Rapid Review of Biodiversity Conservation Mainstreaming in Riverine Landscapes and River Planning.

What We Did: Interamna was commissioned to undertake a rapid review of a medium-sized project and delivered a theory-based evaluation that provided a summative assessment of the extent to which the UNDP-GEF River Project met its objectives, as well as a formative assessment of the key programmatic and operational factors that have enabled and/or inhibited its ability to meet its objectives.

‍Objective: Malaysia has some 157 river systems, as well as a variety of tropical wetlands, forests, and marine ecosystems, representing several Global 200 Ecoregions. Recognized as one of 17 mega-diverse countries in the world, its river systems and forests support an immense diversity of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. These ecosystems include more than 600 freshwater fish species, all stitched together into a protective web of ecosystem services, from clean water and food production to erosion control and flood prevention.The US$ 9M UNDP-supported, GEF-financed “Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation in Riverine Habitats” project in Malaysia aims to mainstream biodiversity conservation to protect the river system and to conserve the rich flora and fauna that local communities rely on. The project focuses on strengthening the capacity of relevant stakeholders to implement effective riverine habitat conservation practices, developing and implementing biodiversity monitoring programs, and promoting community participation in the conservation of riverine habitats. The ultimate objective is to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Malaysia's riverine habitats, as well as to support the country's efforts to achieve its sustainable development goals.