PLANT ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN MALAYSIA

Natural and man-made wetlands provide crucial habitats and resources to many resident and migratory waterbird species globally. In Malaysia, at least 14 waterbird families, dominated by Scolopacidae, Charadriidae, Laridae, Ardeidae and Anatidae depend on coastal and freshwater wetlands throughout the country. Waterbird populations and wetlands in Malaysia are monitored primarily and consistently through the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) since 1989 – currently coordinated nationally by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) with support from Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Sabah Wildlife Department. Accumulated long-term AWC data showed that intertidal coastal mudflats on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak are important wintering/staging sites for migratory waterbirds and several globally threatened and near-threatened species. Resident waterbird population trends in the country vary, and few species have been locally extirpated. For example, the Lesser Adjutants (Leptoptilos javanicus) are still present in their stronghold sites but fewer sightings of Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi) in Peninsular Malaysia have been reported indicating a possible decline. Colonial waterbirds such as the Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) and Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) have taken up residence and expanded its distribution range and even breeding in Peninsular Malaysia. In terms of waterbird research, local universities and researchers are also showing more interest, culminating in more dissertations and published papers on short-term surveys, feeding ecology and behaviour. Waterbirds and wetlands continue to be threatened by habitat loss and degradation, pollution, hunting and trapping, and climate change in Asia affecting many waterbird species and sites along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). The Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) – a ‘common’ shorebird – which was formerly listed as Least Concern (2012) has been upgraded to Vulnerable (2024) in the Red List within a decade. Conservation actions on waterbirds and wetlands are now actively pursued within the ambit of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) and the ASEAN Flyway Network (AFN) Programme to prevent further decline.

JACELYN SEE CHOON MIN

Malaysian Nature Society

Jacelyn See Choon Min is a Wetlands Conservation Officer at the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and holds a Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Universiti Putra Malaysia. In her role at MNS, she works on waterbird conservation projects in the North-Central Selangor Coast and supports the coordination of the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) in Malaysia. She is a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Young Professional Task Force and serves as a core officer in the research team of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Youth Task Force.