Earth Matters

Suryani Senja Alias and Dr June Ngo, the Chairperson and Chief Designer respectively of Yayasan Tuanku Nur Zahirah, discuss their organisation's efforts to revive and revitalise the songket weaving industry in Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An 80-hectare tropical rainforest garden sits right in the midst of Kuala Lumpur's University Malaya, with over 1600 species of living collections, 63,000 accessions and an arboretum among its many features.  University of Malaya's Dr. M Sugumaran, Coordinator for Rimba Ilmu Botanical Gardens, uncovers the many delights this little known treasure trove of plants and trees has to offer. http:/...

Mano Maniam - actor, director, writer and also active member of the Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia (EPSM) - discusses and advocates an age-old but now oft forgotten water saving technique, rainwater harvesting. Besides its many benefits, Mano also discusses the EPSM's recent successful implementation of this system at the Pure Life Society's premises. For more details on the EPSM, ch...

Elizabeth John, Senior Communications Officer of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and Loshini John, Values and Communications Manager at The Body Shop Malaysia, discuss the joint TRAFFIC-The Body Shop campaign, "Where's My Mama?" which highlights the plight of young wildlife left orphaned by animal trafficking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this concluding episode on the Malaysian Nature Society's Raptor Watch 2011 series, we speak to Lim Aun Tiah, Head Coordinator for the Raptor Counters, who were the folks tasked with the mission to count the thousands of raptors that migrated over the shores of Tanjung Tuan. Aun Tiah explains  us the painstaking task of monitoring the raptors, while giving us a complete rundown of events t...

Sometime in 2008, husband and wife team Hijjas Kasturi and Angela Hijjas, an architect and environmentalist respectively, set about to restore three somewhat rotting rows of double storey terraced houses in Penang. Angela discusses the result of this conversion - the newly launched Hotel Penaga - which is a heritage boutique hotel that looks set to become a model for the adaptive re-use of old bui...

The Raptor Watch 2011 is your chance to witness the most spectacular migratory phenomenon that hits the shores of Peninsular Malaysia, where thousands of eagles, hawks and buzzards land here, en-route their journey back to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere. Andrew Sebastian, Head of Communications at the Malaysian Nature Society, shares with us the significance of this annual event...

Soaring energy prices are a reminder of the role affordable energy plays in sustainable economic growth and higher human development. Here in Malaysia, the country's Ninth Plan provides an emphasis to further reduce the dependency on petroleum, and to increase efforts to integrate alternative fuels. Consultant scientist Jothiratnam discusses humankind's dependency on fuel, and the role and benefit...

The United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests, and with the theme 'Celebrating Forests for People', the focus is on how both our individual and collective actions can either make or break the future of the world's forests. Yeap Chin Aik, who is the Head of Conservation at the Malaysian Nature Society, talks about the inextricable link between people and forests, and the ne...

It was reported in June last year that Malaysia spent about RM1 billion a year to manage solid waste generated in the country, and that by the year 2020, Malaysians will generate some 30,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, which is an unsustainable pattern. Dr. K. Kalithasan, coordinator of the River Care Programme at the Global Environment Centre (GEC), explains the whole concept of solid waste to u...

Thinking that planting can beautify and improve the built environment is narrowing the meaning of the term landscape - so believes Kamariyah Kamsah, a retired landscape architecture lecturer and member of Badan Warisan Malaysia. She advocates the term landscape as the physical outdoor environment that all of us use in our daily activities, rather than just the act of beautifying the environment by...

Find out all you need to know about eco enzymes, the almost magical solution made up of fermented kitchen waste, which is proving to be an eco-friendly answer to all manner of cleaning needs. Mariam Osman of EcoKnights, who is an eco-enzyme advocate, gives us the 411 on how to make this solution in the comfort of your home, by simply using household items and kitchen refuse. You'll save the world...

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, is the basic crux of sustainable development. The Nippon Paint Young Designer Award competition was launched to encourage young Malaysian students in the fields of design and architecture, to think about this very concept. Student Tee Khay Mee, winner in the architecture category for 20...

A century ago there were some 100,000 wild tigers across Asia and the Russian Far East. Today, is it estimated there are about only 3,200 tigers left worldwide. These magnificent creatures have been sent to the brink of extinction as a result of poaching, illegal trade, and habitat loss. Mike Baltzer, Tiger Network Initiative leader of WWF and Dr. Arun Venkataraman, Conservation Director of WWF-Ma...

Zoo Negara has come a long way from it's humble beginnings as a 5-acre garden. With a focus on education, conservation, research, recreation and training, the zoo has evolved into an important center for wildlife conservation, rather than as a glorified prison for these beautiful creatures. Zoo Negara's current Director, Dr. Mohamad Bin Ngah discusses Zoo Negara's plans and programmes, and how the...

Illegal wildlife trade totals billions of dollars a year globally, and conservationists say the problem is most acute in Southeast Asia. Malaysia has gained a disreputable reputation as being the transit point of illegal wildlife global trade routes. Elizabeth Lisa John of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and Sara Sukor of WWF Malaysia talk about this troubling trade, and enlighten the public on how they to...

Said to be our closest cousins, orangutans are among the most intelligent of primates, found in the wild in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Sadly, their very existence is under severe threat, thanks in great part to the degradation and destruction of their habitat. Fareea Ma, CEO of Way Out Experiences Ltd (WOX) talks about the status of our hairy relatives existence, and the need for incre...

Imagine crossing the continents in an old souped-up school bus, one juiced mainly by biodiesel and vegetable oil, on a scientific quest to discover global carbon emissions and energy consumption. The larger than life Biotruck Expedition is certainly no figment of imagination, as it rolls into Malaysia this week, one of their stops in this road-trip experiment of global eco-proportions. Bio-truckke...

The remote and isolated forested area of Ulu Muda lies on the north-eastern flank of Kedah, bordering Thailand. Despite its rich biodiversity, outstanding area for conservation of wildlife and immense natural beauty, Ulu Muda remains relatively unknown to most Malaysians. Eco-travel and sustainable tourism exponent Anthony Wong reveals Ulu Muda's many hidden treasures and natural wonders, and the...

There are over 370 million Indigenous peoples from around the world, and they are among the most impoverished, marginalised and frequently victimized people in the world. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, formed following years of discussion within the UN system with Indigenous representatives, provides a framework for addressing these issues. Chief Wilton Littlechild, Commis...

The Living Planet Report (LPR) is the world's leading science-based analysis that documents the changing state of biodiversity, ecosystems and humanity’s consumption of natural resources. The basic result of the 2010 report doesn't look too good - humanity are apparently consuming 50% more natural resources than the earth can sustain. Dato Dr. Dionysius Sharma, Executive Director and CEO of...

The Mubin Sheppard Memorial Prize (MSMP) is a competition designed by Badan Warisan Malaysia, to raise awareness among our younger members of society, about the built heritage of Malaysia. Badan Warisan member and former chaiperson of the MSMP, Kamariyah Kamsah explains this competition and grant scheme, and why it's so important to educate the young about our past to ensure its survival in the fu...

Putting worms to work is something Lim Kok Leong knows best. He talks about the benefits of vermicomposting, a composting method that utilizes various species of worms to convert organic materials into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve McCoy, founder and principal of Counterpoint, and Toh Su Mei, advisor of Wild Asia, advise on ways to adopt and sustain an eco-friendly lifestyle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bukit Gasing is a quaint green lung which straddles the border of Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur. Once a rubber plantation, it is now a secondary forest and is a favourite among nature lovers, hikers and anyone looking for a reprieve from the urban jungle. Now, a large part of Bukit Gasing on the Kuala Lumpur side is set to be developed and made into luxury bungalows. Joint Action Committee for Bu...