Malaysia attends biodiversity convention in Mexico

KUCHING: Malaysia is attending the 13th Conference of the Parties ( COP13) to the Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD) and bilateral meetings related to biodiversity in Cancun, Mexico from today until next Wednesday ( Dec 1-7).

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar will head the delegation.

CBD is one of the environmental conventions accepted by the international community during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ( Rio Summit) in 1992.

The convention aims to preserve and promote the sustainable use of biological diversity and encourage the sharing of benefits in a fair and equitable outcome from the use of biological resources.

COP to the CBD, held every two years, is to ensure that the commitments contained in the convention are implemented.

It also serves to set the direction in the management of biodiversity to be implemented by each member country.

Malaysia has been a member of the convention since 1994, with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment being the focal point for the CBD.

Malaysia’s involvement in this year’s conference is important because this convention will discuss issues related to mainstreaming biodiversity management in four major sectors – namely forestry, tourism, agriculture and fisheries.

In respect of the convention, Malaysia has set up the National Biodiversity Policy 2016 to 2025, which provides guidance on national biodiversity management; Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 to 2020; and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

Malaysia is also a member of several multilateral environmental agreements ( MEAs) in line with the country’s commitment to the environment and biodiversity.

In addition to implementing the obligations as a member, Malaysia also has the opportunity to receive financial, technical and technological aid through the decisions and activities undertaken under these MEAs.