The Brief

the brief

Strengthening non-state actor involvement in forest governance
in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea

The tropical forests of Malaysia are a treasure trove of biodiversity, putting the country in the top 12 most biodiverse nations on the planet. Malaysia features many landscapes recognised as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), besides supporting the livelihood of her people. Human habitation and development, however, have created long-standing environmental problems, owing to agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, deforestation and the degradation and fragmentation of our forests.

The national as well as state governments have implemented measures to stem forest loss, including such initiatives as Central Forest Spine, Heart of Borneo, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) and the still-elusive Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA). Nevertheless, weak governance may sound the death knell for these green spaces, unless non-state actors can be empowered to play a larger part in forest governance.

The national as well as state governments have implemented measures to stem forest loss, including such initiatives as Central Forest Spine, Heart of Borneo, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) and the still-elusive Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA). Nevertheless, weak governance may sound the death knell for these green spaces, unless non-state actors can be empowered to play a larger part in forest governance.

Realising that these critical stakeholders in forest conservation activities – local communities, indigenous people, non-governmental organisations and the public – are constrained by a lack of technical knowledge, experience and political influence, this project aims to equip non-state actors with the necessary technical knowledge, platforms and skills to establish forest monitoring programmes and have a stronger voice in forest management advocacy.

MNS, as the Malaysian partner, is committed towards strengthening local community involvement in forest advocacy and protection of Malaysia’s green spaces as important habitats for its wildlife, with a focus on the Central Forest Spine, Heart of Borneo and identified IBAs, as well as the REDD+ and FLEGT initiatives.

In achieving these goals, MNS seeks to work with MNS State Branches, local communities, nongovernmental organisations, the public and government departments to ensure the project is successful, not just for the five-year period but also as a long-term programme to foster strong and effective governance for Malaysia’s forests.

MNS’s previous recognised work with non-state actors include the conservation of hornbills, with emphasis on the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex; Kuala Selangor Nature Park for Ramsar, via CEPA outreach programmes for MNS members and local communities; safeguarding the mangrove belt of the North Central Selangor Coast; and Revisiting Our Original Trees (ROOTS).

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