Malaysia is proud of its seven Ramsar sites, covering over 5.19 million hectares, which provide economic and environmental benefits, says minister.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is justifiably proud of its seven wetland sites that have been internationally recognised as Ramsar Sites.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said this reflects the strong commitment of local communities and stakeholders to conservation.
The recognised sites include Tasek Bera in Pahang, designated in 1994, and Tanjung Piai, Pulau Kukup and Sungai Pulai in Johor in 2003.
Kuching Wetlands National Park in Sarawak was designated in 2005.
Sabah is also home to two Ramsar sites, namely the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands and Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, designated in 2008 and 2016 respectively.
“Malaysia is fortunate to possess a rich and diverse wetland ecosystem covering more than 5.19 million hectares,” Arthur said in a Facebook post for World Wetlands Day.
He said wetland ecosystems hold high conservation value, providing economic benefits through natural resources and tourism.
They also deliver critical ecosystem services such as flood mitigation, water catchment, coastal protection and carbon storage.
As a testament to the country’s commitment, Malaysia acceded to the Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1994.
Arthur added that the Ramsar Convention is the world’s oldest modern multilateral environmental agreement, established in 1971.
It currently has 172 Contracting Parties, with a total of 2,546 Ramsar sites designated worldwide as of 2025.
This year’s World Wetlands Day theme is ‘Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage’.
The theme highlights the close relationship between wetlands and the cultural practices of communities globally.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability remains fully committed to supporting state governments in conserving wetland ecosystems.
This effort is in line with the goals of the National Biodiversity Policy 2022–2030.
