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The hyperspectral satellite EnMAP (Environmental A key step in this direction is the so-called
Mapping and Analysis Program) is due to be "Essential Biodiversity Variables" (EBV), the
launched in 2018 and will provide image data with development of which has been possible due to the
very high spectral resolution. Hyperspectral remote efforts of scientists such as Angela Lausch and
sensing could then be used to measure many more many of her co-authors worldwide.
biochemical parameters, such as nitrogen,
phosphate or the water content in leaf tissue.
"EnMAP will significantly improve the identification
Defining conservation
of species and plant communities via remote priorities in tropical and
sensing. However, the greatest potential offered by
hyperspectral remote sensing lies in measuring
biodiversity rich countries
Date: November 24, 2016
Source: University of Nottingham stakeholders in the identification of conservation
priority issues in Peninsular Malaysia; produce a list
of ranked conversation issues; and test differences
While recent initiatives have attempted to address in priority perception among the stakeholders
conservation priorities at global and national scales, involved in the exercise.
most of these focus on developed countries in
temperate regions. There is a need, say experts at The results suggest that there should be:
The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus improvements to policy and management to
(UNMC), to develop similar strategies in developing champion biodiversity issues; a strengthening of
countries, especially in biodiversity hotspot areas. environmental laws and enforcement; recognition of
socio-economic issues especially among
K. Nagulendran (Nagu), a third year PhD student indigenous and local communities; increases in
with the School of Geographical and Environmental funding and resource allocation; knowledge,
Sciences, led a multi-stakeholder exercise involving research and development to inform decision
several hundred participants to identify conservation making; a greater understanding and protection of
priorities in Peninsular Malaysia. They have the rights of nature and cultural heritage; a more
produced a list of 35 ranked conservation issues holistic public awareness and participation to bring
within seven general themes. The aim is to about change to promote conservation.
influence policy-makers, practitioners and
researchers and ensure conservation becomes an Balancing the need for economic development
integral part of the development process. The
results -- 'A multi-stakeholder strategy to identify Nagu works for the Malaysian Government's
conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia' -- Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. He
have been published in the open access academic graduated with a Masters in Environmental
journal Cogent Environmental Science. Management from The University of Nottingham in
2003 and has been recognised by the University for
The project makes the case for the prioritisation of his work in the evolution of Malaysia's policies on
conservation actions in Peninsular Malaysia guided the environment and natural resource management.
by science, in consultation with a wide range of key
stakeholders. It is also important to focus collective He said: "The country faces important trade-offs in
action given the limited resources available for its aim to conserve biodiversity while balancing the
conservation activities. need for economic development. The project
allowed us to effectively engage a broad spectrum
Protecting Malaysia's wealth of biodiversity of stakeholders -- including those in powerful and
influential positions. We hope this exercise can be
Malaysia is part of the Sundaland Biodiversity used as a blue print for conservation priorities and
Hotspot and is ranked 12 globally in terms of its policies in Malaysia and other tropical countries. By
National Biodiversity Index. Malaysia boasts a making this paper open access, it can be available
wealth of biodiversity which includes 306 species of to all. All of us need to understand that we can
mammals, 742 species of birds, 567 species of make a change and choose a lifestyle that is more
reptiles and over 15,000 plant species. Although the harmonious with nature."
country has a target to increase terrestrial protected
areas from 13.8% of total land area in 2015 to 20% Malaysia is generally considered an example of
by 2025, economic development has already had an success in its smooth transition into modern
impact on wildlife. The Sumatran rhino has economy with an ambition to be a high income
disappeared altogether and the country has seen a economy by 2020. Malaysians below the poverty
steady decline in the number of Malayan tigers. line has been drastically reduced from 52% in 1957
(at independence) to less than 0.6% in 2014. This
Through a series of workshops and online surveys, rapid economic development, however, has come
the objective of the research was to engage relevant with a cost to the environment. In 1940 almost 80%
of Peninsular Malaysia was under forest cover -- this freshwaters. These species tend to be small
figure had dropped to 44% by 2014. and inconspicuous and therefore out of the
public eye, but they can be as important as
While the world is losing biodiversity at
their larger counterparts. For example,
unprecedented rate, the first objective of the
Convention on Biological Diversity adopted in 1992 aquatic insects provide food to fish, and they
is to conserve the earth's biodiversity. The Aichi also help maintain high water quality by
Biodiversity Targets renewed this mandate to consuming both algae and decaying organic
address and halt biodiversity loss by 2020. matter as well as filtering particulate matter
Prioritisation of conservation approaches by
out of the water."
identification of issues will assist developing
countries with limited resources for conservation in
supporting the achievements of Aichi Targets as
Hawkins said the biggest technical
illustrated in this paper. challenge in conducting their study was to
determine what specific species likely
The senior authors of the study are Dr Campos- occurred in each of the many different types
Arceiz, associate professor in Tropical Conservation of streams and rivers prior to the effects of
Ecology at UNMC, and Dr Rory Padfield, lecturer in
pollution and habitat alteration. "Ideally we
Geography at Oxford Brookes University. Dr
would compare current collection records
Campos-Arceiz said: "To generate ownership of the
issues and potential solutions there is a need for with data collected prior to pollution at each
inclusiveness and multi-stakeholder participation in stream, but such historical information does
the identification of conservation priorities. Although not exist for the vast majority of streams and
we will have contrasting perceptions of conservation rivers." He said, "Imagine having to
priorities, it is important to have multi-stakeholder
reconstruct a complex painting when over
support and involvement to pursue our conservation
90% of the painting has been altered or
agenda."
destroyed and then use that reconstruction
to estimate what elements of the original
painting have been altered the most." The