Target 6: By 2025, at least 20% of terrestrial areas and inland waters, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, are conserved through a representative system of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.

The PA network is an indispensable tool to preserve our rich biodiversity and ecosystem services. Thus, the Government has made a commitment to increase the coverage and representativeness of the existing PAs. Increasingly, the focus is also given to improve the management effectiveness of the existing PAs. Aside from serving the main purpose of biodiversity conservation, these conserved areas offer socio-economic benefits to the indigenous and local communities (ILCs) through ecotourism, agriculture and bioprospecting.  Protected areas have long been established in Malaysia (beginning with the Chior Wildlife Reserve in 1903), and over the years the number of protected areas established and managed by various governance structures