Midterm Review of the Central Forest Spine Landscape Connectivity Project in Malaysia.

What We Did: Contracted as Team Leader and managed a team of 5 consultants to assess progress against core KPIs and agreed triggers for an extension. Revamped the project’s Theory of Change, pared down the Project Results Framework and right-sized the implementation roadmap against progress to date and on realistic measures of success.

In the heart of Peninsular Malaysia lies a natural treasure of immeasurable ecological importance — Malaysia’s Central Forest Spine (CFS). The dense, ancient forests of this region are not only a hotspot of biodiversity, but also the last hope for the critically endangered Malayan Tiger. Amid the pressing need to safeguard these ecosystems and the species that call them home, the Improving Connectivity in the Central Forest Spine (IC-CFS) project, established in 2014, has emerged as a beacon of hope.

‍Objective: The objective of the US$ 46M “Improving Connectivity in the Central Forest Spine (CFS) Landscape - IC-CFS” project aims to enhance the ecological connectivity of the Central Forest Spine landscape in Peninsular Malaysia. The project seeks to achieve this through a range of interventions, including the restoration and rehabilitation of forest corridors, the establishment of a network of protected areas, and the promotion of sustainable land-use practices. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of local communities and stakeholders to participate in conservation and sustainable development activities. Ultimately, the goal of the project is to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity - including remaining populations of the Malaysian tiger - and ecosystem services in the CFS landscape, as well as to support the sustainable livelihoods of local communities.