BTA2026 Records 1,470 Biodiversity Species, Earns ASEAN, Asia Recognition
GERIK, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- The successful identification of 1,470 biodiversity species on Pulau Banding through the Banding Trail Adventure 2026 (BTA2026) has earned the programme recognition from ASEAN and ASIA Records in the category of "Highest Number of Species Recorded Across Three Biological Domains in a Single Trail Expedition Programme”.
The achievement represents a nearly threefold increase from the 519 species recorded during BTA2025 last year, which previously earned recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) in the category of "Most Biodiversity Species Identified in a Single Programme”.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the programme was in line with the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022-2030, which emphasises biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use, fair benefit-sharing, as well as strengthening research and knowledge development.
"I welcome the initiative to organise the Banding Trail Adventure (BTA2026), which holds strategic value in helping the country strengthen its knowledge and database on Malaysia's rich biodiversity.
"BTA2026 combines scientific research, biodiversity documentation and the direct involvement of volunteers comprising representatives from government agencies, NGOs, higher education institutions, the corporate sector and local communities," he said in his speech at the closing ceremony marking the ASEAN and Asia Records recognition for BTA2026 today.
Furthermore, Arthur said the application of modern technologies such as remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) now serves as valuable complements to field expertise, strengthening monitoring efforts and enabling more science-based decision-making.
He said every species identified and documented through the programme contributed directly to national planning.
"It strengthens the Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) as the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), serving as the nation's primary repository to support the achievement of Target 2 of the National Policy on Biological Diversity (DKBK) 2022-2030.
"This noble initiative under BTA2026 also aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, supporting the target of protecting at least 20 per cent of land and inland water areas by 2030," he said.
Arthur said the federal government, through the Natural Conservation Trust Funds for Natural Resources (NCTF), had also allocated RM250,000 to the Pulau Banding Foundation for a research project titled "Assessing Wildlife Population Health and Prey-Predator Dynamics Through Salt Lick Usage in Temengor Reserve Forest", to be conducted from 2026 to 2027.
Meanwhile, more than 50 experts, researchers and volunteers from various government agencies, higher education institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the corporate sector participated in the expedition.
BTA2026 was organised by the Pulau Banding Foundation (PBF) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), the UMK Tropical Rainforest Research Centre (UMK-TRaCe), Belum Rainforest Resort and Yayasan EMKAY, with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Setia Haruman and the EMKAY Group.
-- BERNAMA
