WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- There is a need for coordinated global efforts to address environmental issues, says Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Joseph Kurup.

"The world is witnessing an unprecedented loss and changes in biodiversity
and ecosystem services, which brings direct impact on human well being and
sustainable development. The future development of all countries will be
impaired if these losses are not reversed," he said in his speech at the
International Union of Forest Research Organization (IUFRO) 2010 Conference here
Monday.

There is a need to respect the sovereignty of nations but yet the needs of
the global community must be accommodated, and therefore is a need to work
together as one community and not as single nations working in isolation, he
said.

With an increasing concern that the present decline in global biodiversity
and ecosystem services is projected to increase, there is "an urgent need for us
to move into a proactive mode and not be held back by our present reactive style
of policy-making," he said.

He added that the recent Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Bali noted
that the 2010 Biodiversity Targets set by the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity(CBD) in April 2002 to significantly reduce biodiversity
loss will not be met.

He said a mechanism should be set up to help countries especially developing
countries to strengthen their capacities with adequate scientific knowledge to
guide policy-makers.

As for Malaysia, he said the country as a host of rich diversity of flora
and fauna plays a key role on issues related to biodiversity with its active and
constructive participation in related international treaties.

Domestically, it has strived to emphasize the sustainable use of
biodiversity and ecosystem services for economic and social development, he
said.