National Conference on Local Agenda 21 (Lance, 2015)

Kementerian Kesejahteraan Bandar, Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT), Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government through Malaysian Environmental NGO (MENGO) had invited Wetlands International Malaysia to participate in the National Conference on Local Agenda 21 (LANCE, 2015) on the 1^st November 2015 at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre.

The conference was attended by more than 140 participants from local councils and Local Agenda 21 focal points from all states of Malaysia including representatives from the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) and Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Department.

The conference focuses on enhancing the understanding of the participants on the concept and implementation of Local Agenda 21 in Malaysia. This platform also created an enabling environment for the participants along with the NGOs to exchange information and ideas on programmes or acitivities that can be done collaboratively in line with Local Agenda 21.

Wetlands International Malaysia along with our volunteer was given the opportunity to share and explain our work on the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands with the participants of the conference as well as with the Secretary General of KPKT, Datuk Haji Mohamamad bin Mentek. Representative from Wetlands International Malaysia took the opportunity to highlight our leading activities include providing technical input to local authorities on the management, restoration and sustainable use of peatlands and mangroves through promoting ecotourism development and wetlands environmental education.

Wetlands International Malaysia value the efforts in bringing the NGOs closer to the local authorities to increase information and knowledge exchange which is a necessary first step to creating opportunities for actions. We always believe caring for our ecosystem should never be a one-man show but instead a collaborative and inclusive approach amongst the authorities, communities and NGOS is the way to go in solving issues related to environment.

We would like to thank MENGO for extending the invitation to Wetlands International to participate in the event and we would also like to convey our gratitude to KPKT for this effort.