Malaysia has been named as one of the six finalists for Greenpeace '2004 Champion Assassin of Life on Earth' award, a recognition given to governments for outstanding performance in ending biodiversity.

Ironically, Kuala Lumpur is currently the host and chair of the seventh Conference of Parties (COP-7) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

"It has been a busy two weeks here at the conference, and there have been a number of governments who have come to our attention for their inauspicious behaviour," said Greenpeace in a press release today.

In particular, the environmental group said Malaysia is being recognised for "providing a draft ministerial statement with no substance, and failing to provide leadership at the meeting despite their 'green' rhetoric and their role as hosts."

Greenpeace said Malaysia's "consistent undermining of indigenous peoples' rights" also deserves special mention.

"Most importantly, their refusal to put protected areas on the official ministerial agenda, even though it was the one of the priority theme for the conference," it added.

Malaysia has been the subject of much criticism throughout this meeting for attempting to water down parts of the convention's text - specifically the programme of action regarding the rights of indigenous communities over resources in protected areas and traditional knowledge.

Paper tiger

Other nominees include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and even non-party to the convention the United States, for "working behind the scenes to influence negotiation outcomes".

The winner will be announced and a trophy will be presented when the meeting ends this evening.

On a more serious note, Greenpeace declared that governments have so far failed to make any strong commitment, particularly financial, to save the threatened environment and protect indigenous rights.

"Without funding or a commitment by national governments for implementation, the CBD is at risk of becoming a paper tiger," the group said.

Unless the decisions made during the CBD are implemented at a national level immediately, it added, the agreement will be worthless.

For the first time, signatories to the CBD have agreed to establish a global network of protected areas by 2010 on land and by 2012 in the world's oceans.

Governments also agreed that indigenous groups and local communities deserve to be included in any kind of decision-making over protected areas.