Sarawak seeks fairer share of RM270-million conservation funding

KUCHING: Sarawak has welcomed the RM270-million Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) allocation announced under Budget 2027, while calling for its share to reflect the state’s extensive forests and conservation responsibilities.

Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, Datuk Len Talif Salleh said Sarawak had approximately 7.64 million hectares of forest, covering about 61.5 per cent of its land area, and faced significant long-term responsibilities in forest protection, wildlife conservation, forest restoration and enforcement.

“While the specific allocation for Sarawak has yet to be confirmed, we hope the distribution will adequately reflect our extensive forest resources, biodiversity significance and the costs of maintaining these natural assets,” he told Sarawak Tribune when contacted today (Oct 10).

Len Talif said Sarawak believed the EFT distribution should be based on transparent, objective and equitable criteria that recognised each state’s conservation responsibilities and contributions.

He said Sarawak’s forests provided benefits beyond the state, including carbon storage, climate regulation, water security and biodiversity protection.

“Therefore, we believe that the allocation formula should adequately consider forest coverage, the extent and ecological value of protected areas, biodiversity significance, conservation costs and measurable performance,” he said.

He stressed that Sarawak’s position was not intended to diminish the conservation contributions of other states, but to ensure that states with extensive natural assets and substantial conservation responsibilities received appropriate financial support.

“We will continue to engage constructively with the Federal Government to ensure that Sarawak’s contribution to national conservation is properly recognised,” he said.

Len Talif said Sarawak would also continue discussions with the Federal Government to explore additional funding opportunities under Budget 2027 and relevant national programmes.

He said further support was needed for protected-area management, wildlife conservation, forest landscape restoration, biodiversity research, community ranger programmes and sustainable ecotourism destinations.

“Importantly, we want conservation to generate tangible benefits for the people who live alongside our forests,” he said.

He added that local communities should have opportunities to participate in ecotourism, community enterprises, cultural tourism and other nature-based economic activities.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the increase in the EFT allocation to RM270 million when tabling Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday (Oct 9).

He said the funding would support states in conserving the country’s natural heritage while encouraging community-based economic activities and ecotourism.

Anwar also said Malaysia was among the world’s 17 most biodiverse countries, with nearly 70 per cent of known species found in the country, including about 12,000 species, or more than 80 per cent, in Sabah and Sarawak.