Roundtable brings NGOs together on Central Forest Spine issues

Theme: Central Forest Spine and the CFS Master Plan

Date: 30 November 2017

Objective: To share information and brainstorm on ways to work with the government on the implementation of the CFS Master Plan.

Participation: Malaysian Nature Society State Branches - Langkawi, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan/Melaka, Johor, Terengganu and Kelantan
NGOs - Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM), Institute of Foresters Malaysia, The Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants (MEME), Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (REACH), pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (PEKA), Traffic Southeast Asia, Treat Every Environment Special (TrEES), Tropican Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC), WWF-Malaysia

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In his welcoming speech, MNS President Henry Goh thanked the attendees for coming together to play their part in the first such discussion among NGOs and civil society organisations on the Central Forest Spine, which is the green backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, supplying 90% of its water supply and home to the country's amazing biodiversity, including its severely threatened Malayan tiger and Malayan tapir.

Reiterating that frustrations have arisen owing to lack of progress regarding the 10-year-old Central Forest Spine Master Plan, Goh said: "Unfortunately, we are partly responsible, because we the civil societies have not come together as one, to highlight issues with the Master Plan and utilise our vast experience to ensure that it truly protects this ecologically important area.  This is the part we play, the NGOs and MNS Branches, by sharing our experience and successes within this area or in similar projects, to develop a framework that can assist the government in conserving the Central Forest Spine."  

He closed by saying that on MNS's part, the Society was more than happy to support the roundtable session through MY forest, as it fulfilled the project's objective of empowering civil societies to have a stronger voice in forest governance.

One outcome of the roundtable session will be a collective declaration on the Central Forest Spine, which will be delivered to the national and state authorities.