Earth Matters

Papua New Guinea is home to one of the world’s last great tropical rainforests, a vital ecosystem that stores carbon, supports thousands of species, and sustains Indigenous communities. But a new report titled “Malaysia’s Timber Colony: Exposing Malaysia’s Grip Over Papua New Guinea’s Forests” has revealed just how much control Malaysian-linked companies have over the country’s forests. The investigation finds that 97% of Forest Clearing Authorities - licenses meant for agricultural development - are actually held by Malaysian-linked timber companies, driving large-scale deforestation and the exploitation of local landowners. We speak to co-authors of the report, land owner and land rights activist Samuel Kime from Papua New Guinea, Johanna Michel, Deputy Director of Bruno Manser Fonds, and Adam Farhan, the Director of RimbaWatch, to find out more.

Image Credit: Bruno Manser Fonds

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A new deforestation alert has been raised in Sarawak, this time around the Bakun Reservoir. Satellite and drone images show that native forest is being cleared to make way for a massive commercial bamboo plantation spanning over 44,000 hectares. The project, approved under the state’s License for Planted Forests scheme, has sparked serious concern among affected Indigenous communities and environmental groups. To help us understand what’s happening and what it means for Sarawak’s forests, we speak to Fiona McAlpine, Communications and Project Manager at The Borneo Project.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Malaysia’s Budget 2026 has been described as a “green and low-carbon” budget, with RM2.38 billion allocated to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, and new measures like a carbon tax and expanded green technology incentives. But how far do these allocations really go toward protecting our forests, rivers, and wildlife, and what’s missing from the picture? We speak to Adam Farhan, the Director of environmental think-tank RimbaWatch, and Gabriel Hii, the co-chair of the Sarawak CSO–SDG Alliance, for their separate takes on Budget 2026's environment allocations. 

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Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability

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Just last month, as we celebrated Malaysia Day, news broke of a heartbreaking poaching case in Johor, where a Malayan tiger was found dead, stuffed into the boot of a car. It had been caught in a trap and shot six times before its death, a cruel reminder of how vulnerable our national treasure remains. With fewer than 150 Malayan tigers left in the wild, every loss hits hard, but there’s still hope, thanks to the tireless efforts of those working to protect them. One such group is Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia, or RIMAU, an organisation dedicated to protecting tiger habitats, reducing poaching, and inspiring Malaysians to take action. We speak with RIMAU's President Lara Ariffin, and Secretary Renee Aziz Ahmad, about the fight to save the Malayan tiger, the challenges, the progress, and the hope that keeps them going.

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Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are challenges that don’t wait for budget cycles. That’s why many are calling for stronger government commitments in Budget 2026. What's on the environmental wish list, and why does it matter for all of us? We hear from two activists working in the environment and conservation field - Khor Sue Yee, Co-founder and Director of Zero Waste Malaysia, and Andrew Sebastian, the CEO of the Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Malaysia (ECOMY) - about their wish list for Budget 2026. 

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Tourism isn’t just about where we travel, it also shapes our economy, our communities, and our natural heritage. Three years ago, The Habitat Foundation and Tengah Island Conservation came together with a bold idea: to create a coalition that could raise the profile of sustainable tourism and strengthen the people working in the field. We speak to its co-founders, Justine Vaz and Cher Chua-Lassalvy, to talk about their work, their lessons after three years, and their hopes for the future of tourism here at home.

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For September's episode, we speak to Dr. Balamurugan, the founder of ERE Consulting Group and CEO of Elistra Advisory, who recently retired after a long and influential career in environmental consultancy. He is also an avid traveller with a lifelong passion for nature, and together with co-host, Surin Suksuwan, co-founder of Sunda Shelves, he discusses the books that shaped his journey, both professionally and personally.

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with Sunda Shelves, an independent bookstore and café with a passion for wild places and thoughtful reads.

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Terrapin conservation isn’t just about saving a species, it’s also about involving communities, empowering women, and reconnecting Malaysians with our rivers. That’s the approach taken by the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, the country’s first and only NGO dedicated to freshwater turtle conservation. We catch up with its Co-Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok, for our annual check-in to talk about recent findings, the society’s ongoing projects, and their much-anticipated Annual Terrapin Release this year.

Image Credit: Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia

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From diving while seven months pregnant, to pioneering sustainable aquaculture projects that support coastal communities, Prof. Dato' Dr. Aileen Tan has dedicated her life to the ocean. That dedication has now earned her global recognition, as she’s the first Malaysian to win the Anton Bruun Medal, one of marine science’s highest honours. Dr Aileen, a Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Director of the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS) at USM, joins us to reflect on her journey, her research, and her hopes for the future of our seas.

Image credit: Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies

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Forests, rivers, and communities are all deeply connected. In Sarawak, Indigenous communities have been working tirelessly to protect their homelands, and organisations like Save Rivers have been walking alongside them. Their campaigns have led to big wins, like holding timber companies accountable, and they’re also nurturing alternatives, like reforestation, ecotourism, and mapping ancestral lands. As we celebrate Malaysia Day, we catch up with Celine Lim, the Managing Director of Save Rivers, to talk about how these local stories of resilience are part of our national story too.

Image Credit: Save Rivers

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