Earth Matters

You’ve probably heard about saving coral reefs and planting mangroves, but what about seagrass? These underwater meadows are quietly holding up our coasts and climate, but we’re losing them fast - at about two football fields every hour, globally. In the first of a two part series on seagrass, we speak to marine ecologist Associate Professor Dr. Jillian Ooi, to help us understand seagrass better, why protecting existing seagrass is far more effective than replanting, and what’s at stake if we don’t act now.

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Malaysia’s forests and ecosystems are critical to both our natural heritage and climate goals — and yet, managing them often falls to state governments with limited resources and incentives. That’s where the Ecological Fiscal Transfer, or EFT, comes in: a federal funding mechanism designed to reward states for protecting their natural assets. But how well is it working, and what could make it stronger? To explore these questions, we speak to Samantha Ho, a regional correspondent with media company EcoBusiness, who recently co-authored a two-part series on EFTs for Macaranga, exploring how EFTs function on the ground. We also speak to environmental lawyer Preetha Sankar, who joins us to offer a legal perspective on how these funds could be better supported by policy and regulation. 

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It’s a classic David versus Goliath story: two environmental NGOs taking on the state government to protect Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve — only to be held back by a judicial delay that’s lasted over a year. Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (Peka) and the Shah Alam Community Forest Society (SACF) say the system is failing them, and the forest, with legal processes moving far too slowly to keep pace with the chainsaws. We hear from Alicia Teoh, (Founder and Secretary, Shah Alam Community Forest Society), Damien Thanam (Exco, Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam) and lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan (President, Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam), who explain the details of this on-going case, and share why this pristine rainforest must be protected from further destruction.

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A new report from energy think tank Ember reveals a global clean energy milestone: low-carbon sources supplied 40.9% of the world’s electricity in 2024, driven by record-breaking growth in solar power. In contrast, ASEAN generated just 26% of its electricity from clean sources, and clean generation in the region is no longer keeping pace with demand. With massive solar and wind potential still largely untapped, experts say the region is well-positioned to accelerate its clean energy transition — if the right policies are in place. We speak to the co-authors of the report, Euan Graham (Global Electricity and Data Analyst, Ember) and Nicholas Fulghum (Senior Data Analyst, Ember) to explore the turning points, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of electricity—especially in Asia.

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Bukit Kiara is one of the Klang Valley’s last remaining green lungs, a beloved patch of forest that offers a daily dose of nature to thousands of urban dwellers. But beyond its walking trails and morning joggers lies an ecosystem teeming with life — that is also under threat. We speak with Professor Darryl Jones, an urban ecologist and bird expert from the Centre for Planetary Health & Food Security, at the School of Environment & Science, Griffith University, and Dr. Kriban G. Naidu, the immediate past president of Friends of Bukit Kiara, to hear the story of how a shared love for this urban forest sparked a powerful collaboration — and why the time to protect Bukit Kiara is now.

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Sabah has introduced its first-ever 10-year Bornean Sun Bear Action Plan (2025–2034) to tackle the pressing threats facing the species, which is classified as vulnerable to extinction. Developed through extensive consultation, the plan focuses on habitat protection, stronger law enforcement, population monitoring, and public awareness. We catch up with Dr. Wong Siew Te, a wildlife biologist, tropical forest ecologist, and the CEO and Founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), to better understand the plan, which aims to secure a viable sun bear population in Sabah while addressing key threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Image Credit: Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC)

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Malaysia’s airports have become hotspots for wildlife trafficking, with thousands of animals smuggled through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in just the last few months. Endangered primates, turtles, reptiles, and even bats have been packed into luggage and flown out of the country, often only intercepted at other airports outside the country. What’s allowing this illegal trade to thrive, and what needs to be done to stop it? We speak to Kanitha Krishnasamy, the Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, to understand the scale of the problem, and the urgent action needed to stop it.

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As we close off March, time to look back at some of the top environmental news from the month past, with the co-founders of environmental journalism portal, Macaranga. Together we discuss some current legal disputes being played out in court involving Orang Asli communities, who are facing issues such as destruction of their ancestral land and cultural heritage. We also discuss the supposed pro's and con's CCUS, seeing as how the Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage Bill 2025 (CCUS Bill 2025) was passed earlier this month by the Dewan Rakyat. Looking forward to April – these second Semai & Tuai event will be happening at the end of the month, organised by Macaranga - Yao Hua and Siew Lyn share what's in store at this event for all.

Image Credit: Shutterstock, RimbaWatch, Macaranga

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Behind every wildlife crime is a legal battle - one that Justice for Wildlife Malaysia (JWM) is determined to strengthen. Recognising the critical role of the judiciary in conservation, JWM works to enhance prosecutorial processes, improve investigative methods, and educate legal professionals on the far-reaching impacts of wildlife crime. Originally a spin-off of the Justice for Silent Victims (J4SV) program by Panthera and Rimba, JWM has since grown into an independent force under the leadership of Dr. Nor Arlina Amirah Ahmad Ghani (Ann), working alongside conservation partners to ensure Malaysia’s laws truly protect its wildlife. Ann joins us to share more.

Image Credit: Justice for Wildlife Malaysia (JWM)

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Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) is often presented as a solution to climate change, including here in Malaysia. But according to new research by environmental think-tank RimbaWatch, CCUS is not only ineffective at reducing emissions but is actively enabling further fossil fuel extraction, and could actually unlock a 1.3 billion-tonne carbon bomb. With billions of ringgit at stake and a CCUS Bill in progress, what are the risks, and what’s the alternative? We speak to Adam Farhan, Director of RimbaWatch, to find out.

Image Credit: RimbaWatch

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