KUCHING: Sarawak has taken a bold step towards integrating biodiversity into its development agenda, becoming the first state in Malaysia to adopt a comprehensive strategy that blends biodiversity mainstreaming with a whole-of-government approach.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Sarawak Permanent Secretary Datuk Abdullah Julaihi said Sarawak aims to harmonise and enhance intra-governmental coordination of biodiversity and ecosystem management by way of complementing, supporting, streamlining and optimising existing tools, policies and efforts across the entire government and all sectors.
“The Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biodiversity mainstreaming as “ensuring that biodiversity, and the services it provides, are appropriately and adequately factored into policies and practices that rely and have an impact on it.
“It calls for effective incorporation of biological diversity and ecosystem services into socio-economic planning to mitigate human-induced pressures on nature.
“On the other hand, the whole-of-government approach, adopted under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), emphasises inter-agency collaboration to address Sarawak priorities holistically and this approach fosters coordination across governmental portfolios to tackle biodiversity challenges more effectively,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the launching of the ‘Vision with Action for Biodiversity: Policy and Plan’ at Imperial Hotel officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg last night.
Hence, he said, the policy and master plan launched on Tuesday embody these principles.
“They serve as milestones in Sarawak’s commitment to protecting biodiversity while ensuring balanced growth and sustainability.
“However, policy alone is not a silver bullet for reducing drivers of biodiversity loss in Sarawak.
“Effective implementation hinges on robust collaboration across development sectors, economic actors, and other stakeholders,” he added.
Abdullah also highlighted that Sarawak is fortunate to have the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a strategic partner supporting its biodiversity agenda.
“International collaboration and support are crucial for Sarawak development goals. This shift from “infrastructure-based” funding to policy-driven assistance enables us to tap into valuable global expertise.
“By sharing knowledge and best practices, we ensure that Sarawak’s biodiversity policies align with international standards and are effectively implemented within our local context,” he added.
He also said the journey to develop a comprehensive biodiversity policy and a master plan involved rigorous analysis, gap identification, and broad stakeholder engagement.
“Stakeholder engagement was pivotal throughout this process. Two key workshops were held in Kuching, followed by an Implementation Framework Workshop in Miri.
“The feedback received from these engagements significantly shaped the Policy and the Plan, which was subsequently validated by stakeholders from various ministries, departments, and agencies.
“I am proud to say that this policy and master plan are not products of private consultants like any other Study in Sarawak but they are the results of collaborative engagement with ministries, departments, and agencies, ensuring alignment with Sarawak’s governance capacities and biodiversity mainstreaming needs,” he said.
