KUCHING, March 3: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia opines that the National Budget 2023 should include flood mitigation initiatives for Sarawak and Sabah, in addition to the re-tendering of six flood prevention projects in Selangor, Johor and Kelantan.
The coastal cities and island communities that are vulnerable to flooding and coastal erosion must not be left out as well.
“We believe that adaptation and mitigation using nature-based solutions can help these communities to become more resilient toward the impacts of climate change.
“Nature-based solutions use the services that nature provides to solve a wide range of social, economic, and environmental problems such as food and water security, climate change, and reducing the risk of disasters,” said WWF Malaysia in an opinion piece statement today.
Explaining further, the organisation said ecosystems like mangrove forests and coral reefs protect the coastlines from storms and waves, reducing the severity of coastal erosion and loss and damage to properties.
Therefore, carefully planned and implemented nature-based solutions can bring tremendous value as they are usually cheaper than man-made infrastructure and bring multiple benefits to local communities.
WWF Malaysia was saddened by the recent incidents of floods that have impacted several states and regions in Malaysia.
“There have already been unfortunate reports of loss of lives, and we hope that safety measures are in place to ensure everyone remains safe.
“Flood events have grown in recent decades, making Malaysia particularly susceptible to flooding.
“The increase in the intensity and frequency of environmental disasters such as floods shows that economic development without environmental consideration will not guarantee the wellbeing of the rakyat,” WWF Malaysia emphasised. — Dayakdaily
