Malaysia commended for U-turn on ‘orangutan diplomacy’, focus on conservation

“Malaysia can showcase her commitment to orangutan conservation by conserving any remaining natural forests that are habitats for orangutans, including those in the palm oil plantations,” WWF Malaysia said on Tuesday.

Facing pressure from the European Union’s deforestation laws, which mandate traders who sell palm oil to the EU to prove their products have no links to deforestation, Johari mooted the idea of “orangutan diplomacy” to show Malaysia as a sustainable producer and its commitment to forest protection.

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Malaysia revises adopt-an-orangutan plan that would now let animals stay in natural habitat

WWF Malaysia was against that idea, instead calling for in situ orangutan conservation, supporting sustainable palm oil production and increasing international funding for conservation efforts.

“Rather than sending orangutans abroad, this approach ensures the survival of the species and promotes responsible conservation practices and sustainable production,” the group said in May.

Speaking to This Week in Asia, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, the agency in charge of conservation in Malaysia’s largest and heavily forested territory, called the minister’s about-turn a “useful move”.

Conservation efforts of the apes’ natural habitat involved demarcating boundaries, building ranger stations, field patrolling, stepping up conservation education and field research and engaging with communities on projects that sustain their livelihoods, said Melvin Gumal, the agency’s lead conservation officer.

“These activities enable the orangutans to have funds that will ultimately ensure that their numbers are sustained in the wild and potentially increase, especially if poaching activities threaten their survival,” Gumal said.

Sarawak is already