8
or NGOs (e.g. Malayan Nature Society, Asian
Wetland Bureau) and private sector (e.g. hydroengineering fi rms) do play an active supporting
role also in this respect.
Malaysian limnologists had been jointly
involved in the search for solutions related to
water resources protection and formulation of
environmental conservation strategies and methods. The latter has been produced by Malaysia’s
Environmental Quality Act (1974) with its inherent Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation (1985).
The current trend is towards organised, multidisciplinary, applied studies at the watershed or
ecosystem level. This had been made possible by
the enhancement of research and training infrastructure at the universities and research institutions which still serve as the main repositories
and sources of trained manpower. There have
been regular review and introduction of new
courses to the teaching curricula to refl ect the
awareness of manpower needs under changing
perspective of importance of the country’s fi nite
aquatic resources and fragile environment.
Funding opportunities from both the government and private sectors seemed to be encouraging
in recent years. Further, local initiatives have made
possible the extra fi nancial, technological and
human resource inputs from the collaborating
countries like Japan (JSPS, JICA), Canada (IDRC),
Europe (ASEAN-EEC), Australia (ASEANAustralia) and United Kingdom (Royal Society of
United Kingdom) and WHO and UNESCO.
Regional institutional linkage through postgraduate studies, exchange of research or academic staff, library exchange services and offers
amongst developing countries has been deemed
benefi cial. As such, such initiatives should be
promoted and sustained.
In the fi rst SIL workshop for the promotion of
limnology in developing countries held in August
1980 at Kyoto, Japan, Furtado ( 1980a ), Ho
( 1980a ) and Lim ( 1980a ) had presented a composite picture of the status of limnological
research and training with reference to natural
and man-made aquatic ecosystems as observed in
the then Malaysia.
1.10.1 Geoclimatic Features
of Malaysia
1.10.1.1 Geographical Location
Malaysia just lies above the equator, between
latitude 0° 60′ and 6° 40′ North, longitude 99°
45′ and 119° 25′ East. The country is a federation
of thirteen states.
1.10.1.2 Climate and Rainfall
Proximity to the equator has given Malaysia a
climate of high humidity ( c 80 %), high temperature (annual mean: 26.7 °C) and abundant rainfall
(2,000–5,000 mm). There is very little variation
in day length which averages to at least 8 h
of intense sunshine per day. For every 100-m
increase in altitude, the air temperature drops by
roughly 0.6 °C. Freezing point is reached only
rarely and, this too, only at the highest spot in
Malaysia, namely, on the peak of Mount Kinabalu
(4,102 m) in Sabah.
The equatorial climate is modifi ed by the
region’s insularity and exposure to a monsoonal
wind system that originates in the Indian Ocean
and South China Sea. Southwest monsoons
divide the year into two periods. The northeast
monsoon begins in October/November and ends
by February/March. The southwest monsoon
blows monsoonal periods, each lasting generally
about 8 weeks. There are no prevailing winds
during the inter-monsoonal periods, but daily
conventional rain is abundant. The country experiences between 150 and 200 rain days per year.
Rainfall of the heaviest intensities occurs during
the inter-monsoonal periods.
1.10.1.3 Relief and Drainage
About 18.5 million hectares (56.3 %) of
Malaysia’s 32.9 million hectares of land area is
covered with forests.
1.10.2 Peninsular Malaysia
The topography of Peninsular Malaysia is dominated by two mountain ranges, namely, the Main
Range and the Bintang Range.
1 Introduction
or NGOs (e.g. Malayan Nature Society, Asian
Wetland Bureau) and private sector (e.g. hydroengineering fi rms) do play an active supporting
role also in this respect.
Malaysian limnologists had been jointly
involved in the search for solutions related to
water resources protection and formulation of
environmental conservation strategies and methods. The latter has been produced by Malaysia’s
Environmental Quality Act (1974) with its inherent Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation (1985).
The current trend is towards organised, multidisciplinary, applied studies at the watershed or
ecosystem level. This had been made possible by
the enhancement of research and training infrastructure at the universities and research institutions which still serve as the main repositories
and sources of trained manpower. There have
been regular review and introduction of new
courses to the teaching curricula to refl ect the
awareness of manpower needs under changing
perspective of importance of the country’s fi nite
aquatic resources and fragile environment.
Funding opportunities from both the government and private sectors seemed to be encouraging
in recent years. Further, local initiatives have made
possible the extra fi nancial, technological and
human resource inputs from the collaborating
countries like Japan (JSPS, JICA), Canada (IDRC),
Europe (ASEAN-EEC), Australia (ASEANAustralia) and United Kingdom (Royal Society of
United Kingdom) and WHO and UNESCO.
Regional institutional linkage through postgraduate studies, exchange of research or academic staff, library exchange services and offers
amongst developing countries has been deemed
benefi cial. As such, such initiatives should be
promoted and sustained.
In the fi rst SIL workshop for the promotion of
limnology in developing countries held in August
1980 at Kyoto, Japan, Furtado ( 1980a ), Ho
( 1980a ) and Lim ( 1980a ) had presented a composite picture of the status of limnological
research and training with reference to natural
and man-made aquatic ecosystems as observed in
the then Malaysia.
1.10.1 Geoclimatic Features
of Malaysia
1.10.1.1 Geographical Location
Malaysia just lies above the equator, between
latitude 0° 60′ and 6° 40′ North, longitude 99°
45′ and 119° 25′ East. The country is a federation
of thirteen states.
1.10.1.2 Climate and Rainfall
Proximity to the equator has given Malaysia a
climate of high humidity ( c 80 %), high temperature (annual mean: 26.7 °C) and abundant rainfall
(2,000–5,000 mm). There is very little variation
in day length which averages to at least 8 h
of intense sunshine per day. For every 100-m
increase in altitude, the air temperature drops by
roughly 0.6 °C. Freezing point is reached only
rarely and, this too, only at the highest spot in
Malaysia, namely, on the peak of Mount Kinabalu
(4,102 m) in Sabah.
The equatorial climate is modifi ed by the
region’s insularity and exposure to a monsoonal
wind system that originates in the Indian Ocean
and South China Sea. Southwest monsoons
divide the year into two periods. The northeast
monsoon begins in October/November and ends
by February/March. The southwest monsoon
blows monsoonal periods, each lasting generally
about 8 weeks. There are no prevailing winds
during the inter-monsoonal periods, but daily
conventional rain is abundant. The country experiences between 150 and 200 rain days per year.
Rainfall of the heaviest intensities occurs during
the inter-monsoonal periods.
1.10.1.3 Relief and Drainage
About 18.5 million hectares (56.3 %) of
Malaysia’s 32.9 million hectares of land area is
covered with forests.
1.10.2 Peninsular Malaysia
The topography of Peninsular Malaysia is dominated by two mountain ranges, namely, the Main
Range and the Bintang Range.
1 Introduction