The objective of the two-day national workshop, organised by the UNDP-GEF-ITTO-FRIM Conservation of Biodiversity (CBioD) Project, was to obtain feedback from stakeholders and targeted end-users on the proposed outputs of the CBioD Project to ensure the final products of the project would remain practical and cost effective.
Also present at the ceremony were UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam Mr Kamal Malhotra and Deputy Director General of FRIM Dr Abdul Rahim Nik.
The workshop saw the CBioD Project’s biodiversity assessment activities and introduction of the proposed tools and methods to enhance the integration of biodiversity into forest planning process being presented by researchers. Among others, there were also presentations on topics such as “Forestry Planning and Forest Conservation in Peninsular Malaysia”, “Conservation planning process in Peninsular Malaysia”, and “The Role of forest certification in enhancing biodiversity conservation in Malaysia” by representatives of the Forest Department Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM), Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), and Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) respectively.
A total of 57 participants from various state and federal agencies including representatives from non-governmental organisations attended the workshop.
The CBioD Project is a five year project, which started in April 2007, aimed at creating improved tools and methods for the inclusion of biodiversity in forest management and planning. Funded by the Government of Malaysia, Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNDP Malaysia and International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the Project is executed by the Ministry of NRE and implemented by FRIM. With the involvement of agencies such as JPSM, MTCC and Perak State Economic and Development Corporation, the Project seeks to create new horizons in managing forests for not only timber but other forest services as well.
