Roundtable Discussion On Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Sub-Global Follow-Up In Malaysia - 11 March 2008

ICSU ROAP and its partners the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU IAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI) and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) will be convening on 11 March 2008 at the Hotel Equatorial Bangi, a Roundtable discussion (RTD) on follow-up activities to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA). This is the first step towards developing MA follow-up activities in Malaysia .

Ecosystems is a priority area of work of ICSU ROAP and the dialogue will provide the opportunity for researchers to hear the views of key stakeholders on ecosystems changes in Malaysia and their implications from cultural, political and policy perspectives. Presentations by UNI IAS, the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Ministers Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia Office, will be making presentations.

The RTD will:

• Provide an update on the status of knowledge and research in ecosystems;

• Share practical experiences on the current governmental strategies for development that aims to ensure the sustainability of ecosystems services; and

• To identify future research activities needed to strengthen understanding of the linkages between ecosystems services and human wellbeing for sustainable development