Earth Matters

Macaranga's latest article, "Listen to the Birds to Save Mangroves" is an in-depth look at the critical interdependence between mangrove forests and bird populations in Malaysia. We know that mangrove forests are at risk here in Malaysia, mainly due to fragmentation caused by infrastructure development. This fragmentation endangers not only the mangroves but also the wildlife that depends on them. We discuss the importance of mangroves, not only for coastal protection, but also for maintaining biodiversity, and particularly bird species that play a vital role in the ecosystem. Helping us to do that are Ashley Yeong (Environmental Journalist, Macaranga), Wong Siew Lyn (Editor and Co-founder, Macaranga) and Dato' Dr Amar-Singh HSS (Editor, Malaysian Bird Report) who all contributed to the article.

Image Credit: Amar-Singh HSS, Macaranga

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We recently celebrated World Oceans Day and World Coral Triangle Day, awareness days meant to reflect on the critical issues facing our oceans and coral reefs. With the ongoing fourth global coral bleaching event, the urgency to address these challenges has never been greater. Reef Check Malaysia is at the forefront of marine conservation efforts, working tirelessly to monitor and protect the health of coral reefs and marine ecosystems. We catch up with Reef Check Malaysia's CEO Julian Hyde, and Chief Programme Officer Alvin Chelliah, to explore the importance of our oceans, the current threats they face, and the crucial actions needed to preserve these vital ecosystems. We’ll also delve into their work at Reef Check Malaysia, and the innovative strategies they employ to combat coral bleaching and promote marine conservation.

Image Credit: 123RF

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You might not think of mangroves as part of the ocean, but these coastal, salt-tolerant trees sustain a vibrant ecosystem intricately linked to tropical and subtropical ocean regions worldwide. It was World Oceans Day on the 8th of June, and we want to explore how mangroves contribute to the overall health of the ocean ecosystem, and how it may be nature’s solution to ocean acidification, with Dr. Ahmad Aldrie Amir, a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI) at UKM, and the coordinator of the Malaysian Mangrove Research Alliance and Network (MyMangrove).

Image Credit: The Malaysian Mangrove Research Alliance and Network (MyMangrove), Facebook

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It was the Day of Action Against Incineration on the 3rd of June, organised by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) in Asia Pacific, to draw attention to the negative impacts of waste incineration, and shift public finance to real solutions in waste and climate change. In our first episode of this two-part series, we caught up with Albrecht Arevalo, a Climate & Anti-Incineration Campaigner with GAIA Asia Pacific, and Dr Tan Ching Seong, the co-founder of Gabungan Anti Insinerator Kebangsaan (GAIK), and CEO of iCycle, to break down how waste incineration actually works, and also to discuss the pros and cons of incineration and Waste To Energy facilities, as a solution to our mounting waste management problems. In this second episode, we tackle alternatives and future directions - what are practical, low-cost, and community-led waste management practices that have proven more effective than incineration, and how zero waste approaches can serve as a sustainable alternative to waste incineration.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) in Asia Pacific are set to hold a Day of Action Against Incineration this 3rd of June. Incinerators are considered highly toxic, expensive, and dangerous, contributing significantly to climate change by emitting 68% more greenhouse gases per unit of energy than coal plants. GAIA and its allies are rallying people to call on governments to completely phase out incineration, and invest more in clean energy and zero-waste solutions. In this first of a two-part series, we speak to Albrecht Arevalo, a Climate & Anti-Incineration Campaigner with GAIA Asia Pacific, and Dr Tan Ching Seong, the co-founder of Gabungan Anti Insinerator Kebangsaan (GAIK), and CEO of iCycle, to break down how waste incineration actually works, and also to discuss the pros and cons of incineration and Waste To Energy facilities, as a solution to our mounting waste management problems.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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With May almost behind us, it's time once more 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 - Law Yao Hua and Wong Siew Lyn. This month, we tackle three topics, first we discuss Endangered Species Day - celebrated annually on the third Friday of May - where we'll look at new research published on some of Malaysia's endangered species. Next we turn our attention to "Orangutan Diplomacy" and Malaysia's attempt to show she is a producer of sustainable palm oil, and committed to forest and environmental sustainability, while also discussing a new oil palm plantation in the works in Pahang, located just about 15 km south of Taman Negara. Finally, there was a recent ruling by the Taiping High Court that Kampung Cunex in Gerik in Perak will be gazetted as an Orang Asli Reserve, but not the 'forest-at- large' - what does this mean? Yao Hua and Siew Lyn help break it down for us.

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

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Macaranga's latest article - Floods, Rising Seas Make Dumps More Dangerous - highlights the escalating dangers posed by landfills, amidst the backdrop of climate change-induced floods, rising sea levels, and other environmental impacts, by focusing on Malaysia's waste management crisis. Landfills, once deemed a solution, now exacerbates environmental and health risks due to their vulnerability to climate-related disasters and inadequate waste management practices, and with only a fraction of Malaysia's landfills meeting sanitary standards, the proliferation of open dumpsites compounds these challenges. "Garbage juice" or leachate, heavy metal contamination, and the heightened risk of landfill fires underscore the urgent need for comprehensive waste management strategies. We discuss the research explained in the article, and examine the potential of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants as a solution, while also advocating for a shift towards sustainable lifestyles to address the root causes of waste generation. Can a paradigm shift in consumption patterns and waste management practices mitigate the escalating risks posed by landfills and foster a sustainable future? We discuss this and more with environmental journalist Ashley Leong, the author of the report, Wong Siew Lyn, the co-founder and editor of Macaranga, and Geetha P Kumaran, an Environmental and Waste Management Consultant.

Image Credit: Ashley Yeong, Macaranga

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There are serious flaws in plastic offsets, credits and plastic neutrality, according to the report: Smoke and Mirrors - The Realities of Plastic Credits and Offsetting. Building on research published by SourceMaterial and Bloomberg, with original research by Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), the report looks at two of the main proponents of plastic offsetting — Verra and Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX) — which were analysed to provide a snapshot of the current realities of plastic offsetting, beyond the promises and marketing. Among other things, the report shows that plastic credits are encouraging the burning of plastic, a practice that releases harmful toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases, with no environmental benefits, and also that there are serious doubts about additionality, a key concept in offsetting. We unpack the findings of this report with Emma Priestland, the Global Corporate Campaigns Coordinator, from the Break Free From Plastic Movement.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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The wildlife conservation landscape in Malaysia, is changing, and while there have been many wins, such as recent amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act, there remains challenges, such as the delays in the actual enforcement of the Act, which threaten their efficacy. A comparison between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah's wildlife legislation underscores the need for tailored, comprehensive frameworks to address unique ecological needs and challenges. Notably, Sabah's Wildlife Conservation Enactment (1997) exemplifies a holistic approach, emphasising habitat preservation and species conservation. The proliferation of wildlife trade on social media underscores the urgency for dedicated NGOs specialising in rescue and rehabilitation. Drawing lessons from successful collaborations in neighbouring countries, Malaysia can enhance conservation efforts by fostering partnerships between NGOs and government agencies. Transparency, accountability, and adherence to international guidelines, facilitated by Malaysia's membership in the IUCN, are paramount to safeguarding the nation's biodiversity. The Gibbon Conservation Society of Malaysia is an NGO that believes in the importance of approaching conservation from every possible angle, in order to truly solve the issues faced by our wildlife. They work towards a comprehensive approach that not only tackles rehabilitation and the wildlife trade, but also empowers individuals, collaborates with communities, and contributes to scientific research, all while spreading awareness on issues such as these, across the globe. The society submitted an application to Perhilitan under Section 12(2) for a rehabilitation permit a few years ago, but the permit has still not been approved. We speak to Mariani Ramli, the President & Founder of the Gibbon Conservation Society (GCS)  to discuss this ongoing issue, and to also find out how such delays are affecting their ongoing rehabilitation efforts, and the challenges that have arisen from the slow enforcement of these amendments in the Wildlife Act.

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Established in 2012 and run by a team of passionate researcher-conservationists, MareCet is Malaysia's first and only non-profit NGO that is dedicated to the research and conservation of marine mammals in Malaysia. A bulk of their work focuses on increasing scientific knowledge through research, they are also keen to educate and transfer knowledge to us all, to create positive impact and change. Some of their ways of doing that is through their marine education and excursion programs, where we get to experience their field sites, in a fun way. Today on the show, we want to find out more about these Marine Excursions & The Blue Classroom by MareCet, and helping us to do that are Dr Louisa Ponnampalam, the Chairperson of the MareCet Research Organisation, and Kimberly Wong, the Marine Excursions Coordinator, also with MareCet.

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