Role of non-State actors in the protection of urban green environment. Case study: Malaysia

The reduction of the urban green environment is becoming imminent around the build-up areas throughout the world, including Malaysia. This is due to rapid development from rural migration, commercial and real estate activities, including the essential infrastructure growth.

Urban green environment are known to provide a range of ecosystem services for a cleaner and healthy city (e.g. water filtration, soil conservation, cooler and cleaner air and lowering carbon emission, etc), facilitate good and safe living environment (reduced noise, provides visual and aesthetic value, plus helps with the prevention natural disasters), and maintain the remnant habitats for the rich biodiversity especially in tropical region (sanctuary for wildlife and migratory birds).

Non-State actors (i.e. the general public, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and private entities) have a huge role to play in the protection of these green urban environment. The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) through its efforts to conserve the natural heritage of Malaysia had been involved in many of these activities. To name a few – in the advocacy and protection of Bukit Kiara Park, Bukit Persekutuan and Taman Tugu (within Kuala Lumpur), Templers Park, Batu Caves, Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Ampang Forest Park, Bukit Gasing Green Belt, Kota Damansara Community Forest (Selangor), Ipoh Limestones and Kinta Nature Park (Perak), Penang Hill (Penang), Piasau Nature Park (Sarawak), etc.

In protecting what is now becoming patches of urban green environment, MNS worked together with the local residents, interested and concerned public (or communities), and the other like-minded partners with support from private entities. Reflecting back, MNS's partnerships with these stakeholders can be seen as a journey of empowerment and contribution to our national consciousness of the symbotic relationship of nature and human habitat.

In this networking event, we would like to bring attention to the importance of the urban green environment, and the efforts of civil society to protect and ensuring its continued existence. We would like to share Malaysia's experience with other countries in the world; who might be confronted with similar situation/ problems and sees the advantage to form greater alliance as part of the Urban Agenda to make greater impact and greater contribution to our ever-changing urban environment..