Rahmat Khairulrijal New Straits Times 23 Oct 13;
WIDE-SCALE INITIATIVE: One of the aims is to increase fish population, says biodiversity council
KUALA LUMPUR: THE National Biodiversity Council, at its first meeting yesterday, agreed to launch a massive project to restore coral reefs in eight states.
The projects will be carried out in Kedah, Perak, Malacca, Pahang, Johor, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.
"This project aims to preserve marine diversity and it will be implemented via smart partnerships between the respective state governments and Marine Parks Department, universities, non-governmental organisations and corporate sector," the council said in a statement after the meeting, which was held at Parliament.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Present were Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel and menteris besar and chief ministers of the states involved.
The council said the project would contribute towards enhancing national biodiversity, as well as increasing the fish population, which had recorded a decline.
The move would boost the aesthetic value of the marine ecosystem, the council said.
The council also agreed to the introduction of a national biodiversity centre that would serve as a think-tank to increase the interphase between biodiversity science and policy.
"It will be a research centre for data collection and biodiversity development.
"We have also decided to use the centre as a National Competent Authority, which is a focal point to implement Access to Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing," said the council.
The council urged Sabah and Sarawak to establish biodiversity centres in both states.
Other issues discussed in the meeting include the proposed national action plan regarding Invasive Alien Species to prevent the entry of such species to protect the country's biodiversity, as well as steps taken to protect endangered plant species.
