Earth Matters

Problematic forest plantations prompted Malaysia to call for a 15-year moratorium on new projects in Peninsular Malaysia, to buy time to plug the gaps in the system. But two and a half years on, states are still licensing planters to clear new sites. Why? In Macaranga's latest series, environmental journalist Law Yao Hua follows up on the issue of forest plantations in forest reserves, which is said to be one of the biggest drivers of forest loss in Peninsular Malaysia. Yao Hua joins us to delve into the many issues surrounding forest plantations, and we also speak to environmental activist Meor Razak bin Meor Abdul Rahman, a member of the NGO Sahabat Ekologi Perak, to discuss the impacts of forest plantations on local communities, flora and fauna. We also ponder - can forest plantations ever be sustainable in Peninsular Malaysia?

Image Credit: YH Law via Macaranga Media Sdn Bhd

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Assistant Professor Dr John S. Ascher is an entomologist with the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore, who has been described as the world's leading native bee taxonomist. Also a Research Associate at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in Singapore, he joins us to share more about his work, which includes helping to create a world map of bee species, in order to enhance understanding of the geographical distributions of bee species, and to create a comprehensive understanding of global bee diversity. We also discuss the essential role of bees and other pollinators in agriculture, ecological balance, and biodiversity preservation, and why we must all “bee” engaged in their conservation efforts. 

Image Credit: National University of Singapore

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The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) has identified the need for Southeast Asia to have an environmental rights instrument to strengthen the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD)'s commitment to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The hope for the declaration is to emphasise the importance of environmental rights as part of human rights, aiming to create a framework for their promotion and protection within ASEAN, ensuring sustainable development and the well-being of current and future generations. Stakeholders were here in Malaysia just a couple of weeks ago for meetings and engagement sessions, for the fifth ASEAN Environmental Rights Working Group (AER WG) meeting. We speak to Nicholas Mujah Anak Ason, the General Secretary of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) and the core representative from the Asia Pacific Network of Environment Defenders (APNED), and also Celine Lim, the Managing Director of Save Rivers, who was at the meetings as an observer, to discuss how indigenous perspectives were taken into consideration, in the drafting process of this regional declaration on environmental rights.

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The ASEAN Declaration On The Right To A Safe, Clean, (Healthy), Sustainable Environment aims to provide an unprecedented regional framework, to push for the implementation of international environmental rights standards. These include the 2022 U.N. General Assembly Resolution of access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a universal human right. This would be the region’s first-ever policy instrument on environmental rights, and once adopted, the Declaration will guide ASEAN member states in strengthening action and accountability related to environmental rights. We find out more about this groundbreaking initiative from Max Han, the co-founder of Youths United For Earth (YUFE), and a representative at the meetings from the ASEAN Youth Forum, and also Roger Joseph (Rocky) Guzman, an Environmental lawyer and the Deputy Director of the Asian Research Institute for Environmental Law.

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Every year during the first weekend of July, a unique global event flickers to life – World Firefly Day. Held to commemorate the importance of fireflies in our ecosystems, World Firefly Day also aims to highlight the ongoing threats these luminous beetles are facing, including habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. We speak to Dr Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh, a Senior Lecturer for Biodiversity & Conservation at the School of Science, from Monash University Malaysia, and the co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission – Firefly Specialist Group (2022–2025), about the ecology of fireflies, and also why we must safeguard their future, for the well-being of both wildlife and humans.

Image credit: Terry Priest via International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

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The Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of freshwater turtles and tortoises in Malaysia. Founded in 2011, TCS is involved in a variety of activities aimed at protecting these endangered species, including research, habitat protection, and community outreach. Over the years, TCS has spearheaded several outreach programmes designed to raise awareness and involve the community in conservation activities, and today on the show, we catch up with Dr Chen Pelf Nyok, the co-founder of TCS, for an update on all the good work they've been doing in order to conserve and protect freshwater turtles and tortoises.

Image credit: Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia

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Tucked away in the serene neighbourhood of Sri Hartamas is a delightful garden of edible plants and flowers known as Kebun Komuniti Hartamas (KKH). Initiated by a group of like-minded neighbours in August 2020, this space has transformed into a hub of community activity. Designed by the community and for the community, the garden aims to support those in need while promoting gardening knowledge and awareness. Flourishing now, under the TNB high wires in the area, the garden features over 70 different plant species. We find out more about this community garden - a testament to the dedication and collaboration of local residents - from Phillipa Yoong, the head of Kebun Komuniti Hartamas.

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Marking the midway point to the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan this November, the Bonn Climate Change Conference recently concluded earlier this month, and financial disputes were said to be at the heart of the talks. With less than five months to go before COP29 in Baku, this mid-way climate meeting hosted by the UNFCCC saw developed and developing countries continuing to battle over who should provide the trillions of dollars required to tackle the climate crisis across the global south, and also how to make progress on international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, among other issues. We catch up with Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia and Head of Programmes at the Third World Network (TWN), who was in Bonn for the talks, to give us a rundown of the key takeaways - or lack thereof - from the talks.

Image Credit: United Nations Climate Change

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As we close off June, it's time for our monthly Macaranga wrap-up show, where we give you a rundown of the top environmental news from the month past, curated by the co-founders of the environmental journalism portal, Macaranga. Today we are joined by Law Yao Hua to discuss three main topics, first, the deaths of a mother elephant and her three calves in Johor - was poisoning the culprit? Next, we turn our attention to a study which points to Malaysia as topping the list of countries with the highest microplastic consumption. Finally, Sarawak has been hailed for planting 35 million trees since 2021, as part of the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign 2021-2025. A great effort, or is there some greenwashing at play? We discuss this and more on this month's episode.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta is our ongoing tourism-themed series on Earth Matters, which aims to highlight lesser-known ecotourism spots right here in Malaysia. Through the series, we want to take you back to the great outdoors, and experience the many off-the-beaten-track nature spots our country has to offer. This month, we speak to Dr Louisa Ponnampalam, the Chairperson of the MareCet Research Organisation about ecotourism opportunities in Mersing, Johor, and the islands nearby, specifically two tours that the group organises under their Marine Excursions & The Blue Classroom program, which are the Mersing Junior Marine Explorer and Pulau Sibu Marine Explorer. Find out more about opportunities to see mangroves, seagrass patches in an intertidal zone, dramatic rock formations, and also chances to go snorkelling dugong watching!

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