14.3 – Supporting Aquatic Ecosystems Through Action

14.3.1 – Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of the Oceans (Events)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) supports and organises numerous events aimed at promoting the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic ecosystems of the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and marine resources.

‘2023 Mangrove Conference: Monitoring, Conservation And Sustainable Development’

UKM joined organised the Conservation event: ‘2023 Mangrove Conference: Monitoring, conservation and sustainable development’. This conference was held at Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, from 17-18 October 2023. UKM led by Prof. Che Abd Rahim Mohmed  jointly organised this conservation seminar event. The “2023 Mangrove Conference”, Supported by: Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) (CRRP2020-06MY-Loh), aims to provide a platform for researchers and scientists worldwide to discuss about the current issues and progress in mangrove research and development from their respective countries. It also aims to foster linkages among participants towards future collaborative programs on mangrove conservation and studies.

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

On 26 July 2023, the Mahathir Science Award Foundation (MSAF) with the Academy of Sciences Malaysia held our fourth webinar series, in conjunction with the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, focusing on ‘Protection and Restoration of Mangrove Ecosystems in the Tropics’. UKM is involved in this event through our presentative Dr. Aldrie Amir from Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), UKM.

Environment Festival 2023

Environment Festival 2023, jointly organised by Kelanasiswa, Pusat Kesatria UKM and Caring Youth Club (WWF-Malaysia). This event was attended by YB Dato’ Hanifah Hajar who proudly addressed the Daro mangroves near her constituency in Mukah, Sarawak. Participants include school students, Boy Scouts, local residents and other NGOs. This festival aims to promote awareness on current environmental and conservation issues. Among the activities, include mangrove replanting using local sapling.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/kelanasiswa.ukm/p/C1tXSuzLZKK/

Sustainability Talk Series 3/2023

 28 March 2023: UKM-YSD Chair for Sustainability, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (FKAB), UKM has organised the webinar talk on 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝚮𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐚. The talk was from Mr. Julian Hyde, General Manager, Reef Check Malaysia. The aims to discuss strategies for sustainable marine resource management in Malaysia, emphasising a participatory and holistic approach. The session is free and open to the public, reflecting UKM’s commitment to raising awareness and fostering dialogue on sustainable practices for marine resource conservation.

Ocean Hackathon® in Brest, France

Students from the Institute of Climate Change (IPI), UKM won first prize at the Ocean Hackathon® in Brest, France, which promotes the conservation and sustainable utilisation of oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and marine resources by developing a predictive model and mobile application, JellyGo, to monitor jellyfish blooms and mitigate their impact on tourism.

UKM team, Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) won the grand prize of the Ocean Hackathon® competition for the jellyfish detector mobile application, JellyGo.

Public Forum On Sustainability Of the Andaman Sea, Langkawi

The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) in collaboration with the Institute of Environment and Development (LESTARI), UKM has organised a special forum, the ‘Ocean Malaysia Forum: Sharing Goals for the Sustainability of the Andaman Sea, Langkawi as a Starting Site’. This forum was conducted on 27 February 2023, with the main objective of promoting awareness on marine sustainability, particularly within the Andaman Sea. The Ocean Malaysia Forum was attended by a total of 100 participants consisting of all stakeholders including academics, government agencies, NGOs, private sector, stakeholders and the local community.

Source: https://www.lada.gov.my/en/ocean-malaysia-forum/

Malacca Strait Ecosystem Sustainability & Food Safety Workshop

This workshop was conducted between 17-19 Mac 2023, at the Center for Ocean & Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia. The Langkawi Research Center (PPL) and the Environment and Development Institute (LESTARI) of UKM collaborated with the Environment and Sustainability Cluster Action Team, the Malaysian Professors Academy and CEMACS, USM to organise this event. This workshop was led by Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Ibrahim Komoo and involved several professors from UKM, USM and UPM who presented a working paper for the preparation of the Melaka Straits Sustainability white paper. This workshop also aims to mobilise policies and programs to manage the Malacca Straits in an integrated manner by all stakeholders, including cooperation with neighbouring countries. The components considered include ecosystem services, biological diversity, coastal fisheries, aquaculture, strait pollution, earth resources & natural disasters, maritime, sea reclamation, history & culture of related communities and knowledge tourism.

Source: https://www.ukm.my/lestari/news/kelestarian-keselamatan-makanan/

IKIM-LESTARI UKM Ecology Camp 2023

The Environment and Development Institute (LESTARI) of UKM, the Langkawi Development Board (LADA) and the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) has successfully organised the ‘2023 IKIM-LESTARI Ecology Camp’ from 21-23 September 2023. This event was conducted at the Langkawi Research Center (PPL), UKM, in Langkawi, Kedah. The aim was to give direct exposure to participants related to ecological and conservation aspects, particularly through understanding the concepts, theories and its applications. This program was inaugurated by YBhg. Associate Professor Dato’ Dr. Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil, the Director General of IKIM. Also present were Dr. Nor Azaruddin Husni Hj. Nuruddin, Director of the Center for Science & Environmental Studies (KIAS), IKIM; Mr. Malik Hassan, Deputy Director of Education, School Management Sector, State Education Department (JPN) Kedah; and Mr. Yusof Nayan, Principal of Tunku Putra National High School, Langkawi, Kedah. Among the participants include students and accompanying teachers from SMK Tunku Putra; secretariat from KIAS and Program & Training Unit, IKIM; Geopark rangers from LADA; as well as the speakers and secretariat from LESTARI and PPL, ALAF-UKM.

Source: https://www.ukm.my/lestari/news/kem-ekologi-ikim-lestari-ukm-2023/

MyIKLIM Database

MyIKLIM database, developed by the Institute of Climate Change (IPI), UKM serves as Malaysia’s national open database for environmental and climate change research, supporting the conservation and sustainable utilisation of oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and marine resources by providing comprehensive and accessible data on environmental and climate change research in Malaysia.

Source: https://myiklimysd.ukm.my/