A landmark publication for nature conservation at the annual Raptor Watch celebration on the 10th of March 2007 - The Directory of Important Bird Areas in Malaysia: Key Sites for Conservation. This publication was prepared by Yeap Chin Aik, Anthony Sebastian and Geoffrey Davison. It is reportedly the culmination of a six year process to map out key conservation areas throughout the country, using birds as indicators.

With birds as their guide, MNS has identified priority areas for conservation actions. Using this process, 55 sites, covering an approximate area of 50, 944km2, have been identified for Malaysia; 18 in Peninsular Malaysia, 14 in Sabah and 22 in Sarawak. Malaysia is currently the 10th country to map out its IBA in Asia.

MNS President Anthony Sebastian says, “This is Malaysia’s contribution to the world. It is also a great contribution to the ASEAN region, with which we share so much of our biological diversity. This is a very important document, placing in posterity a map of much of our country’s unique and spectacular natural heritage”.

YB Dato’ Seri Azmi Khalid, Minister with the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources unveils a key national blueprint for conservation in Malaysia, Directory of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Malaysia – Key Sites for Conservation, at the Raptor Watch 2007 event in Tanjung Tuan, Melaka. This landmark publication, targeted at policy and decision-makers highlights key conservation sites in Malaysia using a standard internationally recognised set of criteria. (Click here to go to the full article)