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MY forest launched to boost rakyat's involvement in forest governance

14 Dec: The Malaysian Nature Society today launched MY forest, the Malaysian implementation of the project, “Strengthening Non-State Actor Involvement in Forest Governance in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea”, funded by the European Union.
MY forest is a high-impact partnership, as it looks at Malaysia’s natural heritage, our forests, and how non-state actors – non-governmental organisations, civil societies, local communities, the private sector and the public – can inform and change policies towards better forest governance. Under the five-year project (2017-2021), MNS is tasked with building the capacity of non-state actors from all around the country to engage more effectively with the government in protecting Malaysia’s forests.
MNS President Henry Goh, in his speech, said Malaysians are aware of the issues affecting the country’s green areas, such as deforestation, fragmentation of forests and destruction of

MY forest advisors Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor (right), and Dato' Dr Freezailah Che Yeom placing stickers on the project's target areas during the launch.

wildlife habitats, which lead to a whole list of problems affecting the country and the rakyat, including floods, landslides, water supply problems and loss of our wildlife species.
He said Malaysians have always looked to the governing authorities to protect the country’s resources, but this project seeks to change this mindset by delivering non-governmental participation in protecting our forests. “One of MNS’s tennets is the promotion of responsible environmental stewardship in Malaysia, and the Society truly believes that each and every

one of us has a role to play as stewards of our natural heritage,” he said.
Goh called on NGOs, environmental groups, local communities, the public and the media to come together to be part of changing the Malaysian forest landscape, to maintain the country’s green mountains and hills, its clean rivers, its home for tigers and elephants and tapirs. He said, “We want all Malaysians to be part of it, to look at our natural heritage and proclaim: MY forest, MY wildlife, MY responsibility.”

The MY forest launch was followed by the National Stakeholder Committee inception meeting, which saw the participation of government agencies, 13 non-governmental organisations and 10 MNS State Branches to plan the way forward for nationwide implementation of MY forest.