Malaysia ranks 106th on 2024 Nature Conservation Index

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has been ranked 106 out of 180 countries in the 2024 Nature Conservation Index, which assesses global conservation efforts.

With a score of 54.32 out of 100, Malaysia is recognised as one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, with approximately 1.75 million species identified in its forests.

The country scored 55 for land management, 57 for threats to biodiversity, 66 for capacity and governance, and 40 for climate change mitigation.

Luxembourg leads the ranking with a score of 70.8, followed by Estonia at 70.5 and Denmark at 69.

Among Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia ranks third, behind Thailand at 80 and Brunei at 103. It is ahead of Indonesia at 122, Vietnam at 142, the Philippines at 148, Cambodia at 159, Singapore at 166, and Myanmar at 167.

The report emphasises the threats to Malaysia's biodiversity, including land development, pollution, poaching, illegal collection, encroachment, climate change, and invasive alien species.

"Historically, invasive species have impacted all sectors, with the agricultural sector being the most severely affected. These threats are driven by economic growth and the rising demand for food, agricultural commodities, goods, and services.

"Additionally, there is an increasing market for exotic wild meat, traditional and herbal remedies, wild animals as pets, and ornamental plants from the wild," the report states.

It lists 71 of the 358 mammal species as threatened, with 34 endemic to Malaysia. Also at risk are 68 of the 726 bird species, 31 of the 519 reptile species, 35 of the 279 amphibian species, 161 of the 1,960 fish species, and 727 of the 15,500 plant species.

Among the critical species mentioned are the masked finfoot and painted terrapin.

To address invasive species, a comprehensive National Action Plan has been developed. The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry actively documents traditional knowledge to further support biodiversity conservation efforts.

The index, developed by BioDB.com in collaboration with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, uses 25 key indicators to evaluate protected area coverage, species at risk, conservation laws, and future trends.