DECRETO TÍTULO PRIMERO

This study has highlighted the need for institutional and legal reforms to the governance of PAs in Peninsular Malaysia. While there is the quantitative Aichi Biodiversity Targets, we must also focus on the quality of PAs. Governments as a low hanging fruit, will be tempted to have more IUCN class VI protected areas (soft PAs) (Dourojeanni, 2002) and OECM to meet the Aichi Targets. As discussed in Chapter Seven of this thesis, 46% of PAs in Peninsular Malaysia are of IUCN class VI. Based on the findings, a menu of recommendation for strengthening the governance of PAs in Peninsular Malaysia and the long-term conservation of biodiversity, is as following:

a) A system backed by a legal provision or a Cabinet decision has to be in place to enable the federal government to give financial incentives to states that have PAs and the quantum can be based on the size as well as the quality (IUCN class) of the PA;

b) Merge the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks as a single agency for terrestrial

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biodiversity in Peninsular Malaysia. This will avoid duplication of work and more effective deployment of staff and ease the shortage of staff in PAs;

• This new agency could via the National Biodiversity Council offer PAs currently managed by States (who have acute shortage of staff, funds and capacity) to be managed by this agency. State Governments can co-manage by undertaking ecotourism activities. Hence, while the area still belongs to state governments, the PAs are managed effectively, and states will get revenue through ecotourism activities;

c) Involve ILCs in management of the park by developing a scheme that recognises ethno-knowledge to enable orang asli to be hired formally;

d) A mechanism should be worked out to allow ILCs to manage areas of community importance (ICCA) such as sacred groves and ancestor burial grounds as they have done before ‘modern’ laws were introduced. ILCs can work with the support of NGOs and the PA agency to manage these areas and conduct ecotourism activities;

e) A national Payment for Ecosystem Framework has to be developed as a guide to enable PA managers to accrue revenue streams from commercialised goods and services such as hydroelectric generation, mineral water bottling and water supply to households which depend on the integrity of the PAs that provide these ecosystem services;

f) All PAs must revise their entrance fees and examples from other countries can be used as well as studies undertaken nationally on ‘willingness to pay’ can be used to revise the current low entrance fees. These fees should be channelled back to the PA and a percentage be channelled to the Federal and

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State government consolidated fund as revenue and incentive to conserve the PA in perpetuity;

g) A National PA Framework (NPF) adopted – to enable the harmonisation of management standards across PAs in Peninsular Malaysia. NPF will ensure a clear definition of PAs in line with international norms is used throughout Peninsular Malaysia. NPF could facilitate the harmonisation of legal framework based on a template which the states can then update their respective enactments to the minimum standards provided by the federal template. At the point of this thesis write up the initiative to draft the National PA Framework has started by DWNP. The challenge will be its adoption and uptake by state governments;

h) While Malaysia has a 20% target which includes PAs as well as OECM, Malaysia must have a clear target on how much of land area will be PAs and OECM. As discussed, there is a concern that in achieving numbers, more OECM will be designated. Since there is no clear definition internationally on OECM, it may be areas of little significant conservation value;

i) Strengthen biodiversity institute to provide schedule training on PAs, wildlife, policy and other related disciplines to PA managers, staff and rangers. This institute must also actively conduct research on PA, wildlife and other related biodiversity issues and foster smart partnerships with research organisations (both nationally and internationally) and academia to enable science policy interface as well as enhance skills through these partnership;

j) Set up an independent scientific advisory body to advise the National Biodiversity Council on broad national issues pertaining to

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biodiversity. At departmental level have technical task forces compromising of scientist and researchers on thematic issues that the PA agency would need assistance to enhance management of PA with scientific and technical input;

k) Staff who work in PAs, their welfare must be addresses and given appropriate allowances (incentives) and facilities such as housing. It’s also about time PA agencies have standardised uniforms for rangers and staff just like other enforcement agencies; and

l) To foster the appreciation of science as well as biodiversity, there should be more experiential learning starting from primary school levels.

There is universal recognition on the importance of PAs for in-situ protection and conservation of global biodiversity (Dearden, Bennett and Johnston, 2005; IUCN, 2016). PAs also have an important role for mitigation and climate change adaptation, food security, ecosystem services as well as fuelling a nation’s economy through ecotourism and supporting local livelihoods (Watson et al., 2014). The role of PAs which is well governed is extremely important especially in biodiversity hotspots regions such as Malaysia (Sodhi, 2008; Borrini- Feyerabend Grazia et al., 2013). While PA numbers are growing, we must ensure the two criteria of quantity and quality must be met and complemented with effective management, or these PAs will remain as paper parks (Terborgh and Schaik, 2002).

8.6.1. Limitation

This issue on ‘positioning’ and ‘transferability’ has been highlighted in Chapter One and Five respectively. Additionally, since the case study focused in three sites in Peninsular Malaysia, there may be limited possibility of generalising this study.

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However, this was not the intention of this study as the intention was to give an in- depth focus on the case of PA governance within Peninsular Malaysia.

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CHAPTER 9: GENERAL DISCUSSION,