USM, PENANG, 11 October 2016 – Crisis in sustaining the biodiversity, which currently has become a global issue, requires immediate attention to ensure that the future development of the country could be well-managed.

The President of the Malaysian Primatological Society (MPS), whose expertise is on orang utans, from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Biological Sciences, Professor Dr. Mashhor Mansor said that, this issue currently needs to become an agenda and a main focus to facilitate in dealing with problems faced by the biodiversity resources in a collective manner. 

“Among the reasons why the biodiversity in Malaysia is deteriorating would be the drastic changes occurring in the ecosystem and extreme exploitation of the marine and forest resources, in addition to water, air and soil pollution,” he said in his presentation at the Malaysian-Indonesian Biodiversity: Bilateral Cooperation Seminar between USM and ITB here recently. 

The seminar, organised USM and Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia (ITB) was aimed at coordinating joint efforts between both parties, in relation to the conservation of biodiversity in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Explained Mashhor further, most environmental problems and ecosystem degradation have resulted from man’s inconsiderate actions and decisions.

“There is no doubt that development is needed as part of the economic growth, however it need not be at the expanse of the environment and the biodiversity resources found in it.

“Therefore, initial studies need to be done prior to any development being carried out, to avoid any negative impact on the environment and the ecosystem,” he added.

The Deputy Dean (Research, Graduate and Networking) School of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Dr. Yahya Mat Arip said that, the objective of the seminar could become a platform for the experts in the field of biodiversity management to share their experiences and also to highlight the biodiversity ecosystem as an important asset which needs to be preserved for future generations. 

“We are also encouraging researchers and those with interests in the field of biodiversity in the world, to share their knowledge and best practices in relation to caring for the environment,” he added in his officiating speech to an audience of approximately 50 people.

Text: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin