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Redang Island, Terengganu, Malaysia. Photo: Zhen zz/Unsplash

Perhentian Islands, Terengganu, Malaysia. Photo: Gaddafi Rusli/Unsplash

Preserving and protecting environment and biodiversity

In 2021 and 2022, the Ministry of Finance through the United Nations Development Programme implemented the Integrated Island Waste Management initiative.

The initiative targeted islands in the states of Johor (Pulau Besar) and Terengganu (Pulau Redang, Perhentian, and Kapas).

The goal was to improve waste management practices towards preservation and protection of environment and biodiversity such as coral reefs and marine life.

Continuing the initiative under the Sustainable Tourism project, efforts are now focused on a paradigm shift in waste management, particularly in light of ongoing environmental impacts of tourism.

Read more about how Tourism goes green by UNDP Nature.

Plastics and food waste a major issue on Malaysia’s islands

Plastics and food waste form a very significant proportion of the waste (more than 70%) generated on islands from resorts, food establishments, and local communities.

A survey revealed a more-than-10-fold increase in waste collected during the holidays compared to pre-holiday waste collection.

The private sector, local government, and communities can all play larger and more proactive roles in waste management on the islands.

Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia. Photo: M.Fildza Fadzil/Unsplash

Redang Island, Pulau Redang, Malaysia. Photo: Nazarizal Mohammad/Unsplash

Collective local action needed

Collective local action on island waste management is a fundamental building block for progressive tourism development in Malaysia.

The country needs integrated approaches to island waste management to ensure improvements at all levels of the waste management process, from prevention and minimization to proper segregation, treatment, and disposal.

Integrated approaches can lead to significant reductions in pollution of the marine biodiversity and ecosystems, which provides the ecosystem services for economic activities such as eco-tourism, fisheries, and community livelihood.

Local action for sustainable tourism, including waste management, requires strong leadership by local actors such as government, communities and private sectors. UNDP and the Government of Malaysia are therefore actively pursuing innovative initiatives that encourage local action.

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