First M'sian to sit in World Heritage Panel

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Parks Director Dr Jamili Nais made history by being the first Malaysian and currently the sole Asian to be appointed to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Heritage Panel.Describing it as a great honour for him as well as the State and Malaysia, the 52-year-old conservationist said he was appointed a member of the IUCN World Heritage Panel for the next four years, effective Aug 14, this year.

"I did not expect to be selected as the panel membership is prestigious and exclusive.

Furthermore, it was quite competitive," he said when met at the Malaysia Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Day at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, here, Thursday.

"Although the appointment comes with a big responsibility, it is also a good opportunity to gain more knowledge and share with the local authorities, especially on submitting proposals for World Heritage Sites.

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"As a member of the IUCN World Heritage Panel, I cannot be directly involved with any nomination of World Heritage Site, but I can still help in terms of the technicality of the proposals."

The IUCN World Heritage Panel provides technical and strategic advice to the World Heritage Committee where the panel normally meets at the culmination of the annual process of IUCN evaluations of World Heritage nominations.

The panel will also hold meetings to finalise recommendations for nominations, review state of conservation reports and make recommendations on policy issues and items to be discussed at the meeting of the World Heritage Committee.

Having attached with Sabah Parks for 29 years, the Ranau native has vast experience in environmental conservation.

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"I was first posted at Kinabalu Park where I spent 11 years working there and I have a doctorate in ecology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

"Previously, I was also involved in the evaluation of the expansion of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Sulu Sea, the Philippines," he said. - Ricardo Unto

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