NIBONG TEBAL, 14 April 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is delighted to announce that, as of 1 October 2024, its Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS) at the Engineering Campus has been officially recognised as a UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Site.

This prestigious acknowledgment places BIOECODS under the Global Network of UNESCO-IHP Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites, further reinforcing USM's unwavering commitment to sustainable water resource management.

The selection was finalised during the Scientific Advisory Committee (EH-SAC) meeting of UNESCO's Ecohydrology Programme, which brought together distinguished scientists from across the world on 1 October 2024 at the University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.

 

The proposal titled "Pioneering Integrated and Innovative Sustainable Stormwater Design for Urban Water Resource Management in Malaysia" was initiated by Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Remy Rozainy Mohd Arif Zainol.

He emphasised that it showcases a thorough implementation of ecohydrology techniques and an innovative approach to sustainable urban water resource management, earning recognition from the EH-SAC as a model initiative for demonstrating ecohydrology principles to the public.

“With this recognition, USM’s Engineering Campus will now actively contribute to the initiatives of the UNESCO-IHP Ecohydrology Programme within the framework of IHP IX,” he said.

According to Remy, the BIOECODS system, pioneered by Professor Dato' Dr. Nor Azazi Zakaria, exemplifies a sustainable approach to stormwater management by integrating eco-friendly hydrological processes with practical applications.

 

The BIOECODS at USM Engineering Campus exemplifies a Nature-Based Solution (NBS) supporting SDGs 6, 11, and 13, reinforcing USM’s top position in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 for Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

"The aim of the system is to set a global standard for environmental practices while benefiting the local community," he said.

"It has also had a great impact on REDAC," Remy said, while expressing his gratitude to the Ministry of Higher Education for its continued trust and support of REDAC over the years.

"Especially when the success of this system became one of the main factors leading to the recognition of REDAC as one of the Higher Education Centres of Excellence (HICoE) under the Service Core HICoE in the field of Sustainable Urban Stormwater Management in 2014," he added.

Remy expresses its sincere appreciation to UNESCO and the EH-SAC for this distinguished recognition, saying it highlights USM's leadership in environmental research and innovation, further strengthening its role in addressing global water management challenges.

He also expressed his gratitude to Dato' Ir. Ratna Rajah Sivapiragasam, Director of the Humid Tropics Centre in Kuala Lumpur, and his team for their invaluable guidance and support in mentoring the USM team to achieve this prestigious recognition.

"Not to be forgotten is the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) of Malaysia for their continued cooperation and commitment to the advancement of sustainable water management initiatives.”

Text: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Photo: Syafiq Shaharuddin & Muhammad Taufik Abdul Rahman