Malaysia

The Malaysian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is currently organizing it's International Year of Biodiversity launch in Putrajaya.

Key events for International Year of Biodiversity in Malaysia have been organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Activities done in honor of the International Year of Biodiversity

Art competition in conjunction with the International Year of Biodiversity 2010
Bioversity International, in collaboration with the Malaysian Agricultural Research Development Institute (MARDI) and with the support from the Ministry of Education Malaysia and the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based industry Malaysia, organized an art competition for secondary schools in conjunction with International Year of Biodiversity 2010. The theme for the competition was Inspiring the younger generation through improving their nutrition, livelihoods and health through agricultural biodiversity. A total of 10 attractive prizes were offered. The competition attracted an overwhelming 70 entries from 19 schools in the locality of Seri Kembangan, Serdang, Puchong, UEP Subang Jaya and Putra Jaya. The prize presentation was officiated by Dato Dr. Sharif Haron, Deputy Director General (Research) MARDI with Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, Regional Director Bioversity International Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania and Dr. Yusof Abdullah, Director of Strategic Resources Research Centre MARDI. The event was attended by the winning students, the principals of participating schools, staff of MARDI and staff of Bioversity International Malaysia office. In conjunction with the event, Bioversity International presented a seminar on Diversity for Life in the local language - Bahasa Malaysia.

Dates and Venue	Event
17 - 18 January 2010 Pulau Carey	COP (Community Outreach Program)
26 January 2010 Kuala Lumpur	Book Launching: "Beauty beyond the Land"
7 - 12 March 2010 Kuala Kumpur	IUFRO Conference
20 March - 3 April 2010 Kuala Lumpur	Marine Parks @ Zoo Negara
22 - 24 March 2010 Pulau Payar	Mega Reef Clean-up
27 March 2010 Pahang	Rainforest to Reef 2010 (March)
31 March - 3 April 2010 Terengganu	Reef Watchers Orientation Course
10 April 2010 Terengganu	Rainforest to Reef 2010 (April)
12 - 14 April 2010 Terengganu	Reef Cleanup Programme
22 April 2010 Putrajaya	Launching of the "26 Million Tree Planting" Programme (1 Malaysian 1 Tree)
1 - 31 May 2010 Johor	National Marine Education Camp 2010
2 - 7 May 2010 Negeri Sembilan	Scientific Biodiversity Expedition
22 May 2010 Putrajaya	Green Wave 2010
22 May 2010 Jalan Kelantan Confirmed	Penrissen Range Important Bird Area (IBA) Site Dedication launch in conjunction with the World Biodiversity Day and the MNS 70th Year Anniversary
22 May 2010 Bukit Kiara Confirmed	Restoration of Source of Sg Pencala (Pencala River)
21 June 2010 Kuala Lumpur	MyBioD 2010: National Seminar on Biodiversity
22 June 2010 Perhentian Island	Marine Biodiversity Expedition
1 - 31 July 2010 Kuala Lumpur	Merdeka Conservation Dive 2010 (McD10)
17 July 2010 Kuala Lumpur	3rd Friends Of The Co-Chairs On Liability And Redress Under The Cartagena Protocol On Biosafety
2 - 5 August 2010 Kuala Lumpur	The 2nd International Firefly Symposium
3 August 2010 Kuala Lumpur	Greenfingers Eco-Project
7 - 9 August 2010 Pahang	Coral Reef Camp
27 June - 1 July 2011 Kuala Lumpur	2nd International Symposium on Underutilized Plant species

 
National celebrations will be launched during the Second meeting of the Group of the Friends of the Co-Chairs on Liability and Redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

River Restoration in Conjunction with World Biodiversity Day 2010 To restore the natural environment and enhance the river’s biodiversity, GEC initiated restoration works for the source of Pencala River on 10th May 2010. This was also to celebrate and promote the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. The restoration works was carried out in partnership with the National Landscape Department and Federal Territory Drainage and Irrigation Department and funded by GAB Foundation.

6th National Seed Symposium
More than 150 participants attended the 6th National Seed Symposium entitled “Seeds: The source of life and biodiversity” which was organized by the National Seed Association of Malaysia (NSAM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM0), the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI and Bioversity International. The symposium served as a welcome gesture for pushing forth the seed industry in Malaysia. In her opening speech, the honorable deputy minister of agriculture and agro-based industry, Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim highlighted that there is a urgent need to address the large deficit incurred in the seed trade in Malaysia and that there is ample opportunity to rectify this.

International Symposium: Sustainable Agricultural Development and Use of Agro biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region
As part of the recognition of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, APAARI organized an International Symposium on “Sustainable Agricultural Development and Use of Agro biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region” in partnership with Rural Development Administration (RDA), the Republic of Korea, the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR), Bioversity International, FAO and other international centers such as CIMMYT, ICARDA, ICRISAT, IRRI, ILRI and AVRDC in Suwon, Republic of Korea. The symposium provided an excellent opportunity to review, identify and redefine the role and directions of agricultural R&A, especially in the context of conservation through use of valuable agrobiodiversity for sustainable agricultural development. It also helped in the agreeing on a “Way Forward” for the access and benefit sharing of valuable genetic resources.