The Biodiversity Talk 2025, organised recently at the Faculty of Science, University Malaya, as part of the Science Fiesta: Exploring Career and Biodiversity Insight, brought together professionals, academics, and students in an inspiring discourse on ecosystem restoration and sustainable development in Malaysia.
Organised by University Malaya Ecology Biodiversity Society (EcoBio UM), in collaboration with the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), the discourse was an effective platform for knowledge exchange and partnership building in biodiversity conservation.
The programme featured two sessions: Ecosystem Restoration for Forest and Biodiversity Recovery and Biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through these sessions, panelists from various fields shared meaningful perspectives and experiences on restoring degraded ecosystems, integrating biodiversity into corporate sustainability, and advancing Malaysia’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The sessions featured a list of distinguished panel of experts, including Mr. Ahmad Shahdan (Conservation Manager, MPOGCF), Dr. Aldrich Richard (Director, Silviculture & Forest Biological Conservation Division, FPSM), Ts. Faedzul Rahman (National Technical Specialist, NRES), Prof. Dr. Siti Nursheena (Professor, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, UM), Dr. Mohd Shafiq (Head of Section, Environmental Consultation, TNB Labs Sdn. Bhd.), Dr. Ahmad Zafir (Programme Director, The Habitat Foundation), Mr. Izereen Mukrid (Assistant Manager – Ecologist, Sime Darby Property), and Dr. Muhammad Rasul (Lecturer, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, UM).
In session 1, Mr. Ahmad Shahdan, Conservation Manager of MPOGCF, highlighted the importance of collective responsibility in tackling biodiversity loss.
“Addressing these challenges requires collective responsibility. It is not the duty of one institution or sector alone, but a shared mission involving the government, industries, academia, communities, and most importantly, young people like all of you here today,” he said during the session.
The Biodiversity Talk 2025 underscored the importance of collaboration between industry, academia, and youth, serving as a testament to how shared efforts can bring real progress in ecosystem restoration and sustainable development. The enthusiasm and active involvement of students throughout the event reflected a growing awareness of sustainability issues among the younger generation, a promising glimpse for Malaysia’s environmental future.