Mammalian wildlife conservation efforts in Malaysia: an agricultural perspective

Wildlife is an integral part of agricultural systems. Plantations, paddy fileds and other agricultural holdings are a natural or adopted habitat of myriad forms of wildlife. With a substantial percentage of present land use falling under the agricultural or cultivated category, the need to draw up an agricultural policy which accomodates conservation efforts is essential. A review of the present status of agricultural development should be undertaken so that further degradation of natural habitats to fullfill agricultural objectives is justifiable and genuine. Buffer zones and demarcation boundaries between agricultural land and forest reserve should be reviewed because of the shrinking habitats available to support viable populations of wildlife due to logging and deforestation programmes. Conversion of less productive agricultural land to forest 'reverts' is a possible move to absorb the pressure exerted on the viability of habitats which have been stretched beyond their limits. The reversal in agricultural policy calls for greater cooperation and coordination between government, state authorities and agricultural agencies together with forest and wildlife departments for planning and implementation. A review of policy in the long run should benefit wildlife through the creation of new ranging grounds and agriculture from reduced losses in productivity due to less frequent wildlife intrusions. With increasing interest in wildlife conservation agricultural land provides an opportunity for examining the various ecological components of wildlife such as predator-prey dynamics, spatial and temporal distribution of species, behaviourial adaptaions in new environments, responses to habitat modification and other processes. The concept of agricultural ecology should be redefined as its full appreciation will substantially contribute to our present understanding, conservation and management of the Malaysian natural habitat