T'ganu Can Lead In Balancing Development, Biodiversity Conservation - Tengku Muhammad Ismail

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Terengganu has a significant opportunity to demonstrate that economic development and biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand, said the Regent of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.

He said development must be planned responsibly, taking into account the limits and capacity of the natural environment to ensure that future generations continue to have access to natural resources and a healthy environment.

“Sustainable development is not merely about generating economic value today. It is about ensuring that future generations will still have the resources, space and a healthy environment in which to live and prosper,” he said at the official opening of the Terengganu Biodiversity Seminar 2026 at Wisma Darul Iman here today.

Also present were Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Terengganu State Parks Management Council director Datuk Tun Ahmad Faisal Tun Abdul Razak.

Tengku Muhammad Ismail said the state’s rich natural heritage, including its coastlines, islands, forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes, peatlands and marine ecosystems, was an important asset that must be protected.

He said these ecosystems were interconnected and interdependent, with forests sustaining water resources, wetlands helping to regulate floods and provide habitats for wildlife, and mangroves protecting coastlines.

“And at the centre of it all is the sea, which provides us with food and has shaped our culture for generations. When one part of this system is disrupted, the effects are felt throughout the entire chain of life,” he said.

Tengku Muhammad Ismail said Terengganu had received almost eight million visitors before the end of the year, presenting an opportunity to promote environmental awareness among both local communities and visitors.

He said small but consistent actions at the local level could create a meaningful global impact, in line with the seminar’s theme, ‘Acting Locally for Global Impact: Empowering Terengganu’s Biodiversity for Global Sustainability’.

“Imagine if each of our orang kampung talks about protecting the environment to every person who visits us, we would then have eight million people carrying the message everywhere. Small steps, but massive effects,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of research, knowledge-sharing and collaboration among researchers, academics, higher learning institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and local communities in strengthening biodiversity conservation efforts.

He said closer collaboration between the state and federal governments, particularly in technical expertise, research funding and alignment with national frameworks such as Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECM), remained essential to achieving meaningful outcomes.

“Good research should not merely result in publications. Knowledge is only useful when it is translated into effective management and practical solutions on the ground,” he said.

He added that scientific data and research findings should inform decision-making, while the experiences of local communities should also be recognised as valuable knowledge in supporting conservation initiatives.

Tengku Muhammad Ismail expressed hope that the seminar would serve not only as a platform for exchanging knowledge but also for building consensus, strengthening partnerships and translating ideas into concrete action.

He said efforts to protect biodiversity should benefit not only Terengganu’s ecosystems and communities but also future generations worldwide.

“I hereby inaugurate the Terengganu Biodiversity Seminar 2026, with the hope that all parties will pay attention and show concern for biodiversity issues, not only in the state of Terengganu but also throughout Malaysia,” he said.

-- BERNAMA