Malaysia is a country with tremendously high levels of biodiversity. To protect and sustain this significant level of biodiversity, Malaysia has established protected areas (PAs). These areas currently cover a total area of approximately 3 million hectares. However, the protected areas face quite a few challenges, including either insufficient or complete lack of management plans. The reason for this is that the PAs often are severely underfinanced and understaffed.
Thus, the goal of this project was to develop an innovative and yet standardised process-based template that could potentially be applied to all PAs in Malaysia. During this project, management and business plans were developed for three specific protected areas. The areas are Taman Negara National Park, Royal Belum State Park and Endau-Rompin National Park.
The plans functioned as an important tool for the government authorities that were in charge of protected areas management. It gave them a chance to demonstrate good planning, implementation and orientation towards a better management of the parks.
Project objectives
This project had multiple objectives. First, it provided a framework for an efficient management system for the parks, that enabled effective protection of the parks and their resources. In addition, it created means for effective inclusion and active participation of relevant stakeholders, along with recommendations for improving the living standards for the local communities and their level of conservation awareness. Finally, another objective of this project was to promote the recognition of the biological, social and economic resources that are unique to these protected areas.
Project approach
In order to ensure the development of plans that are both useful and implementable, the project approach was specifically to focus on stakeholder inclusiveness, teamwork, to maintain focus on the bigger picture and to integrate activities as far as possible to ensure efficiency.
The project developed sustainable land management plans for the three parks, including a business plan. During this process the tasks included a stocktaking exercise and gap analysis, development of a standard template for a management plan, development of the actual management and business plan for the three areas, an assessment of the training and capacity needs for the park staff. Lastly it also included a completion of the final documents.
Project results
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A final report on stock-taking exercise and gap analysis
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A final standard template and report that includes core elements, appropriate approach, preliminary Monitoring & Evaluation system, timeline for developing the plans and stakeholders’ inputs
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Final management and business plans for the three sites
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Training modules and capacity building programme for protected area management
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A practical guidebook for protected area managers
Contact
Feel free to contact us if you wish to engage or learn more about this project.