to Global Forest Watch, Malaysia has seen a significant reduction in primary forest loss since the mid-2010s. This success reflects strengthened policies, increased enforcement, and closer coordination between federal and state governments.
Our forests—home to countless endemic species—are likewise carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of greenhouse gases and playing a key role in climate mitigation. Protecting them is simultaneously a conservation imperative and a climate obligation.
Yet, challenges remain. Balancing land-use needs with conservation, curbing encroachments, and addressing community development in forest fringes require holistic, inclusive approaches. That is why the government is working to empower indigenous and local communities as rangers of protected areas, ensuring that conservation delivers both environmental and socioeconomic benefits.
Making biodiversity central to the climate narrative
Biodiversity often gets sidelined in climate discussions, perceived as secondary to carbon accounting or energy transitions. But this is a false dichotomy. The climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis are deeply intertwined—and we cannot solve one without addressing the other.
Ecosystem collapse can trigger feedback loops that accelerate climate change, while climate change can devastate species and habitats. Conversely, thriving ecosystems strengthen resilience, store carbon, regulate water cycles, and support livelihoods.
We must change the inherent narrative and reject groupthink. Biodiversity is not a luxury or a niche concern—it is the bedrock of climate resilience. It should be as integral to climate strategies as clean energy and carbon markets.
A vision for the future
Looking ahead, Malaysia envisions a future where biodiversity is celebrated and integrated into every facet of national development. We aim to expand our network of protected areas, enhance ecological connectivity across state lines, and establish biodiversity-friendly practices in agriculture, forestry, and urban planning.
We are working to embed environmental education in our schools, fostering a generation of Malaysians who see biodiversity as their
heritage and responsibility. We are investing in research and innovation to improve conservation outcomes and adapting our legal frameworks to respond to emerging challenges such as wildlife trafficking and invasive species.
Our vision is ambitious, but it is also achievable: with political will, scientific rigour, community involvement, and international solidarity. The Madani government, through its policies and initiatives, is providing the critical mass to bring all of these things together.
Conclusion
As Earth Day invites the world to reflect on our planet's future, Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to biodiversity conservation as a pillar of our climate strategy. We understand that the health of our forests, rivers, oceans and wildlife is inextricably linked to the resilience of our communities and the sustainability of our economy.
Nature is not a silent victim of climate change—it is an active ally in our quest to overcome it. Let us work together to harness this power and build a future where biodiversity and humanity thrive side by side.
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister