Latest news with #EcologicalFiscalTransferforBiodiversityConservation
The Star
13-06-2025
- General
- The Star
RM66.2mil viaduct project to reduce human-animal conflict
A Perhilitan signboard warning motorists about wildlife. — Filepic Johor government has expressed its full support for a viaduct along Jalan Batu Pahat-Jemaluang to provide a crossing for wild animals. State health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the project was crucial for the safety of both wildlife and road users, particularly in areas frequented by wild animals. The proposed viaduct, he said, would be located within the second phase of the Central Forest Spine ecological corridor (CFS2) that covers southern Peninsular Malaysia. Specifically, the project would involve the Labis Timur Forest Reserve, Mersing Forest Reserve and Lenggor Forest Reserve. 'Construction of the crossing is proposed to start at KM102 along FT050 which connects Batu Pahat and Jemaluang. 'This viaduct is part of the government's ongoing efforts to address human-wildlife conflict caused by habitat fragmentation along the CFS,' he said, adding that the project has been allocated RM66.2mil. Ling said this in his winding-up session during the state assembly meeting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Kota Iskandar. Ling: Viaduct will contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation in Johor. In helping to ensure the safety of humans and wildlife, he said the viaduct would contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation in Johor. The viaduct design, he added, was a symbol of cooperation between the state and federal governments. Ling thanked Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry for channelling funds to the state through the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT) mechanism. He said part of the funding would be used for several measures including the translocation of elephants. This has been scheduled to begin in July and continue until December this year. 'An allocation of RM226,000 from the funds will support the setting up of Kumpulan Pelindung Hidupan Liar in a village in Kluang, which has had many wildlife-related issues. 'Another major step is the fitting of satellite tracking collars on elephants to enable an early warning system,' he said. Of the first five of these collars, two have been attached to elephants with operations to continue until the remaining collars are utilised, said Ling. He added that Johor Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) was procuring five more collars. 'At the same time, 21 areas have been identified for elephant food banks. 'These are locations where food is made available to elephants to deter them from entering farms and residential areas in search of food,' he said. Ling said engagement sessions with local farmers has been held to ensure the smooth running of the elephant food banks. 'We hope that through these approaches, we can reduce conflicts between humans and elephants while also preserving the survival of this increasingly threatened species.'
The Star
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Age not the only factor behind moribund farms
The right help: With proper policies, incentives and technological help, local farmers will be able to produce bountiful crops to match major food producers like China, Japan and India, say agriculture and food security experts. PETALING JAYA: While ageing farmers are often blamed for the decline in food farming in Malaysia, experts argue that age alone is not the main issue, especially when countries like China, Japan, and India, which also have large populations of elderly farmers, remain major food producers. What sets these countries apart, they say, is the presence of the right policies and incentives that make growing food crops, instead of industrial crops like oil palm, a viable and sustainable livelihood. Their comments come in response to the recently released Agriculture Census 2024, which revealed that 45.4% of Malaysia's 1,008,829 individual farmers are aged over 60. The agriculture and food security experts said the key lies in policies that promote food crop cultivation using technology that makes optimum use of water, fertiliser and pesticide while being environmentally sustainable. They also stressed the need for federal support to incentivise state governments to allocate land for food crops, especially staples like rice. 'We need something similar to the policy that compensates states for not cutting down their forests,' said Prof Abd Shukor Juraimi of Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) Tropical Agriculture and Food Security Institute. He was referring to the Federal government's Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation programme, which allocated RM200mil last year for states to preserve key forest and marine areas. A similar framework should be applied to agricultural land, he added, because land used for food crops currently generates less tax revenue than land designated for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. Abd Shukor's remarks follow another key census finding: of the 7.5 million hectares of land used for agriculture nationwide, 6.5 million hectares are occupied by cash crops like oil palm and rubber. Only about one million hectares are used for food crops, with rice farming occupying just 500,000ha. The Statistics Department, which released the census, noted that the shrinking area for rice cultivation is affecting Malaysia's ability to produce enough of the staple grain. According to the National Agro-Food Policy 2021–2030 report, rice cultivation land has declined from about 700,000 hectares in 2018. The same report found that rice farmers operate on an average of just 3.48ha per person, far below the 10ha considered economically optimal. Prof Datin Paduka Fatimah Mohamed Arshad, another food security expert from UPM, said Malaysia could learn from India, which has emerged as one of the world's top rice exporters over the past decade, rivalling even Thailand and Vietnam. India, she said, achieved this despite not having large-scale agricultural schemes like Malaysia's Muda Agricultural Development Authority or the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority. 'The Indian government supported tech start-ups that developed apps for the entire supply chain, from precision irrigation tools to sensors,' said Fatimah. 'These tools also help minimise risks from floods and droughts by predicting adverse weather to help farmers make better decisions.' Just like in Malaysia, a large proportion of farmers in India are senior citizens, she said, but this has not prevented them from producing good yields. 'With the right support and technology, they are able to make a sustainable living and thrive. So, age is not really the problem,' said Fatimah.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Innovative financing key to strengthening biodiversity management
PUTRAJAYA: Innovative financial instruments must be actively explored and leveraged to strengthen biodiversity management in Malaysia, ensuring a balanced, prosperous and sustainable future for future generations. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, in a statement following his chairing of the third meeting of the National Biodiversity Council (MBN) today, called on all stakeholders to unite in strengthening policies and implementing high-impact initiatives for the country's biodiversity management. The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister said the MBN had outlined a shared commitment to enhancing biodiversity governance in line with the need to ensure sustainable development based on future-oriented values. 'I believe that in pursuing socio-economic progress and exploring new sources of wealth, including mineral resources, we must ensure that environmental sustainability is not compromised. 'Biodiversity conservation requires substantial funding. Therefore, innovative financial instruments must be explored and more actively utilised,' he said. Fadillah said biodiversity conservation is not merely an environmental issue but also a moral obligation and a shared responsibility of 'khalifah' (vicegerent of God) on Earth. 'The heartbreaking incident involving the death of a baby elephant on the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway recently serves as a clear reminder that physical development must be undertaken with wisdom and consideration for the increasingly threatened habitats of wildlife,' he said. He also expressed appreciation for the significant achievements resulting from collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments and communities, including the gazettement of over 350,000 hectares as new protected areas through the implementation of the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT). Other key successes include the appointment of over 1,900 community rangers under the Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme (BP3) to strengthen enforcement, as well as the establishment of the Malaysia Biodiversity Centre (MBC), which has been recognised as a national interest project eligible for special tax incentives. 'The planting of the 100 millionth tree through the Malaysia Greening Campaign and UNESCO's Triple Crown recognition for Sabah also reflect the outcomes of comprehensive strategic cooperation,' he added. The meeting was also attended by Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Deputy Minister of Economy Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib and representatives from the federal and state governments.
Barnama
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Innovative Financing Key To Strengthening Biodiversity Management
GENERAL PUTRAJAYA, May 27 (Bernama) -- Innovative financial instruments must be actively explored and leveraged to strengthen biodiversity management in Malaysia, ensuring a balanced, prosperous and sustainable future for future generations. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, in a statement following his chairing of the third meeting of the National Biodiversity Council (MBN) today, called on all stakeholders to unite in strengthening policies and implementing high-impact initiatives for the country's biodiversity management. The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister said the MBN had outlined a shared commitment to enhancing biodiversity governance in line with the need to ensure sustainable development based on future-oriented values. 'I believe that in pursuing socio-economic progress and exploring new sources of wealth, including mineral resources, we must ensure that environmental sustainability is not compromised. 'Biodiversity conservation requires substantial funding. Therefore, innovative financial instruments must be explored and more actively utilised,' he said. Fadillah said biodiversity conservation is not merely an environmental issue but also a moral obligation and a shared responsibility of 'khalifah' (vicegerent of God) on Earth. 'The heartbreaking incident involving the death of a baby elephant on the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway recently serves as a clear reminder that physical development must be undertaken with wisdom and consideration for the increasingly threatened habitats of wildlife,' he said. He also expressed appreciation for the significant achievements resulting from collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments and communities, including the gazettement of over 350,000 hectares as new protected areas through the implementation of the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT). Other key successes include the appointment of over 1,900 community rangers under the Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme (BP3) to strengthen enforcement, as well as the establishment of the Malaysia Biodiversity Centre (MBC), which has been recognised as a national interest project eligible for special tax incentives.
