Freshwater is
perhaps the most crucial resource for humans and all other living
creatures on earth. Our life revolves around water, and sufficient clean
water is essential for our healthy living as well as the health of the
environment.
Malaysia receives abundant rainfall averaging 3,000mm annually that contributes to an estimated annual water resource of some 900 billion cubic metres.
About 97% of our raw water supply for agricultural, domestic and industrial needs are derived from surface water sources primarily rivers. Malaysia has 189 river basins - 89 in Peninsular Malaysia, 78 in Sabah and 22 in Sarawak. All the rivers originate and flow from the highlands.
The highland forests and wetlands (including forested wetlands and water bodies such as river systems) constitute key freshwater ecosystems in the country that deliver a multitude of benefits, from providing natural resources, gene pools, and habitats for flora and fauna, to enabling water purification and flood control.
These freshwater ecosystems are facing numerous threats and challenges. Recognising this, WWF-Malaysia promotes the conservation, integrated management and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems. To achieve this, WWF-Malaysia advocates for integrated policies and approaches, field projects, improving information database, and information dissemination to increase awareness. These are encapsulated within WWF- Malaysia’s Freshwater Programme comprising the following three areas:
Malaysia receives abundant rainfall averaging 3,000mm annually that contributes to an estimated annual water resource of some 900 billion cubic metres.
About 97% of our raw water supply for agricultural, domestic and industrial needs are derived from surface water sources primarily rivers. Malaysia has 189 river basins - 89 in Peninsular Malaysia, 78 in Sabah and 22 in Sarawak. All the rivers originate and flow from the highlands.
The highland forests and wetlands (including forested wetlands and water bodies such as river systems) constitute key freshwater ecosystems in the country that deliver a multitude of benefits, from providing natural resources, gene pools, and habitats for flora and fauna, to enabling water purification and flood control.
These freshwater ecosystems are facing numerous threats and challenges. Recognising this, WWF-Malaysia promotes the conservation, integrated management and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems. To achieve this, WWF-Malaysia advocates for integrated policies and approaches, field projects, improving information database, and information dissemination to increase awareness. These are encapsulated within WWF- Malaysia’s Freshwater Programme comprising the following three areas:
- Conserving river basins – maintenance and restoration of freshwater habitats and ecological processes within key river basins using approaches such Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM);
- Sustainable water use – focuses on sustainable water use
policies and practices that contribute to freshwater habitat
conservation using approaches such as Integrated Water Resources
Management (IWRM); and
- Conserving freshwater habitats – focuses on improved protection and management of priority freshwater habitats.
All of us
recognise that water is needed in all aspects of our life and adequate
supply of good quality water is critical for our well-being. Without
water, development would also not be possible - it’s a common factor
that cuts across all sectors of development.
In Malaysia, we are blessed with an abundance of rainfall and water resources. It has been estimated that each of us enjoy a per capita renewable water of more than 5,000 m3 per person per year. When compared to water resources available to people in many other countries where the per capita renewable water of less than 1,000 m3 per capita per year are not uncommon, the amount available to Malaysians is enormous. Yet, we are faced by water shortages and crises in many parts of the country. Obviously, the shortages and crises are not caused by having too little water to satisfy our needs. Rather it’s caused by unsustainable management of water resources that causes many people and the environment to suffer.
We must re-think the way we use and manage water, and recognise the link between water and the natural environment. Sustainable water use is a possible solution and approaches such as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) offers great potential as the way forward for ensuring the sustainability of our water resources.
The scope of IWRM is wide and it emphasises the integration of natural and human systems that include integration between the various components of water, and integration between water with the related land and environmental resources, and social and economic development. Sustainable water use through IWRM must happen at all levels and it needs to involve everyone from government agencies to private sector, NGOs, communities and individuals.
In Malaysia, we are blessed with an abundance of rainfall and water resources. It has been estimated that each of us enjoy a per capita renewable water of more than 5,000 m3 per person per year. When compared to water resources available to people in many other countries where the per capita renewable water of less than 1,000 m3 per capita per year are not uncommon, the amount available to Malaysians is enormous. Yet, we are faced by water shortages and crises in many parts of the country. Obviously, the shortages and crises are not caused by having too little water to satisfy our needs. Rather it’s caused by unsustainable management of water resources that causes many people and the environment to suffer.
We must re-think the way we use and manage water, and recognise the link between water and the natural environment. Sustainable water use is a possible solution and approaches such as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) offers great potential as the way forward for ensuring the sustainability of our water resources.
The scope of IWRM is wide and it emphasises the integration of natural and human systems that include integration between the various components of water, and integration between water with the related land and environmental resources, and social and economic development. Sustainable water use through IWRM must happen at all levels and it needs to involve everyone from government agencies to private sector, NGOs, communities and individuals.
Water for now and in future
Malaysians
continue to waste water - a precious and finite resource – despite the
frequent episodes of water shortages that make headlines every so often.
As a nation, we just don’t feel strongly enough about managing our
water resources sustainably.
For planners and decision makers in government, it helps to have suitable indicators to measure the sustainability of our water resources. WWF-Malaysia, with the assistance from Water Watch Penang (WWP) studied the state of water resources management in Malaysia to identify:
The WSI showed a decrease from 64% in 1992 to 33% in 2002 – a reflection that Malaysia’s water resources are rapidly depleting and have been managed unsustainably. Applying a more comprehensive and reliable WSI in future that incorporates additional aspects such as water resources availability, water supply adequacy, water catchment adequacy, water pollution, water consumption, NRW and water rates would be the way to go.
Besides providing a good resource tool, the study results also contributed inputs to a publication produced by Forum 21 entitled 'Malaysia's Development Progress Towards Sustainable Development' on six key sectors including water resources. This informal network of Malaysian environmental and social NGOs aims to share ideas, opinions and recommendations on sustainable development based on the Agenda 21.
For planners and decision makers in government, it helps to have suitable indicators to measure the sustainability of our water resources. WWF-Malaysia, with the assistance from Water Watch Penang (WWP) studied the state of water resources management in Malaysia to identify:
- major issues relating to sustainability of water resources in Malaysia;
- suitable Sustainable Development Indicators (SDIs) to measure the sustainability of water resources.
The WSI showed a decrease from 64% in 1992 to 33% in 2002 – a reflection that Malaysia’s water resources are rapidly depleting and have been managed unsustainably. Applying a more comprehensive and reliable WSI in future that incorporates additional aspects such as water resources availability, water supply adequacy, water catchment adequacy, water pollution, water consumption, NRW and water rates would be the way to go.
Besides providing a good resource tool, the study results also contributed inputs to a publication produced by Forum 21 entitled 'Malaysia's Development Progress Towards Sustainable Development' on six key sectors including water resources. This informal network of Malaysian environmental and social NGOs aims to share ideas, opinions and recommendations on sustainable development based on the Agenda 21.
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