Biodiversity is essential to humanity’s survival － and Malaysia is losing it

Wildflowers in Mulu National Park, Sarawak. Much of the flora is endemic to the area, which means that losing parts of a forest there threatens biodiversity. － Filepic/The Star

The recent report that a total of 567 plant species out of the 1,600 Peninsular Malaysia plant species assessed in the Malaysia Red List have been classified as threatened should be a cause for alarm.

Malaysia’s tree cover, which stands at approximately 55.3%, obscures the alarming reality of biodiversity loss in Malaysia because tree cover is not the same as natural forest cover. Most of Malaysia’s tree cover consists of plantations and degraded forest land. Plantations do not have the same biodiversity value and cannot provide the same ecosystem services as natural forests. Intact and biodiverse forests protect watersheds and water quality, are more resistant to fire and drought, regulate climate and weather patterns, and provide a habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna.