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CHAPTER 2 2.2.1 National Policy on Biological
Diversity
POLICY & LEGISLATION
The first National Policy on Biological
Diversity was formulated in 1998. Since then,
2.1 INTRODUCTION the nation has undergone significant
population increase and socio-economic
Effective project planning requires a changes; the population has increased from
proper understanding of policies and 23 million in 1998 to about 30 million in 2015;
legislations relevant to wildlife protection and the per capita GDP has almost tripled and the
management. The project may interest several country’s exports have grown sevenfold.
agencies, directly or indirectly, at the national, Numerous housing and industrial areas,
state or local authority level. A decision on townships and infrastructure have been built.
project approval relies on the project’s ability The country’s transition to become a
to meet all legal requirements. Procedures developed, high-income nation has exerted
and the project is in line with national various pressures on our biodiversity, leaving
development policies such as National Policy many species vulnerable with some even
on Biological Diversity. The Project Proponent facing threats of extinction. Nearly half of the
and consultants are required to ensure that nation’s plant diversity is facing various levels
the proposed project is in line with and do not of threat.
contradict these policies and plans.

Other pressures that threaten
2.2 RELEVANT NATIONAL Malaysia’s biodiversity include habitat
POLICIES AND PLANS
fragmentation, invasive alien species,
pollution, poaching, increasing competition
Malaysia has formulated several
for land and climate change. Furthermore,
important policies and plans to guide
there is a general lack of awareness on the
conservation and sustainable use of natural
importance of biodiversity throughout the
resources. Below are several national policies
country as well as significant knowledge gaps.
and plans:
There are also weaknesses in management
capacities and shortage of funding, which is
National Policy
on Biological crucial to ensure that Malaysia’s biodiversity is
Diversity
conserved effectively. While the 1998 Policy
provided direction in the past, the present and

National National future challenges call for a Policy that will
Forestry Wetlands enable the nation to protect its biodiversity in
Policy Policy
the coming years.

National National
Policy on the Policy on The National Policy on Biological
Environment Climate Diversity 2016-2025 provides the direction
Change
and framework for us to conserve our
biodiversity and use it sustainably in the face
National
Physical of the increasingly complex challenges. It also
Plan
forms part of Malaysia’s response to the

GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON WILDLIFE 7
IMPACT STUDY FOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)