PUTRAJAYA — Malaysia is strengthening its national water resilience through the integration of ecohydrological science, technology and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to address climate change and rapid urbanisation challenges.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof said integrating ecohydrology and nature-based solutions into water management could help mitigate long-term flood risks, restore ecological balance and improve water quality.
He said the approach would also strengthen the country’s capacity to manage changing rainfall patterns, extreme hydrological events and the challenges arising from urban development.
“Combining engineering infrastructure with natural ecosystem functions, digital tools and whole-of-society collaboration is essential to ensuring sustainable water management,” he said.
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said this when officiating the inaugural International Conference on Ecohydrology and Water Resilience (ICEWR 2026), themed “Ecohydrology and Water Resilience: Advancing Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Water Systems”.
He emphasised that water resilience must be recognised as a strategic national priority, highlighting Malaysia’s leadership through its three UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites.
The sites are Putrajaya Wetlands, the Sustainable Stormwater Management Project at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), and the Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
He said addressing increasingly complex water challenges required cross-sectoral cooperation involving the government, industry, academia and local communities to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions and lasting impact.
The two-day conference, held at The Everly Hotel in Putrajaya, aimed to provide an international platform for translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions, strengthening multi-stakeholder governance and advancing nature-based solutions for sustainable water systems.
Organised by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (JPS) and HTC Kuala Lumpur, in partnership with UNESCO, UTHM and other strategic partners, the conference brought together 200 participants, including policymakers, industry representatives, academics, non-governmental organisations and international partners.
The gathering sought to foster collaboration towards securing a more sustainable and resilient water future for Malaysia.
