A national framework to strengthen the management of protected areas in a bid to protect the country’s biodiversity and conserve its ecosystem, species and genetic diversity will be developed in the remaining 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) period.

According to the 12MP Mid-Term Review (MTR) released by the Economy Ministry today, it includes the gazettement of new protected areas and encouragement for states in the peninsula to increase its forested areas to 50 percent by 2040, in line with the Fourth National Physical Plan.