Policy
Policy
Our policy and advocacy work has been the foundation of the Society’s successes thus far. This is done in many ways, be it from the support and commitment of our members across the country with state level advocacy, or with the work of the Secretariat with Federal and State agencies. Our work covers a wide range of issues, from the Kuala Muda coast in Penang, to national issues in the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex. The success MNS received in areas such as Endau-Rompin and Taman Negara are just some examples of where policy and advocacy has succeeded in ensuring effective conservation. MNS also works closely with the Federal and State agencies on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Green lungs are forests, parks or any vegetated land, grassy area, playing fields or water within or adjoining an urban area that help make neighbourhoods attractive places where people want to live and work because they provide a healthier environment and calming influence.
Federal Hill is the largest green area with mature trees in the city of Kuala Lumpur. MNS supports the use of Federal Hill as a location for the Natural History Museum as it is strategically placed as a transportation and tourism hub.
The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) applauds the residents of Federal Hill on their stand in opposing the proposed high-rise development next to their neighbourhood. MNS recognises the value of Federal Hill as one of the main green lungs in the Klang Valley and therefore firmly disapprove of the proposal to allocate a sizeable portion (1.86ha) of the 2.5ha plot near Jalan Travers, (which was originally designated for institutional use) for the development of two 30-storey blocks and one 16-storey structure.
The project is not consistent with the low-density and non-commercial development of this location under the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020 and City Hall should provide a disclosure of the local draft plan for public scrutiny.
MNS favours the protection of Federal Hill and our efforts include conducting a biodiversity and building-heritage survey to develop a proposal to conserve the hill with various land-use concepts for the benefit of the public.
For more information, please email to hod.conservation@mns.org.my