Malaysian Environmental Stewards Honored with Biji Alam Awards for Wildlife and Habitat Defense

A recent ceremony for the Biji Alam Awards 2025 recognized the significant dedication of several Malaysian environmental champions whose work is pivotal in safeguarding the nation's rich biodiversity. The recognition affirms that focused, on-the-ground action drives positive transformation across various ecosystems.

Two distinguished scientists, Dr. Nur Munira Azman and Dr. Nurzhafarina Othman, each received the Outstanding Malaysian Nature Conservationist Award, which included a substantial RM35,000 prize in acknowledgment of their pioneering contributions. Additionally, the Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK) organization was granted a special project award of RM10,000 to support its urban conservation initiatives within Kuala Lumpur. The Biji Alam Awards specifically celebrate mid-career conservationists who are driving impactful projects, underscoring a national commitment to ecological stewardship.

Dr. Azman's efforts focus on the critical protection of migratory shorebirds through the Shorebirds Peninsular Malaysia Project (SPMP). Her work centers on the ecologically sensitive coastline from Teluk Air Tawar to Kuala Muda in Penang, a vital waypoint along the East Asian-Australasian flyway used by an estimated 50 million birds annually. The newly secured funding will advance monitoring protocols and expand outreach programs, supporting an application to achieve official designation for the site as a recognized flyway location, which is crucial for international conservation efforts.

Meanwhile, in Sabah, Dr. Othman’s organization, Seratu Aatai, addresses the delicate balance required for human-elephant coexistence in the Lower Kinabatangan region. The Bornean elephant population is critically small, numbering fewer than 1,500 individuals, and faces intense pressure from encroaching plantation expansion that fragments their habitat. Dr. Othman’s strategy emphasizes deep community engagement, educating local communities and farmers on elephant behavior to foster mutual safety and cooperative living.

Complementing these scientific endeavors, the Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK) received commendation for their commitment to maintaining the ecological integrity of Bukit Kiara Federal Park, championing its role as an indispensable green lung for the capital. Their strategy heavily relies on fostering citizen science and robust public engagement, ensuring the community acts as the primary guardian of this urban biodiversity. The awards, by recognizing these varied efforts, highlight that effective conservation requires scientific rigor, community partnership, and political will to secure crucial habitats against development pressures.