Bfm :: Earth Matters

Rewilding is described as an innovative way of restoring wild nature. It’s also said to be about letting nature take care of itself, enabling natural processes to shape land and sea, and restore degraded landscapes. On our part - having caused most of the destruction facing this planet - we can give rewilding a helping hand by creating the right conditions, for example by allowing natural forest regeneration, or by reintroducing species that have disappeared as a result of human’s actions, then taking a step back and letting nature manage itself. Ahead of World Rewilding Day on the 20th of March, we find out all about this growing movement from Abdul Razak Abdul Aziz, the founder of  Social Eco Enterprise Development for Sustainability (SEEDS) Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock

These past few weeks have seen several states in Malaysia experiencing continuous rainfall, and subsequently with that, the occurrence of floods, evacuations, massive disruptions and destruction, and even the loss of life. Over in some areas in Sarawak, flooding has become more frequent and intense in recent years, as witnessed by the local communities there. NGO  Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), who have an office over in Marudi, Sarawak have also expressed their continued concern over this, and have noted that prior to the large scale conversion of forests for the purpose of monoculture plantations, such floods were rather uncommon in the upstream areas of interior Sarawak and believe that it's likely they are part of the adverse environmental consequences of deforestation. We speak to Shamila Ariffin, to discuss the situation over in Sarawak, and to help us connect the dots to how clear-cutting forests, and then turning them into monocultures has come to impact the landscape and the indigenous communities

For nearly 50 years, Greenpeace has been sailing the world's oceans, protecting our planet and fighting for environmental justice. Through the Greenpeace Fleet - Rainbow Warrior, Arctic Sunrise and Witness - and tireless Greenpeace activists, they have been successful in obstructing nuclear tests in the Pacific, documenting plastics in our oceans, conducting research into the effects of climate change in the Arctic, and stopping shiploads of illegal timber leaving the Amazon. The fleet of ships has even brought humanitarian relief to communities devastated by extreme weather, and are fundamental to Greenpeace campaigns. Come mid-March, the Rainbow Warrior will be docking here in Malaysia, and we speak about the ship's history and the milestones reached through the campaigns carried out on it, with Greenpeace's Malaysia's Yvonne Nathan (Digital & Media Campaigner) and Thing Siew Shuen (Senior Program Manager).Image credit: Shutterstock

It's World Wildlife Day on the 3rd of March, an annual UN International day to celebrate all the world's wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet. Malaysia is of course  recognized as one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, meaning it is one of the top biodiversity-rich countries and home to many animals including sun bears, Malayan tigers, Sunda Clouded Leopards, Asian elephants, pangolins and more. On this episode of Earth Matters, we revisit some of our previous coverage of Malaysia's incredible wildlife, from our miniseries The ABC's of Biodiversity, where we explore why biodiversity loss is our. You'll hear more about sun bears from Dr Wong Siew Te, (CEO and Founder, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre) Sunda clouded leopards from Chrishen Gomez (biologist and researcher, WildCRU, University of Oxford), and finally Sunda pangolins from Elisa Panjang (Pangolin Conservation Officer, Danau Girang Field Centre) and Dr Chong Ju Lian

For this month's roundup of environmental news, we're joined by Wong Siew Lyn, the co-founder of environmental journalism portal Macaranga. First, the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad recently proposed increasing the punishment for water pollution from RM100,000 to RM10 million and the maximum jail time from one year to 15 years, or both. Are harsher penalties for water pollution the solution? Then we turn our focus to the Penang Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Programme (PNBCAP), a nature adaptation initiative for the urban areas of Penang, which is being hailed as something that could serve as a model for Malaysian urban areas across the country in fighting climate change. Looking forward, there are several thematic days coming up in March - we give props to two in particular: World Wildlife Day on the 3rd of March, and International Day of Forests, on the 21st of March.Image credit: Shutterstock

Malaysia's Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim retabled Budget 2023 last Friday on the 24th of February, after the first tabling in October 2022 by the previous Ismail Sabri administration was thrown out, due to parliament being dissolved. With a new unity government at the helm, there are significant changes to what was initially tabled, with the newly consolidated Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) ministry receiving about RM6.53 billion in allocations, said to be an increase of 8.4 percent from last year. Is this a sign of the government's commitment to combat environmental issues and climate change in the country? We dissect Budget 2023 to discuss if conservation of the environment and inclusive and sustainable growth was prioritised, with Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: Shutterstock

Parti Hijau Malaysia or the Green Party of Malaysia is the new kid on the block, focussed on highlighting environmental issues in Malaysia, and protecting forest reserves. Highly vocal on issues surrounding the degazettement of forest reserves in Selangor, the party is hoping that the Registrar of Societies (ROS) will approve their application before the next Selangor state election is called, so they can contest in the upcoming polls. We speak to Abdul Razak Ismail, the pro-tem secretary-general of the Green Party of Malaysia, and former secretary of the PKR veterans’ group Otai Reformis 1998, about the issues they are championing, with a focus on the Bukit Cherakah and Bukit Lagong forest reserves.

We kick off a new ecotourism-centred series on Earth Matters - Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta - which aims to highlight lesser-known ecotourism spots right here in Malaysia. Done in collaboration with the Ecotourism & Conservation Society of Malaysia (ECOMY) the series aims to shine a spotlight on lesser-known ecotourism spots right here in Malaysia, that will take you on off-the-beaten-track nature adventures. In our first episode, we explore the hidden delights that the areas surrounding Kuala Tahan has to offer, including nature walks, wildlife tracking, bird-watching, a visit to an Orang Asli village, and river tubing. Helping us to explore the great Tahan outdoors is Andrew Sebastian, the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of ECOMY.

Back in 2015, wildlife researcher Dr Ravinder Kaur and wildlife photographer Sanjitpaal Singh set up the social enterprise Explore GAIA, to conserve the hornbills of Malaysia. Explore GAIA, together with the NGO Hutan, are currently the only groups providing nesting opportunities for endangered hornbills in Malaysia, and they have been searching for natural nesting sites of endangered hornbills, monitoring and protecting active nests and innovating artificial nest boxes. In a love-themed Earth Matters special in the spirit of Valentine's Day, we catch up with this award-winning couple in conservation for progress updates on their work, and we also talk about all things hornbills, in conjunction with Love Hornbills Day, celebrated annually on the 13th of February.Image Credit: Sanjitpaal Singh/JITSPICS.COM©”

Late last month, the Federal Court in a landmark decision, quashed a hillside development that was issued by the local authority in Penang. Federal Court judge Nallini Pathmanathan who wrote the unanimous decision, ruled that Section 22(2A) says that the development affecting hill tops or hill slopes is no longer merely an issue of local state governance, but is also a federal and national issue. What does this all mean, and how will this ruling impact other hillslope development plans around the country? We speak to Datuk Dr Gurdial Singh Nijar, an advocate and solicitor who represented the Sg Ara residents who won the case after a decade long battle, to discuss the implications of this landmark decision, and why it's a win for environmental law.Image Credit: Sahabat Alam Malaysia

It was World Wetlands Day on the 2nd of February, and we wanted to give props to the many underrated habitats that fall under the category of wetlands, which are described as the most productive ecosystems in the world. Previously, we spoke about what wetlands are, but in this second episode of our two-part special, we discuss threats that continuously degrade these habitats, but also solutions on how to conserve and protect remaining wetlands. Joining us to do this is Dr. Ahmad Aldrie Amir, a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI) at UKM, and he is also the coordinator of the Malaysian Mangrove Research Alliance and Network (MyMangrove). *Listen to Part 1 here.Image Credit: Shutterstock

We catch up on some of the top environmental news of January 2023, with the co-founders of environmental journalism portal, Macaranga. This month, we first discuss the implications of a Federal Court ruling which ruled in favour of Sungai Ara residents, who challenged the Penang island city council’s (MBPP) decision to grant planning permission to a developer to build a housing scheme on a hillslope. Next, we turn our attention to The Guardian's investigation of Verra Carbon offsets, which claimed that "more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by the biggest provider are worthless." Finally, we look ahead to the retabling of Budget 2023, and discuss what possible allocations might be given to the environment.Image Credit: Wikimedia/Creative Commons & Shutterstock

February 2nd marks World Wetlands Day, and 2023's theme is “It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration,” highlighting the urgent need to prioritise wetland restoration. Though they are called bogs, swamps, marshes, and a host of other unappealing names, wetlands are the most productive ecosystems in the world, and exist in every country and in every climatic zone. In a two-part special, we take a deep dive and discuss all things wetlands with Dr. Ahmad Aldrie Amir, a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow, at the Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI) at UKM, who is also the coordinator of the Malaysian Mangrove Research Alliance and Network (MyMangrove). In this first episode, we discuss what constitutes a wetland, the invaluable services provided by these ecosystems, and some of the wetlands found right here in Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock

Standing at 291m, Bukit Dinding is described as one of the last green fortresses in Kuala Lumpur, and is a popular recreational spot for many. Back in late 2022 though, news broke that two blocks of 26-storey condominiums will be built there, even though the area has been known to be landslide-prone, and has an underground water source at the hill. Residents around the area and others opposing the development filed for a Judicial Review on the project last December, and are keeping up the fight to keep this green lung intact. We speak to Sri Utami Dewi, the Secretary of the Section 5 Taskforce to get some updates on the case. If you would like to support the initiative to protect Bukit Dinding, you may assist in the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Bukit Dinding here.Image Credit: Facebook/Friends of Bukit Dinding

Hazen Audel is a biologist, TV presenter, and natural history guide, who is Kootenai and Salish Native American and Greek by descent. He founded The Wild Classroom, a non-profit online web-series offering teachers and students quality, natural history educational videos for use in the classroom and home. As the host of National Geographic's Primal Survivor series, he has documented many adventures and tales of survivalism, and his experiences living with and working alongside indigenous people in remote regions of the world. He joins us to share more about his travels and adventures, how he went from teacher to survivalist, and some of the important lessons he has learnt from connecting with indigenous communities from around the world.

The Swap Project (TSP) was launched in late 2018 by Jayda Chong and Jamie Choy, two young women who "are passionate about sustainability in a fashionable way". Fashion of course has a huge environmental cost, and it's estimated that the fashion industry is currently responsible for more annual carbon emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping, combined. How can pre-loved clothing swap-meets like The Swap Project make a change in the way we think about fashion and our personal consumption? We speak to Jayda about this and more.Image Credit: Facebook/The Swap Project

Back in November 2022, the 19th Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) took place in Panama, to discuss the future of the international trade in endangered species. At the meeting, Malaysia lobbied for two proposals to respectively upgrade and add protection for two songbird species - the straw-headed bulbul and the white-rumped shama - in the wild. In a huge win for Malaysia, both were accepted unanimously, and will help against the smuggling of the two species into other countries in the region, where there are thriving songbird industries. What follow-up needs to happen now since the proposals have been accepted, in terms of supporting national laws, monitoring and regulation? We speak to Kanitha Krishnasamy, the Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, to discuss.Image Credit: Wikimedia/Creative Commons & Flickr/Creative Commons

One million species are currently at risk of extinction. Back in 2011, almost 200 countries agreed to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, a set of 20 targets intended to protect nature, save biodiversity and enhance its benefits for people. All 20 targets were missed. In late December 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was finally signed, a landmark agreement which consists of four key goals and a set of 23 targets, intended to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect indigenous rights. Will this truly act as "a framework for all life on earth?" We discuss the highs and lows of the outcomes from the biodiversity talks at COP15 with Theiva Lingam, a public interest lawyer and environmental activist, and the legal advisor for Sahabat Alam Malaysia.Image Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons

A landmark deal was reached after two weeks of talks in Montreal at the COP15 UN biodiversity summit, where nations from across the world agreed to a new set of goals and targets to “halt and reverse” biodiversity loss by 2030. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework includes something we've been discussing often - the “30×30” target, to conserve 30% of the world’s land and 30% of the ocean by 2030. What does this all mean? We dissect what went down at the talks with Julian Hyde (General Manager, Reef Check Malaysia), and Jasmin Mohd Saad (Policy Consultant, Reef Check Malaysia) in the final episode of our monthly series Biodiversity for Malaysia, which aimed to get everyone on the same page when it comes to all things biodiversity-related, especially on issues surrounding the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 framework process, the 30X30 target, and more.Photo credit: Shutterstock

In our last Earth Matters show for 2022, we catch up with Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of environmental journalism portal Macaranga, who share some of the big stories that they covered throughout the year, on macaranga.org. We cover five main topics including food security and climate change, the impacts of African swine fever in Malaysia, calls to modernise Penang’s pig farming business, the need for coral restoration (and coral awareness in general), and also the strange beast that is forest plantations in Peninsular Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock and Macaranga