NATIONAL CONSERVATION TRUST FUND

PREAMBLE
The destruction of our Nation’s natural resources in the name of development and economic progress has cost many lives. This is of great concern to the Government, Environmental Groups and the public at large.

Press statements issued by our Prime Minister, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, other concerned bodies and individuals, have stressed the need to preserve the environment.

TRUST FUND
The loss of biological diversity impoverishes the peoples’ quality of life and deprives future generations of their legacy to our Nation’s natural heritage. There is therefore an urgent need to put in place conservation measures. One of these is the setting up of a non-profit and non-partisan Trust Fund. The Trust Fund will be used for the purchase of land for environment and biodiversity conservation purposes. Our Government also has also given serious thought to the concept of Trust Funds.

In the National Policy on Biological Diversity (NPBD), Strategy XV provides:-”Establishing Funding Mechanisms - identify and establish appropriate funding mechanisms for biological diversity conservation and management.”

The Action Plan for Strategy XV states the following:-
“Seek new and additional incentives, funding sources and mechanisms, at both national and international levels, for the implementation of the strategies. Funding sources should include government, non-government organisations (NGOs) and the private sector.

Establish trust funds for the conservation and management of biological diversity.”

The Trust Fund will be a non-confrontational, collaborative endeavour with the support of the Government, Environment Groups, Corporate/Private Sectors, Financial Institutions, NGOs and private citizens. This partnership’s aim will be to purchase lands, especially those threatened by development. In its implementation, the Trust fund will take into account the integration of development/economic interests and environmental objectives, with the interests of the people taking priority.

TRUSTEES AND MANAGEMENT
To ensure proper and effective management, Trustees from various strata of society will be appointed. The Trustees will raise funds to buy land, and to achieve the objectives of the Trust Fund. The Trustees will be accountable to the public and to al those who have a stake in preserving our precious natural resources. The Trustees will also exercise integrity beyond reproach and operate with transparency. Further, an established external audit firm will be appointed.

We the undersigned, as the pro-tem committee comprising individuals from the community and NGOs, support in principle, the setting up of the Trust Fund. In the interim period from the present, we will follow up to give effect to the matters stated above.

Dated this 22nd day of December 2006

The document is signed by the following representatives:-
Victor Oorjitham
Chairman of the Pro tem Committee
National Conservation Trust Fund
And Chairman, Maxwell Towers Owners’ Association, Petaling Jaya

Dr Dionysius Sharma
Chief Executive Officer
World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia

Edward Lee
President, Section 5 Residents’ Association, Petaling Jaya
And Chairman, Pro tem Committee
All Petaling Jaya Pro-Action Committee

Manogaran Maniam
President, Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia