COMMENT | World Wildlife Day: How next generation can act on preservation

COMMENT | Today is World Wildlife Day, an international awareness day coordinated by the United Nations Environmental Programme, to celebrate and protect wild animals and plants in their natural habitats.

Each year, more and more people are recognising the invaluable role wild animals, plants, and habitats play in maintaining the ecological balance of our planet. Yet, the fight for the conservation of wildlife and its habitats is far from over.

Malaysia has a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, with 22,500 species of plants and 422 species of mammals. Unfortunately, this diversity is under threat due to overhunting, habitat loss, climate change, and pollution.

As a result, many species are on the brink of extinction, including the Malaysian tapir, the Sumatran rhinoceros, and the Bornean clouded leopard, to name a few.

A major problem impacting the conservation of wildlife is land encroachment and fragmentation. The development of land encroachments can greatly damage the habitats of wild animals and disrupt the natural order of their ecosystems.

Even with growing awareness of human-wildlife conflict, surface mining and illegal settlements on forest reserve lands are still pervasive.

With the growing population of Malaysia, areas that are home to wildlife and habitats tend to get crowded and neglected. This can lead to rapid and unsustainable resource depletion, resulting in further loss or exploitation of wildlife and its ecosystem.

Malaysia’s population continues to rise and its already strained resources are put under increasing pressure.

Push for conservation

To ensure that the push for wildlife conservation in Malaysia is supported by its citizens, the youth can play a vital role. They are exposed to issues dealing with wildlife conservation daily, yet often lack the proper information to be educated about it.

Youth advocacy has the power to raise awareness in their immediate circles and consequently increase engagement in the cause.

A challenge to encouraging youth advocacy in conservation is connecting environmental education with broader social and economic development initiatives.

This will require creating a persuasive narrative emphasising how a healthier environment has direct economic, social, and health benefits for the country.

Doing so would create a cultural shift that would bring the importance of conservation to the public sphere, setting it up as a priority item on the social agendas of citizens and government policy decisions.

Incorporating youth into the conservation narrative is one of the most effective methods of establishing the principle of conservation among the youth.

This can be done by expanding existing conservation and education activities to include more local and international volunteering opportunities; to enable students to gain hands-on experiences, as well as to experience different cultures and lifestyles in different environments.

Besides, more recognition and incentives should be given to the youth actively involved in conservation projects. We should work towards a society that values youth advocates for conservation and environmental protection; creating a culture of tribute, trust, and respect for the role played by younger Malaysians in the protection of our natural heritage.

Some ways that the youth can take part in wildlife conservation include engaging in meaningful dialogue with their local politicians and leaders and getting involved in policymaking initiatives to shape action toward the conservation of wildlife.

Voluntary contributions

The youth can also facilitate voluntary contributions that support various conservation projects, whether through direct donations or volunteer aid. These contributions act as a source of financial and human resources that conservation initiatives can draw on.

Finally, to further spread awareness and education, the youth should utilise social media platforms, engage in environmental campaigns, and even start their initiatives to help educate their peers.

These initiatives will inspire and motivate Malaysians, including those of the younger generations, to be involved in the much-needed efforts to conserve wildlife.

Malaysia’s wildlife is not only an invaluable resource but also an integral part of its culture and heritage. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, it is our responsibility to protect its wildlife and its precious habitats.

This World Wildlife Day, let us remember that the conservation of Malaysia’s wildlife can be achieved only through the involvement of all Malaysians, young and old.

It is only through a commitment to a conservation-first strategy and involving the nation’s youth, that we will be able to protect Malaysia’s biodiversity from the grave threats it faces and ensure a better future for future generations.

MOGESH SABABATHY is a Malaysian Youth Climate advocate and co-founder of Project Ocean Hope.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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