On 12 February 2026, a workshop on the enhancement of the Participatory Ecosystem Services Shared Values Assessment (PESSVA) approach was successfully held at Wyndham Grand Bangsar. The programme was jointly organised by the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) and Universiti Malaya through the Universiti Malaya Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC) and the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science.
The one-day workshop brought together academics, researchers and representatives from various stakeholder groups to introduce and strengthen the PESSVA framework as a decision-support tool for integrated lake and river basin management in Malaysia. Participants were also introduced to the concept of Heartware shared values assessment, which emphasises collective values, trust-building and inclusive stakeholder engagement in environmental governance. In addition, the Integrated Lentic–Lotic Basin Management (ILLBM) framework developed by ILEC was presented, highlighting a holistic approach to managing interconnected lake (lentic) and river (lotic) systems within a single basin.
Throughout the workshop, participants actively engaged in expert sharing sessions, group discussions and constructive feedback exchanges. Discussions focused on refining the PESSVA approach to ensure it is more comprehensive, inclusive and practical for implementation within the Malaysian context.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our long-standing and new partners who attended and contributed to the workshop, including the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Perbadanan Putrajaya, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), The Planet Prodigy, WWF Malaysia, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn. Bhd., Friends of Taman Aman, Global Environment Centre (GEC), Inspirasi Kawa, Landasan Lumayan Sdn. Bhd., UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN), Malaysia Nature Society (MNS), Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS), Klang River Festival, EcoKnights, Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahntera Malaysia (GRASS), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Eco Development Facilities Sdn. Bhd., Youths United for Earth - YUFE MY, Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Malaysia, Akademi Sains Malaysia (ASM), Friends of Sungai Gombak, as well as colleagues from Universiti Malaya.
The workshop is expected to enhance institutional collaboration and contribute to the development of more sustainable and integrated water resource management strategies in Malaysia.
