RAMSAR Wetlands Conservation in Malaysia : An Assessment and Policy Options for Improved Management

The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty on the conservation and sustainability of natural resources. Wetlands are a transitional zone of permanently or seasonally wet and generally dry environments. Malaysia has designed six areas for wetlands conservation with Johor having the highest number of Ramsar sites each with their unique characteristics. Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Pia is designated for research purposes a large bed of seagrass that is home to seahorses and dugongs. The study addresses issues occuring at these sites and provide for policy options towards more comprehensive management as the rapid development in the southern Johor region calls for a reassessment of the indicators, goals and objectives for the establishment of Ramsar in the area.