1) There is a need to build capacity in constructed wetland management in Malaysia, including developing guidelines, educating stakeholders, and establishing monitoring protocols. 2) Constructed wetlands can treat wastewater, improve water quality, and provide habitat, but their design and maintenance requires expertise across multiple disciplines. 3) Capacity building efforts should provide training, strengthen organizations, and facilitate technology transfer to ensure constructed wetlands' long-term sustainable use.

1. CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDSCAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS
FOR LANDSCAPEFOR LANDSCAPE
CONSTRUCTED WETLANDSCONSTRUCTED WETLANDS
Presented ByPresented By
Ho Sinn-ChyeHo Sinn-Chye
Ministry of Science, TechnologyMinistry of Science, Technology
and the Environmentand the Environment

2. Natural WetlandsNatural Wetlands
• water capacitors, buffers and connectors
• nutrient regulators.
• life support habitats
• cradles of biodiversity
They perform many vital functions
as:
• stabilizers of local climatic conditions

3. Natural WetlandsNatural Wetlands
Interrelationship between …
EcosystemEcosystem
ProcessesProcesses
EcosystemEcosystem
StructureStructure
Wetland FunctionsWetland Functions
Wetland ValuesWetland Values

4. Commercial Harvest
Value
Commercial
Production Value
On-Site Recreational
Use Value
Culture, Art and
Entertainment Value
Existence Value
Ecosystem
Stabilization Value
Ecosystem
Restoration Value
Ecological Monitoring
Value
Educational Use
Value
Scientific Discovery
Value
Wetland Biodiversity ValuesWetland Biodiversity Values
Harvestable
Resources
Ecological
Services
Information
Resources
Intellectual
& Aesthetic
Resources
RESOURCES

5. Constructed WetlandsConstructed Wetlands
“…“… a designed and man-madea designed and man-made
complex of saturated substrates,complex of saturated substrates,
emergent and submergent vegetation,emergent and submergent vegetation,
animal life, and water that simulatesanimal life, and water that simulates
natural wetlands for human use andnatural wetlands for human use and
benefits.” (Hammer 1989)benefits.” (Hammer 1989)

6. • RESTORED
WETLAND
Types of Constructed WetlandsTypes of Constructed Wetlands
• Those under
rehabilitation
(Hydrology has
been fixed by
dredging or use
of water gates,
bunds, canals,
etc.)

7. • RESTORED
WETLAND
Types of Constructed WetlandsTypes of Constructed Wetlands
• CONSTRUCTED
WETLAND
• Built where
none existed
before (usually
for wastewater
and road runoff
treatment)

8. • RESTORED
WETLAND
• CONSTRUCTED
WETLAND
• CREATED
WETLAND
• Built where none
existed before
(usually as
added habitats
for wildlife)
Types of Constructed WetlandsTypes of Constructed Wetlands

9. Constructed WetlandsConstructed Wetlands
Constructed wetlands emulate nature by …
• mechanically filtering,
• chemically transforming, and
• biologically consuming
… potential pollutants in the
wastewater stream.

10. Functions of Constructed WetlandsFunctions of Constructed Wetlands
• Hydrological and hydraulic modifications
• Treatment of livestock and municipal
wastewater
• Shoreline stabilization and erosion control
• Water quality improvement
• Open wilderness and aesthetics
• Life supporting wildlife and plant habitats
• Treatment of highway runoff and urban
storm water

11. Benefits of Constructed WetlandsBenefits of Constructed Wetlands
• Reduction of operation and maintenance
costs relative to conventional water
treatment plants;
• Cost-effective treatment of non-point-
source of pollution;
• Reduction of flood hazards and erosion;
• Opportunities for enhancement of wildlife
habitats, biodiversity revitalization,
academic research, public education, and
community recreation amenities.

12. Single-use (i.e.
water treatment)
constructed
wetland system
Multiple-use
landscape
constructed
wetland system
Constructed Wetlands SystemsConstructed Wetlands Systems
(e.g. Putrajaya Wetland)(A common model)

13. Constructed Wetlands SystemsConstructed Wetlands Systems
To comprehend the
constructed wetland
treatment process,
the workings of
natural wetlands
must be understood.

14. Important Considerations
• Types of system
designs
• Mechanisms of
treatment
• Plant propagation
and planting
• Operational
requirements
• Performance
monitoring and
enhancement
• Management plan
Constructed Wetlands SystemsConstructed Wetlands Systems

15. Key issues with constructed wetlandsKey issues with constructed wetlands
for water quality improvementfor water quality improvement
1) A need for integrated wetland and water
resource management capacity building.
2) A need for formal guidelines for controlling
use of natural wetlands for water treatment
purposes.
3) A need to educate planners, developers,
managers, engineers, regulators and the
public on the multiple roles and values of
constructed wetlands.

16. 5) A need for database of long-term
monitoring data for constructed wetland
design and sizing for optimum efficiency.
6) A need for a standard water quality, plant
and wildlife monitoring protocol that can be
used across Malaysia as a template.
4) A need for constructed wetland design and
construction manuals relevant to the warm
climate of Malaysia.
Key issues with constructed wetlandsKey issues with constructed wetlands
for water quality improvementfor water quality improvement

17. Disciplines of constructed wetlandsDisciplines of constructed wetlands
• Biology & Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Hydrology
• Engineering
• Economics
• Landscape
architecture
• Geology
• Others

18. CAPACITY BUILDINGCAPACITY BUILDING
“Development of the ability in a nation’s
people and institutions to understand,
absorb, apply, modify, and further
develop the knowledge and
technologies available for the
implementation and achievement of its
goal.”
Source: The UN Conference on Technology Transfer
and Capacity Building, 23-27 June, 2003, Trondheim,
Norway.

19. CAPACITY BUILDINGCAPACITY BUILDING
• It is the development of an organization’s
core skills and capabilities, such as
leadership, management, finance and fund
raising, programmes and evaluation, in
order to build the organization’s
effectiveness and sustainability.
• Capacity building seeks to improve the
performance of all the elements that form
an organization.

20. CAPACITY BUILDINGCAPACITY BUILDING
It includes investment in:
• Training (knowledge & skill development)
• Personnel skilled in key disciplines
• Property and equipment (infrastructure)
• Best management plans & practices
• Research and development
• Information and communication strategies
and support systems
• Private and public sector relationships

21. Capacity Building ComponentsCapacity Building Components
• Organizational capacity
• Human capacity
• Information access, assessment and
monitoring capacity

22. Professional GroupsProfessional Groups (few examples)(few examples)
• Soil scientists
• Wetland ecologists & biologists
• Environmental planners & engineers
• Wildlife managers
• Landscape architects
• Aquatic resource managers
• Water engineers & hydrologists
• Public health officers

23. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERTECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
“Transfer of systematic knowledge, skills
and innovations for the development and
use of products, application of processes
or rendering of services.”
Source: The UN Conference on Technology Transfer
and Capacity Building, 23-27 June, 2003, Trondheim,
Norway.
Note: To achieve success in technology transfer, the
process of capacity building has to occur as a key
prerequisite.

24. Three Important QuestionsThree Important Questions
• What additional skills are needed to
enable all stakeholders to participate fully
in the study, development and sustainable
use of constructed wetlands?
• What kinds of capacity are needed to
address complex constructed wetland
problems?
• What technical guidance and regulatory
mechanism are needed for constructed
wetlands in Malaysia?

25. The process of capacity building forThe process of capacity building for
technology transfertechnology transfer
Technology
Sector
Prerequisites
Stimuli
Mechanisms
Capacity
Outcomes
Technology Transfer

26. Technology SectorTechnology Sector (few examples)(few examples)
• Water industry
• Bio-remediation (phyto-remediation)
• Landscape architecture
• Wildlife and plant conservation
• Horticulture and aquaculture
• Civil and environmental engineering
• Hydro-informatics and remote sensing

27. Expected Capacity OutcomesExpected Capacity Outcomes
2) Understand the landscape perspective of
wetlands within broader ecosystems.
1) Understand the physical, chemical and
biological characteristics and dynamics of
wetlands and their functions.
3) Understand the concept of wetland
functional (hydrological, biogeochemical,
ecological) analysis and be familiar with
different assessment methodologies.

28. 5) Have an understanding of wetland
management issues and BMPs.
4) Have a working knowledge of wetland
classification methods, sampling
methodologies and wetland information
sources.
6) Be able to write a wetland delineation
report, complete with a wetland rating
and functional assessment.
Expected Capacity OutcomesExpected Capacity Outcomes

29. 9) Be able to prepare a
restoration plan.
7) Be familiar with local, state and federal
environmental laws for wetland regulation
and management.
8) Be able to identify common
wetlands by field
characteristics.
Expected Capacity OutcomesExpected Capacity Outcomes
10) Other capacity needs.

30. • Specialist knowledge
• Process know-how and
skills
• Knowledge of methods
Technical Expertise RequiredTechnical Expertise Required
The goal is to maximize the ecological benefits of
constructed wetlands established as part of a
sustainable landscape.

31. 3) Habitat restoration and rehabilitation.
1) Wetland and waterway management.
2) Ecological landscape and horticultural
design.
4) Biodiversity survey and development of
survey techniques and performance
indicators.
5) Invasive species management
and specialist studies.
Technical Expertise RequiredTechnical Expertise Required

32. 7) Ecological fire management.
6) Applied research and threatened species
recovery plans.
8) EIA and environmental management
plans.
9) Environmental policy.
10) Community and stakeholder consultation.
Technical Expertise RequiredTechnical Expertise Required

33. PrerequisitesPrerequisites
• Commitment of stakeholders
• Institutional leadership
• Awareness of significance of wetland
health and biodiversity conservation
• Availability of infrastructure
• Sustainable funding
• Support from universities and NGOs
• Others

34. StimuliStimuli
• Demand for services from the system
• Wetland based ecotourism potential
• Nation’s obligations to Ramsar and CBD
• Access to donor funding
• Need for effective management solutions
• Research and training opportunities
• Others

35. MechanismsMechanisms
• Synergistic partnership
• Effective communication
• Institutional strengthening
• Hands-on learning
• Seed & long-term funding
• Key appointments and empowerment
• Publications & awareness programmes
• Others

36. Transferable TechnologiesTransferable Technologies
2) Technologies for rehabilitation and
restoration of degraded ecosystems.
1) Technologies for monitoring ecosystems
and habitats and species.
3) Technologies for the ex-situ recovery and
rehabilitation of threatened species and
for their reintroduction into newly created
habitats.

37. 7) Technologies to support programmes for
scientific and technical education.
6) Technologies for protecting and
encouraging traditional use of biological
resources.
8) Technologies to promote and encourage
understanding of the importance of
biological diversity.
Transferable Technologies (contd.)Transferable Technologies (contd.)

38. Transferable Technologies (contd.)Transferable Technologies (contd.)
10) Biotechnology for new propagation and
culture techniques,.
9) Technologies for impact assessment and
risk management of pollutants and
hazardous substances.

39. Anticipated OutputsAnticipated Outputs (few examples)(few examples)
• Best management practice standards
• Biodiversity conservation priorities
• Public awareness and education (CEPA)
• Created and/or restored wetland habitats
• Water balance, recycling and reuse
• Low-cost water treatment facility
• Computer literacy (GIS, databases, etc.)
• Others

40. A Shared MissionA Shared Mission
To contribute to the education and training
of professionals and to build the capacity
of sector organizations, knowledge centers
and other institutions active in the field of
constructed wetland management of both
the system’s environment and
infrastructure.