Farina and Munira win the Outstanding Malaysian Nature Conservationist award (Photo: Patrick Goh/The Edge)
"Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved," said Jane Goodall, whose death on Oct 1 has left a gaping hole in the wildlife conservation sphere. The primatologist and anthropologist left behind a legacy that bridged science and empathy, and her words still resonate throughout the globe.
For better or worse, October marked several significant happenings in the domain of conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress that took place from Oct 9 to 15 in Abu Dhabi resulted in the adoption of a new 20-year Strategic Vision and Programme to guide future ecological stewardship. Additionally, the IUCN Red List was updated — new threats to Arctic seals were revealed and the green sea turtles were reclassified from “Endangered” to “Least Concern”, thanks to nest-site protection, fishing reforms and community-driven anti-poaching programmes.
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On Malaysian shores, the annual Biji Alam Awards ceremony was held on Oct 23 in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate those involved in safekeeping biodiversity. Nur Munira Azman and Nurzhafarina Othman won the Outstanding Malaysian Nature Conservationist award, each receiving a monetary reward of RM35,000 to assist in furthering their conservation efforts. Applications were accepted between March and May, and finalised by expert judges. The internal judges were Biji Alam co-founders Natalie Yong and Teckwyn Lim while their external counterparts were former head of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia, Dionysius Sharma; head of Sabah Environment Trust, Rahimatsah Amat; and co-founder of Batang Ai Conservancy in Sarawak, Robert Basiuk.
With pioneering environmentalists gathered at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, the event featured unique local elements. Sarawakian artist Brandon Ritom designed the trophies based on the Engkabang winged seeds that spin around like helicopter propellers as they fall from the forest canopy. Each awardee’s work was also brought to life through short documentaries produced by local filmmakers.
Shoring up efforts
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In her initial research, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) graduate Munira focused purely on forest birds. Her introduction to coastal animals was quite romantic — her husband would bring her on a boat to watch them. Everything changed when her team photographer captured a wader with a labelled leg. She began to question, where did it come from and who tagged it?
Her curiosity led to the creation of the Shorebirds Peninsular Malaysia Project (SPMP), a volunteer-led group operating along the Teluk Air Tawar-Kuala Muda (TAT-KM) coast in Seberang Perai, Penang. During the non-breeding season, more than 50 million birds travel from Alaska to New Zealand to escape harsh winter conditions, making the area a critical part of their ecosystem.
TAT-KM’s mangrove trees face the peril of clearance, thanks to reclamation and aquaculture pond development. The loss of wetlands affects more than just avifauna — other species such as otters and monkeys would also suffer.
“The birds never fear the journey. They never fear habitat loss, illegal hunting or predation. This same spirit lives within me, we never fear,” says Munira, adding that it is not easy to gain trust from the community or communicate with authorities. Hence, she actively introduces people to the beauty of the avians, empowering them to be involved in conservation while providing an additional source of income.
Since 2019, Munira and her team have documented nearly 60 species of shore and waterbirds, including the endangered black-faced spoonbill. The funds from the award will help her ongoing data collection and enable SPMP to hold an awareness event, produce public education materials for campaigns and equip fishermen for eco-tourism through capacity-building workshops. Ultimately, she aims to get the TAT-KM site officially recognised by the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) as the first flyway site in Peninsular Malaysia, which will enforce security for the route.
“With the spirit of fearlessness, I hope we stay together and keep pushing forward to protect the mangroves and birds,” she says.
Gentle giants
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Nurzhafarina, who won the 2025 Whitley Award for her work in saving the native Bornean elephants, aims to dismantle the stereotype fixed upon the intelligent mammals, which are perceived as violent and destructive, especially by those living in close proximity to them. Also a USM graduate, she stresses the importance of the language used, as harsh words can penetrate and affect mentalities. For instance, use iring, meaning to accompany, instead of halau, to chase away.
An estimated 1,500 of the species are left in the wild. Twelve killings occurred within the last year itself, largely thought to be driven by human-elephant conflict. As the economy demands for more plantations, wildlife habitats grow smaller, forcing them to encroach into villages. Only 10% of forests remain in the Lower Kinabatangan area, which is home to 250 of the elephants.
In the midst of trying to survive, the compassionate creatures are often misunderstood. In May, a heartbreaking video showcasing the animal’s mannerisms and family bond went viral — the mother elephant refused to leave her calf after it was fatally struck by a lorry on the East-West Highway near Gerik in Perak.
“If I do not do this, who else will? They do speak, but many of us cannot understand their plight,” says Farina. Dedicated to her purpose, she founded Seratu Aatai, which focuses on educating the public and improving connectivity between humans and elephants in Sabah.
Funds from the award will aid the NGO in fostering more informed communities through a series of educational videos, workshops and an activity book tailored for students in Humana schools. There are plans to expand training programmes, especially for farmers, plantation workers and families, in hopes of nurturing a better understanding of elephant behaviour and safety during unprecedented encounters. These actions will reduce risks for both parties, and allow the animals to move freely while easing pressure on villagers.
Funded by individuals, family foundations and institutional partners, the prize award has increased by 40% since the Biji Alam Awards made its debut last year. This year’s RM80,000 total has allowed the initiative to give away a special project grant of RM10,000 to Friends of Bukit Kiara society (FoBK) for their preservation of urban forests — specifically the Bukit Kiara Federal Park, a green lung in KL currently under threat from high-density development. The grant will partly fund a biodiversity survey to support the suggestion of a green buffer zone to city planning authorities. Besides providing nature-based solutions for pollutants and a space to maintain wellness, the forest is also home to common snakes and at least nine species of fireflies.
Last year’s recipients have initiated spearheading projects in their specific sectors. Yap Jo-Leen, who focuses on primates through Langur Project Penang Hub, has started construction on a third canopy bridge for safer animal crossings. To shield the Sunda pangolins, Chong Ju Lian from Save Our Pangolins is writing a book on pangolin lore and has conducted 200 interviews with Orang Asli communities.
With the award and its past winners achieving significant milestones in their respective missions, prospects for conservationists seem bright, especially with the growing sentiment on the importance of natural life.
Watch the short films on the winners at bijialamawards.org.
This article first appeared on Dec 8, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
