Malaysia Reaffirms Commitment To Biodiversity Protection, Global Cooperation

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is committed to protecting biodiversity, strengthening international cooperation and ensuring that wildlife trade is managed responsibly without compromising national interests.

The commitment was conveyed by Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - the Twentieth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP20) and the 79th and 80th CITES Standing Committee Meetings (SC79 & SC80) - held from Nov 23 to Dec 5 at the Silk Road Samarkand Expo Centre in Uzbekistan.

He said that Malaysia’s participation in COP20 demonstrates the country’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that marine resources are managed prudently and guided by scientific evidence.

“The trade in wildlife, particularly high-concern marine species, must be strictly regulated to safeguard ecosystem sustainability,” Adnan said in a statement today.

“Malaysia will continue to play an active role in the decision-making process at CITES to ensure that the country’s interests are protected, while also supporting global conservation efforts,” he said.

The triennial conference brings together 185 member countries to coordinate global action in ensuring that wildlife trade is conducted sustainably, curbing illegal activities, strengthening CITES governance, and evaluating proposals for the listing of flora and fauna species under the CITES Appendices.

-- BERNAMA