Earth Matters

The recent settlement between the Temoq Orang Asli and a major oil palm company is being called a breakthrough for indigenous land rights in Malaysia. But while it’s a step forward in court, it’s not the end of the story. What was gained, what was lost, and what’s next? To help us unpack this complex case, we’re joined by Dr Lim Teckwyn Lim, who was an environmental expert witness on the case, and Kamilia Rozlan, who was the community liason on the case.

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It’s been a busy month for environmental news in Malaysia, from courtrooms to highland roads and wildlife crossings. In this roundup with the co-founders of environmental journalism portal Macaranga - Law Yao Hua and Wong Siew Lyn - we’re taking a closer look at three major stories that grabbed headlines in May: a key court decision involving Bukit Cherakah forest reserve, a controversial road project planned for Cameron Highlands, and the tragic death of an elephant calf that once again raises questions about human-wildlife conflict and habitat fragmentation. 

Image Credit: Shah Alam Community Forest Society, Shutterstock

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We're kicking off a new series on Earth Matters, Nature Reads, a show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us. Every month, we team up with the good folks at independent bookstore Sunda Shelves, and in this first episode, we explore the storybook called Sen’oi Serog, published by the Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre. It’s a rich, collaborative work inspired by the oral traditions and ecological wisdom of the Temiar people in the Belum-Temengor forest of Hulu Perak. Together with co-host Surin Suksuwan (biodiversity conservationist and co-founder, Sunda Shelves) we speak to Lucy Wong and Hairul Abdullah, both also biodiversity conservationists and the book’s co-writers and producers. We’ll talk about indigenous knowledge, forest taboos, fruiting seasons, and the deep relationship between people and place.

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Otters are more than just cute faces, they are top predators in the wetland food chain and guardians of ecosystem balance. Ahead of World Otters Day, the Malaysia Otter Network and Rimbun Dahan are teaming up to shine a light on these remarkable mammals through a day of engaging activities for all ages. We speak with wildlife biologist Woo Chee Yoong and Rimbun Dahan’s Bilqis Hijjas about the event and the broader mission to protect Malaysia’s wetlands and their wild inhabitants.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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In 2024, Malaysia experienced its most devastating coral bleaching event on record, with more than half of the country's corals turning ghostly white under extreme ocean heat. It was part of the fourth global coral bleaching event, a stark reminder of how climate change is rapidly reshaping our seas. To understand what this means for our reefs, marine life, and coastal communities, we speak with coral reef ecologists Sebastian Szereday (Co-founder, Coralku) and Alvin Chelliah (Chief Programme Officer, Reef Check Malaysia), two of the lead authors of a comprehensive new report documenting the impact, and what we can do about it. 

Image Credit: Coralku Solutions, Reef Check Malaysia

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Songbird competitions are a cherished tradition across Malaysia, but behind the melodic chirps and prized trophies lies a booming - and troubling - trade. Recent investigations have revealed how demand for birds like the Oriental Magpie-robin and Red-whiskered Bulbul is pushing wild populations to the brink, all while legal protections lag behind. All of this is covered in Macaranga's latest two-part series on songbirds, and we speak with the researchers and journalists behind this story - Low Choon Chyuan, independent journalist, Wong Siew Lyn, editor, Macaranga, Dato' Dr Amar Singh-HSS, editor, Malaysian Bird Report - to understand what’s driving the craze, the costs to conservation, and what can be done before it’s too late.

Image Credit: Mukhriz Hazim | Macaranga

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Borneo is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, but protecting its incredible wildlife is no easy task. Shavez Cheema, founder of 1StopBorneo Wildlife, has dedicated his life to doing just that, blending education, community work, and tourism to create real conservation impact. He joins us to talk about his work in conservation, his brand-new, free Borneo Nature Travel Guide, and why we need to rethink the way we approach nature tourism.

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As biodiversity loss accelerates, there’s a growing push to get financial institutions to take responsibility. In Malaysia, Bank Negara has announced plans to adopt nature-related risk assessments inspired by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures or TNFD, which is a global initiative that provides a framework for companies and financial institutions to report and manage nature-related risks and impacts. But how effective — or even fair — is this framework? Shona Hawkes, a Senior Advisor on Finance at the Rainforest Action Network, joins us to explore why many environmental and rights groups are deeply concerned about the TFND, and why they believe its practices could open the door to more corporate greenwashing.

Image Credit: Forests & Finance | YouTube

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It's our fourth round-up of environmental news for 2025, with the good folks from environmental journalism portal Macaranga. Co-founders Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua join us to look back at news from April 2025, first focussing on the troubling news about beheadings of Bornean pygmy elephants in Sabah, and the possible reasons behind these gruesome killings. Next we dissect the dispute between YP Olio Sdn Bhd and the Temoq Orang Asli community in Pahang, which recently ended with what is being described as a "landmark settlement", though still at great expense for the community and nature. Finally, the first National Climate Change Action Council (NCCAC) meeting of 2025 was held last week, chaired by the Prime Minister - what were some of the outcomes of this high-level meeting? Yao Hua and Siew Lyn get us up to speed.

Image Credit: Shutterstock, Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) | Facebook

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Gonggong, sea cucumbers, and carpet anemones—just some of the treasures gleaned from Johor’s seagrass meadows. Seagrass meadows are often overlooked in conservation plans, yet for coastal communities in Johor, they’re essential. In this second episode of our two-part series on seagrass, we want to explore the connection between seagrass meadows and small-scale fishing communities in Johor with Associate Professor Dr Jillian Ooi, a marine ecologist from the University of Malaya. Dr Jillian is the co-author of a study that explored the seagrass-gleaning activities of communities in the Sungai Johor estuary, with a focus on Kampung Perigi Acheh. She joins us to discuss how these underwater grasslands support food security, livelihoods, and culture, especially for women. 

Image Credit: Associate Professor Dr Jillian Ooi

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