| Roadmap To Conserve Tigers Adopted - Muhyiddin |
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PUTRAJAYA, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- The National Biodiversity-Biotechnology Council (NBBC) has adopted the National Tiger Action Plan as a roadmap to manage and conserve the Malayan tigers population.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the roadmap would enhance the management of the dwindling species by improving its corridor network and sanctuaries.
"The action plan has targeted to increase harimau belang (Malayan tigers) population to 1,000 by 2020 in their natural habitat," he told reporters after chairing the sixth NBBC meeting here Wednesday.
The population of Malayan tigers had plummeted to 500 about from 3,000 in 1950.
Muhyiddin said the Wildlife and National Parks Department would step up enforcement to curtail poaching of tigers in the forests with the cooperation of state governments.
He said the meeting had agreed to rename the NBBC to the National Biodiversity Council and place it under the ambit of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.
He said it also adopted a common vision on biodiversity, which would pave the way for biodiversity to be part of the mainstream of the development.
"This means all sectors and activities related to biodiversity must be incorporated in the management and conservation of tigers while the use of resources optimised," he said.
Muhyiddin said the meeting also agreed to further develop the National Biodiversity Integrated Spatial Database in Peninsular Malaysia (phase one) and the pioneer project in Sabah and Sarawak (phase two).
He hoped all agencies would raise public awareness on biodiversity through the Communication, Education and Public Awareness programme.
The meeting, which was attended by menteris besar, chief ministers and cabinet ministers, also agreed on the setting up of the National Biodiversity Centre to strengthen the management and conservation of biodiversity in the country.
-- BERNAMA
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