Malaysia promotes "orangutan" diplomacy

In an effort to allay concerns about the environmental impact of the palm oil industry, Malaysia has donated rare orangutans to countries that import the product.

The Malaysian government is planning to gift orangutans to countries importing palm oil as part of its "orangutan diplomacy " strategy, aimed at alleviating concerns about the environmental impact of the palm oil industry, which plays a major role in Malaysia's economy.

The Southeast Asian nation is currently the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil, which is found in more than half of packaged products sold in supermarkets, from pizza and cookies to lipstick and shampoo. However, global demand for palm oil is believed to be a factor in accelerating deforestation in Malaysia and neighboring Indonesia, with devastating environmental consequences.

Orangutans at the zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: Lim Huey Teng/Reuters

Malaysia's Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Johari Abdul Ghani said the country should not take a passive approach to the palm oil issue.

“We need to show the world that Malaysia is a sustainable palm oil producer and has a strong commitment to environmental protection,” he said.

Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said the gift of orangutans would demonstrate to the international community Malaysia's commitment to biodiversity conservation. He likened the strategy to China's "panda diplomacy", which has gifted pandas to other countries to boost diplomatic ties.

He also called on palm oil companies to partner with non -governmental organizations (NGOs) to support conservation and provide technical expertise on wildlife in Malaysia.

The call comes as Malaysia faces growing international pressure over deforestation and wildlife conservation. Last year, the EU passed a ban on imports linked to deforestation, hitting Malaysia, one of the world’s largest palm oil producers, hard.

The Bornean orangutan, endemic to the island of Borneo, is listed as a threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

It is estimated that 100 years ago, the total number of orangutans in the world could be up to more than 230,000 individuals. However, due to deforestation and illegal hunting, the Bornean orangutan population has seriously decreased.

According to a report by the conservation organization WWF, there are currently only about 104,700 Bornean orangutans left in the wild. Meanwhile, Sumatran orangutans, found in the north of Sumatra island in Indonesia, currently have only about 7,500 individuals left.

Several wildlife groups have called on the Malaysian government to consider alternative measures to “orangutan diplomacy” to protect the species. However, wildlife groups say the approach is ineffective and could be counterproductive. Justice for Wildlife Malaysia has stressed that the idea of ​​“orangutan diplomacy” would require extensive scientific and legal research, and warned that transporting orangutans overseas could endanger their health.

Wildlife experts say protecting forests - the natural habitat of orangutans - is the most important step in protecting this rare primate species.

Dr Felicity Oram, scientific advisor to the Malaysian Primate Society, welcomed the Malaysian Government’s commitment to supporting coexistence with wildlife . However, she also stressed that habitat protection is key to conserving this rare primate.

“While the ‘panda diplomacy’ model has been successful in conserving an iconic species, Malaysia can adopt its own approach to promote wildlife conservation more effectively,” said Ms Oram.

Specifically, Ms. Oram proposed focusing on three main measures: habitat protection, habitat restoration and coexistence with wildlife in their homes. According to her, this will create a much greater impact and set an example for other countries in promoting biodiversity conservation management.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/malaysia-thuc-day-chinh-sach-ngoai-giao-duoi-uoi-199742.html