Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA): An Important Approach in Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation in Malaysia

Malaysia has adopted two ways of conserving its biodiversity; species-based and landscape-based approaches. However, there are limitations of these approaches that can be addressed via Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA). Hence, the aim of the study is to review and compare several current conservation approaches in Malaysia with KBA. Systematic literature search was done using a set of keywords in search engine and visited official government websites to obtain relevant documentations on conservation and biodiversity in Malaysia. Based on the findings, KBA is a holistic approach consisting of several biodiversity elements, criteria and themes that can be put in place, including Important Plant Areas (IPA), Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA), Important Fungus Areas and Prime Butterfly Areas. This approach has successfully helped many countries such as the Philippines, Indo-Burma hotspot, Uganda, and Canada identify and prioritize important sites for biodiversity conservation. Thus, KBA approach is an alternative approach to support stakeholders in mainstreaming biodiversity conservation approaches in Malaysia for more effective conservation planning in the future. This approach also offers geographic targets for the expansion of protected area coverage and identifies the site for urgent conservation action.


Introduction
Malaysia is one of the megadiverse countries in the world [1]. There are 307 mammal species, 785 birds, 567 reptiles, 242 amphibians, 2 068 freshwater and marine fishes, about 150 000 invertebrates and over 15 000 plant species recorded in Malaysia [1,2]. Besides that, Malaysia also has at least 14 major forest ecosystems, including tropical evergreen lowland rainforest, tropical upper montane rainforest, mangrove forest, peat swamp forest and many more [3,4]. However, the biodiversity in Malaysia is threatened by land developments, pollutions, poaching, encroachments, invasive alien species (IAS), and climate change [1,5]. For instance, habitat loss due to forest conversion for agriculture and silviculture, commercial logging, and human settlements threatens to push the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) towards extinction [6]. At the same time, high hunting pressure due to illegal trade had also led to the reduction of Malayan tiger populations [6].
As a State Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Malaysia has developed strategies to conserve biodiversity mainly based on two approaches, namely species-based and landscape-based approaches. However, the existing species-based and landscape-based approaches  [7,8]. It is a global initiative first announced in 2016 by IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WPCA) and Species Survival Commission (SSC). The vision of the KBA approach is "a comprehensive network of sites that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity is appropriately identified, correctly documented, effectively managed, sufficiently resourced and adequately safeguarded" [9].
Therefore, this study aims to review and compare several current conservation approaches in Malaysia with KBA. This information is important to support stakeholders in mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into national development planning and sectoral policies and plans to provide more effective conservation planning in the future.

Materials and Methods
The literature gathering was done using the search engine Google, and we visited the official ministry website to gain the authentic documents related to this study. The search of published documents related to species-based conservation approaches was conducted using keywords "species, conservation and Malaysia". Besides that, the search for published documents associated with landscape-based conservation approaches was carried out using keywords such as "landscape, conservation and Malaysia" associated with management plans and guidelines adopted in Malaysia.
Moreover, data mining on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) approach was conducted by searching and screening the published documents related to the identification of KBA. In addition, the search for information on Malaysia's global commitments and national biodiversity policy was done to gather information on the need for the KBA approach in Malaysia. Data interpretation was conducted by identifying the strength among adopted species-based and landscape-based conservation approaches and their limitations in Malaysia. The potential of the KBA approach as an alternatives initiative in mainstreaming biodiversity was also identified.

Species-Based Conservation Approaches
Active initiatives to conserve endangered species, especially large mammals, are implemented by the government and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) is given the task to foresee the implementations. For instance, the critically endangered Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) and its two main prey species are sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) and barking deer (Muntiacus muntjac) [10]. The survival of the Malayan tiger greatly depends on the main prey species. However, especially Sambar deer, the tiger prey species populations have declined due to high hunting pressure for meat consumption [11]. On the other hand, high access into forests due to fragmentation and degradation caused the sambar deer to be easily hunted by poachers [11]. Therefore, Malaysia delicately formulated the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan (NTCAP) to further protect the apex species and prey species, including their habitats [10].
Moreover, Malaysia also formulated the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP) to safeguard the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and its habitat. The elephant is often threatened by habitat loss, forest fragmentation and poaching, and the illegal trade of body parts such as ivory [12]. However, less attention is given to the conservation of other species of vertebrates. According to the Red List of Mammals for Peninsular Malaysia, a total of 14 mammal species are listed as Vulnerable (VU) [13]. These species have the potential to become endangered if no conservation measures are taken.

Landscapes-Based Conservation Approaches
Conservation by habitat protection in Malaysia was done through the establishment of Protected Areas (PAs). PAs received protection due to their natural, ecological and cultural values [14]. Based on the Master List of Protected Areas in Malaysia, there are 527 protected areas in Malaysia: 275 for Peninsular Malaysia, 195 for Sabah, and 57 for Sarawak [15]. These consist of land areas (4 346 249.4 ha) and sea areas (1 510 037.3 ha) [15]. Besides that, Malaysia has adopted the High Conservation Value (HCV) approach to facilitate forest management and certification activities via the identification of High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) [16]. The HCVF is classified into six types of HCV as listed by the Global HCVF Toolkit, which are HCV1-6 [17]. The HCV1 focuses on the forest areas containing globally, regionally, or nationally significant biodiversity values, including protected areas, threatened and endangered species, endemic species, and critical temporal use [16].
Another site-level conservation in Malaysia is through the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) approach. This approach is seeking balanced development within and around such areas based on sustainable development. According to the Environmentally Sensitive Area Conservation and Development Planning Guidelines, ESAs are divided into three conservation priorities: ESA Rank 1, ESA Rank 2 and ESA Rank 3 which is arranged from no development to controlled development activities [18]. According to the 3 rd National Physical Plan (NPP3), 4 491 145.13 ha of ESA Rank 1, 4 440 453.29 ha of ESA Rank 2 and 2 857 393.51 ha of ESA Rank 3 in Peninsular Malaysia [19].
Nevertheless, there are limitations in the existing landscape conservations. For instance, conservation, management, and enforcement of habitat are only focused within the PAs gazetted. Thus, important habitats that exist outside the PAs and buffers might not be well protected. Apart from that, the HCVF approach favouring large forested areas and does not consider the critically endangered species dwelling in fragmented areas as well as in smaller forest patches [20]. As for the ESAs approach, the current classification are mostly based on physical orientated attributes such as high altitudes, slopes and degree of risks [21]. Therefore, the important biological elements in an ecosystem might be neglected.

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) as Alternative Approach
The KBA is a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation. It can be applied across species, ecosystem and genetics levels and applicable to terrestrial, inland water, and marine environments [7,8]. The identification of KBA was conducted using the globally standardized species and ecosystem-based criteria with quantitative thresholds [8]. Based on the Guidelines "A Global Standard for Identifying Key Biodiversity Areas", 11 KBA criteria are grouped into five high-level criteria (A-E) [8]. These criteria cover biodiversity elements like species, ecosystem and genetic diversity. The KBA criteria and its biodiversity elements are stated in Table 1. In addition, the information derived from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the IUCN Red List of Ecosystem uses criteria and quantitative thresholds to identify threatened species and ecosystem types.
In addition, KBA also encompasses other important sites for biodiversity, namely Important Plant Areas (IPAs), Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), Important Fungus Areas, Prime Butterfly Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), Ramsar sites, Special Protection Areas and Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) [8].
To date, more than 15, 000 KBA have been identified globally [7]. This approach has successfully helped many countries such as the Philippines, Indo-Burma hotspot, Uganda, and Canada identify and prioritize important sites for biodiversity conservation [22,23,24,25]. For example, based on the case study in the Philippines, the KBA approach has successfully identified 288 KBA in the Philippines, resulting from the integration of the terrestrial, freshwater and marine KBA [22]. These KBA represent the known habitat of 855 globally important species of plants, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, corals, molluscs and elasmobranchs in the country, including sites identified under the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) [22]. Besides that, the KBA approach had also identified a total of 438 KBA, covering 258 085km 2 in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and Vietnam, plus parts of southern China and northeastern India [23]. These KBA include the important habitat of globally threatened mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fish and plants, as well as the sites identified under the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) [23]. Therefore, the KBA can be an important approach for biodiversity conservation in Malaysia.  [19]. Therefore, the KBA approach can support Malaysia in achieving this global commitment as it contributes significantly to the SDG15 -Goal 15 Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Apart from that, the KBA approach also contributes to Nature 2030 IUCN Programme under section 4.2 Land to achieve the Impact Target 1 -Ecosystems are retained and restored, species are conserved and recovered, and key biodiversity areas are safeguarded [26]. According to the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2016-2025, at least three goals and four targets will be supported by the KBA approach, namely (1) Goal 2-Target 3: By 2025, biodiversity conservation has been mainstreamed into national development planning and sectoral policies and plans; (2) Goal 3 -Target 6: By 2025, at least 20% of terrestrial areas and inland waters, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, are conserved through a representative system of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures and Target 9: By 2025, the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented, and their conservation status has been improved and sustained, as well as (3) Goal 5 -Target 15: By 2025, capacity for the implementation of the national and subnational biodiversity strategies, the CBD and other related multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) has significantly increased [1]. Implementing the KBA approach will provide a comprehensive framework that complements existing approaches to identify important sites for biodiversity [7]. In line with that, KBA can also help to guide the strategic expansion of PA networks, supporting national and regional conservation planning and priority-setting, and site designation under international conventions. Moreover, it also informs the private sector to enhance safeguarding biodiversity-related policies and environmental standards and at the same time provide increased recognition and investment in site conservation efforts by local and indigenous communities [7].

Conclusion
In conclusion, the KBA initiative is an alternative approach to mainstream biodiversity conservation approaches in Malaysia. However, more research needs to be done on the implementation of the KBA approach in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the KBA approach is expected to offers geographic targets for the expansion of protected area coverage and identifies the site for urgent conservation action in Malaysia. At the same time, the KBA information is also expected to support stakeholders in mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into national development planning and sectoral policies and plans to provide more effective conservation planning in the future.