Pricing biodiversity loss to push green agenda in Malaysia

Evangeline Majawat New Straits Times 9 Oct 10;

KUALA LUMPUR: Putting a price on biodiversity loss could significantly push the green agenda forward internationally and locally, according to experts.

Speakers at the Malaysian Nature Society's (MNS) international conference on tropical biodiversity said placing a monetary value on ecosystem services would "open up" politicians and policymakers' eyes to the adverse impact on biodiversity.

This could force them to take more concrete measures to protect the ecosystem.

BirdLife International chief executive officer Dr Marco Lambertini said most countries had failed to turn commitment into positive impact.

"What is of real value, like water, is not highly priced," he said at the two-day conference here.

He said if biodiversity was taken to be a "natural bank", it would be in the red and heading towards bankruptcy.

The Asean Centre of Biodiversity estimates ecosystem services to be valued at RM7.26 billion (US$2 billion).

However, its executive director Rodrigo Fuentes stressed that the extent of the valuation of ecosystem was limited.

"Take for example, the value of bees in the agro-system. We know that bees have a big value as pollinators. So, what is their real value?


"I think not everything can be (given) a monetary value. But for that which we can't, surrogate measures are in place."

However, valuation could be the push factor for politicians to seriously commit to the green agenda.

Science adviser to the prime minister, Prof Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, said monetary value "excites" politicians.

"At the end of the day, it would be (what) do they tell their constituents... why should they protect the environment and for what?"

The conference entitled "Challenges and solutions for tropical biodiversity" is part of MNS's 70th anniversary celebrations.

Update Existing Policies, Legislation To Protect Malaysia's Biodiversity
Bernama 9 Oct 10;

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Existing policies and legislation in relation to biodiversity should be reviewed, updated or replaced to reflect contemporary realities, the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah told an international biodiversity conference on Saturday.

Sharing his thoughts at the Malaysian Nature Society International Conference, he believed there was a need to incorporate the economics of biodiversity and the multi-million dollars worth of services it provided, into decision-making process.

Raja Nazrin, who was very encouraged by the comprehensiveness of Malaysia's National Policy on Biological Diversity and the recent adoption of the Common Vision on Biodiversity (2009) and enactment of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, said that well-planned policies and well-crafted legislation were crucial ingredients in protecting biodiversity.

In his address entitled 'Safeguarding Malaysia's Biodiversity For Our Future', he said that limited finances, inadequate expertise and poor governance practices would lead to haphazard implementation and lax enforcement.

"Of course, policies and laws are only as effective as their implementation and enforcement. There must also be sufficient resources to efficiently regulate, manage and protect our natural spaces," he said.

Raja Nazrin also reminded that the responsibility of conserving biodiversity should not remain with government agencies and non-governmental organisations.

"I believe that corporate bodies are well placed to make a significant contribution. Businesses have the ability to produce technological innovations and deliver the means for genuine progress in sustainable development.

"When a well-run business applies its vast resources, expertise and talents to problems that it understands, feels strongly about and has a stake in, it can make a greater impact than any other institution," he said.

Noting that Malaysia was one of the few mega-diverse countries in the world, Raja Nazrin urged Malaysian to 'think global and act local' in tackling the biodiversity issues faced in the country.

He said by developing and supporting local solutions to these issues, Malaysia could contribute to the knowledge base of replicable solutions for other parts of the world to adapt and apply.

Raja Nazrin also hoped to see more cutting-edge research on tropical biological diversity issues produced by Malaysian educational institutions.

-- BERNAMA