The Habitat Foundation is a charitable trust based in Penang, Malaysia and the non-profit sister organization of The Habitat Penang Hill. The two organizations complement each other in the overall mission to connect people to this ancient rainforest, promote biodiversity conservation, and support impactful solutions through the programmatic work of the Foundation. The Habitat Foundation is committed to supporting the conservation of biodiversity and safeguarding the living environment upon which we all depend. We are proud to support the government’s nomination of the Penang Hill as a Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO Man & the Biosphere Programme and are committed to establishing Penang Hill as an important centre for rainforest research and sustainability studies.
The Foundation helps fund strategic conservation and research initiatives both within and beyond Penang. Find out more about our Grants programme here.
The Foundation works closely with communities, scientists, academic institutions, NGOs, government agencies, protected area managers, and businesses. Our aim is to protect the irreplaceable natural heritage of this region and shift our society towards sustainability.
Our programme covers these five pillars:-
Conservation – we support initiatives to safeguard biodiversity, reverse the loss and degradation of natural ecosystems, and advocate for the sustainable use of natural resources by working closely with all relevant stakeholders.
Research – we fund research in conservation biology and related fields in order to identify practical and actionable solutions to protect biodiversity and promote environmental sustainability. As a strategic centre for rainforest research in our region we provide a dynamic platform for interchange among scientists and conservationists.
Education – through The Habitat Penang Hill we aim to provide engaging outdoor learning experiences for schoolchildren and support targeted programmes to enhance public environmental awareness and effective community engagement.
Sustainability – The Habitat Penang Hill is established as a working model of sustainable financing for a protected area gateway in which the funds generated from the ecopark can generate employment and operation costs. Within our sustainability pillar we are keen to explore and support all elements where mindset shifts, new policies and approaches, creativity and innovation are needed to ensure the wise use of natural resources and reduce human impact on the planet.
Training – We are committed to building capacity and supporting talent among the new generation of scientists, practitioners and community organizers through facilitating strategic training and exchanges and providing travel grants for locals to participate in international meetings and workshops. In partnership with regional leaders in rainforest research we also facilitate specialized training for conservation leaders and changemakers working on the frontlines throughout Southeast Asia.
