Earth Matters

Birds are often described as indicators of the health of our environment. When bird populations change, they're often telling us something about the ecosystems we all depend on. That's one reason projects like MY Garden Birdwatch matter. Returning this July after a four-year break, the nationwide survey invites Malaysians to spend just 30 minutes observing birds in their local area and contribute...

Ever so often, we hear about another patch of forest being cleared, excised or reclassified. But if you've ever tried to find out exactly what happened, when it happened, or whether it was even legal, you'll know just how difficult that information can be to access. That's exactly the problem journalist Law Yao Hua set out to solve. Drawing on years of reporting, hundreds of official gazettes and...

Climate action doesn't only happen at the annual UN Climate Conference, or COP. Throughout the year, negotiators, policymakers and civil society organisations meet to tackle the complex work of turning global climate commitments into practical action. Last month saw a packed calendar of major international gatherings, including the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin, the UNFCCC's mid-year negotiati...

The transfer of three Malaysian elephants to Japan has sparked widespread debate over the past few months. While the move was described as a conservation partnership between two zoos, campaigners have questioned whether the transfer complied with Malaysian law, raised concerns about the elephants' welfare, and called for greater transparency over how the decision was made. In this conversation, we...

The more successful a tourist island becomes, the more waste it often has to manage. That's one of the central ideas behind a new report titled Pathways Towards Circularity: The Zero Waste Islands Framework , from GAIA Asia Pacific, which argues that many island destinations are trapped in an extractive cycle. Products are imported, consumed, and discarded, while local communities are left to deal...

For July 2026's episode of Nature Reads, we speak to Rahayu Zulkifli, Chief Executive Officer of Marine Conservation and Research Organisation Malaysia ( PULIHARA ), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves . We explore the books that sparked Rahayu's love of nature and conservation, before diving into Tigers of Terengganu by A. Locke, a vivid account of a Malaysia where...

El Niño is often thought of as a weather phenomenon, bringing hotter and drier conditions to parts of the world. But according to the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia, the bigger story may not be the weather itself, but rather how prepared Malaysia is to deal with the pressures that come with it, from water shortages and pollution risks to energy security and the management of cri...

For years, residents, activists and the Bukit Kiara longhouse community fought plans to develop part of Taman Rimba Kiara , a dispute that eventually made its way to the country's highest court. In 2023, the Federal Court ruled that the proposed development was unlawful, securing a landmark victory for those seeking to preserve the park. But throughout that long struggle, campaigners repeatedly st...

 More than 1,500 Orang Asli and supporters recently gathered in Putrajaya to submit a memorandum calling for greater recognition and protection of Indigenous customary lands. The demonstration comes amid growing concerns over land disputes affecting Orang Asli communities across the country, including the recent demolition of homes belonging to a Jakun community in Pekan, Pahang. We take a cl...

Forest restoration is often described as a long game. Trees that are planted today may take decades to mature, and ecosystems can take even longer to recover. Yet restoring degraded ecosystems requires more than patience, it often depends on the commitment of individuals willing to invest their own time, energy and resources for results they may never fully see. In Sungai Buaya, Selangor, photogra...

As we mark World Oceans Day today Coral Triangle Day in June, it's worth remembering that Malaysia sits within one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth. Our waters are home to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sea turtles, sharks, and countless other species that support fisheries, tourism, livelihoods, and coastal communities. But a new report suggests that many of these ecologically impor...

What does meaningful climate engagement actually look like for young people today? Beyond headlines and social media, how do we create spaces for real conversations, collaboration, and action? Those are some of the questions at the heart of the Rainforest Youth Summit , which returns this year in Sarawak with a programme focused on sustainability, culture, innovation, and youth leadership. We lear...

On this episode of Nature Reads, we speak to guest Ir. Dr. Kribanandan G Naidu, Immediate Past President of Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves . We discuss the books, experiences, and ideas that inspired Dr Kriban’s connection to nature and conservation, the history and importance of urban green spaces like Bukit Kiara, and the newly u...

The school holidays are around the corner, along with a string of long weekends and public holidays, which means many Malaysians are probably already planning road trips and quick getaways. And with all the recent conversation around fuel subsidy rationalisation and rising travel costs, suddenly that nearby nature escape is sounding a lot more attractive. Luckily, Malaysia is full of ecotourism ge...

Across the Pacific, communities are already living with the realities of the climate crisis. From rising sea levels to stronger storms and threats to food security, many island nations are facing impacts despite contributing only a tiny fraction of global carbon emissions. At the same time, activists and young leaders from the region are continuing to push for climate justice and greater global ac...

Urban forests often quietly disappear before people realise what has been lost. But in the case of Bukit Dinding, a growing community of residents and environmental advocates have been working hard to ensure this important green space remains protected. From conservation work and biodiversity documentation to raising awareness about development concerns, Friends of Bukit Dinding has become a stron...

For decades, global climate talks have largely focused on reducing emissions. But at a landmark conference in Santa Marta, Colombia, countries, scientists, Indigenous leaders and civil society groups gathered to tackle a much more direct question: how do we actually move the world away from fossil fuels themselves? The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels , co-hosted by Colombi...

Many of the challenges facing Orang Asli communities are already well known, but what’s really driving them? In Part Two of our two-part special, we turn to what many argue is the root issue: land. In Part One, we explored the lived experiences, from education and healthcare to questions around identity and development. Now, we turn to land, and why it remains one of the most critical and conteste...

What are the realities facing Orang Asli communities in Malaysia today? It’s a question that touches on everything from education and healthcare to identity, representation, and the way development is carried out on the ground. This is Part One of a two-part special based on the policy brief “ Orang Asli Advancement and the Right to Land, Territories and Resources ,” published by the Center for Or...

A rare earth processing facility in Gebeng is back in the headlines, following the government’s decision to grant it a 10-year licence renewal. While new conditions have been introduced, civil society groups say longstanding concerns over radioactive waste, transparency, and accountability remain unresolved. At the same time, a separate agreement linking Malaysia’s rare earth supply to a foreign d...

For this month's episode of Nature Reads, we speak to Datuk Dr John Payne, the Chief Executive Officer of Bringing Back Our Rare Animals or BORA, who has spent decades working on wildlife conservation across Malaysia, particularly in Sabah. But beyond the field, he is also a prolific author, having written everything from wildlife guides and conservation manuals to deeply reflective works on speci...

It’s been a year since the Putra Heights pipeline explosion, a disaster that left hundreds of homes damaged and more than a hundred people injured. While an official investigation by the official Parliamentary Special Select Committee concluded there was no negligence, a new report titled “ Putra Heights: One Year On, Unanswered Questions Remain ” is raising questions about what may have been over...

Malaysia is one of the world’s megadiverse countries, and for decades, it has held itself to a global commitment to maintain at least 50 percent forest cover. But as pressure on land continues to grow, and new independent data points to large areas of forest already earmarked for conversion, questions are being raised about whether that promise is still being upheld in practice. Now, a group of si...

Malaysia’s highest court has dismissed a legal challenge to protect the Shah Alam Community Forest, marking the end of a three-and-a-half-year fight by conservation groups. The decision has raised serious concerns about the future of forest protection in the country, and what it could mean for public participation in environmental decisions. Joining us to help unpack what this ruling means, and wh...

In Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buloh, a group of Temuan women are running a community nursery, growing native plants using knowledge rooted in the forest around them. Their work supports both livelihoods and conservation, while drawing on generations of lived experience and connection to the land. This has been brought together in “ A Guide to Our Nursery and Plants ”, a booklet shaped by the women’...