Earth Matters
Episodes
Forest Files Findings Part 1: Who Decides on Forest Use?
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, local environmental portal Macaranga.org published four in-depth articles based on their investigation into forest-use changes in Peninsula...
Joe Biden’s Plans for Climate Change and Environmental Justice
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In his first day as President of the USA, Joe Biden overturned his twice-impeached predecessor's actions on the environment, by rejoining the Paris cl...
Macaranga Wrap-up: January 2021
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In our first Earth Matters episode 2021, Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of local journalism portal Macaranga.org join us to share envi...
Restoring Rainforests in Malaysia
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Established in 1985, the South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP) has worked towards the conservation, sustainable management and rest...
How To Go Zero-Waste At Work
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's estimated the average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of office paper, and about 500 disposable coffee cups every year. That's a lot of waste th...
How To Go Zero-Waste At Home
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New year, new you! Most people are looking forward to kicking off 2021 with new resolutions, and what better way to improve your health, simplify your...
Macaranga Wrap-up: 2020
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In our final Earth Matters episode for the year, we look back at some of the major environment-related news from 2020, with Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao ...
Plastic, Plastic Everywhere!
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many developed countries exported their recyclable plastic in large amounts to other countries to process, Malaysia being one of them. Though we have ...
Plastic, Plastic Everywhere!
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many developed countries exported their recyclable plastic in large amounts to other countries to process, Malaysia being one of them. Though we have ...
It Takes A Village to Raise a Riverbank
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're advised to be the change we want to see in the world, and the folks involved in the Friends of Sungai Klang Taman Melawati River Three ...
Macaranga Wrap-up: November 2020
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The folks behind everything at Macaranga.org join us for their monthly show, this time to highlight Budget 2021 and the government's plans for t...
The Langur Project
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
More commonly known as dusky leaf monkeys, langurs or spectacled leaf monkeys - with their large spectacle-looking markings around their eyes - are th...
Start ‘em Young - Youth Activists Tackling the Climate Crisis
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Youth-led climate change NGO Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD), are an organisation which focuses on building the capacity of Malaysian youths, to enga...
Conserving Our Natural History - The Modern-Day Battleground?
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chrishen Gomez is a wildlife biologist, who's currently the research manager for the Bornean Carnivore Programme, by the Wildlife Conservation Researc...
Conservation With A Camera
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Multi-award winning photographer Sanjitpaal Singh has been capturing the immense wonders that our Malaysian natural heritage has to offer through his ...
Are Malaysians an Environmentally-Conscious Lot?
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A recent survey by the WWF-UM Living Planet Centre, was conducted to gauge Malaysians awareness and attitudes, particularly on environmental issues. T...
Macaranga Wrap-up: October 2020
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this month's roundup, SL Wong and Law Yao Hua, the editors of Macaranga.org, tackle the nation's water pollution woes, and discuss why we need to c...
On The Trail of Threatened Hornbills
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Ravinder Kaur has long been working on the conservation of hornbills in Borneo, having studied hornbill breeding ecology and conservation in the Ki...
Permaculture Perak
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Amy Tan and her family took a road less travelled, and chose to live in the jungle surrounded by nature. For almost 10 years, they lived off-the-grid ...
The Role of Education in Promoting Sustainable Development
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity...
The (Reef) Stakes Are High
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Reef Stakes® is the first marine themed role playing card game in Malaysia, and is designed to mimic real-life stakeholder relationships, introduc...
Macaranga Wrap-up: September 2020
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this month's roundup, SL Wong and Law Yao Hua, the editors of Macaranga.org, join us to discuss more environmental issues making headlines. First, ...
An Upstream Battle To Save Rivers
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rivers, those large bodies of fresh, flowing water, embody many different values to different people. Many social and economic benefits derived from r...
Stop The Chop!
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Back in June this year, communities in the Baram region in Sarawak, together with the civil society group Save Rivers, called for the 148,000 hectare ...
Bye Bye Forest, Hello Road?
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Shah Alam City Council recently released its latest draft local plan draft (Draf Rancangan Tempatan 2035) for public consultation. In this plan is...
Guardians of the Gibbons
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are five types of gibbons found in Malaysia, and the IUCN lists all of them as endangered. Sadly, they receive very little protection here, and ...
Macaranga Wrap-up: August 2020
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
SL Wong and Law Yao Hua, the editors of Macaranga.org, return for their monthly show, to discuss major environmental news from August this year, and t...
What's Up In Fraser's Hill?
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rising more than 1000m above sea level on the Titiwangsa Range, and straddling the Pahang-Selangor border, Fraser’s Hill is a highland rainfores...
Connecting, Cooperating & Changing for Nature
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Poynton's passion lies in helping create more positive change in the world, and he has spent his life working to bring change in highly complex,...
World Elephant Day 2020 Special - Nurturing Human-elephant Coexistence
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Humans and elephants have ‘co-existed for millenia’ in the Malay Peninsula. For his dissertation, Lim Teckwyn, from the Management & E...
The Sea Monkey Project
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
They've been sailing and living aboard a 41ft Morgan Out Island monohull yacht called 'Sea Monkey' since 2014, after leaving their regular life behind...
Macaranga Wrap-up: July 2020
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
SL Wong and Law Yao Hua, the editors of Macaranga.org, return for their monthly show, to discuss major environmental news from July this year, and to ...
People for Peat
20 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre (TRCRC), was established in 2012 to restore tropical rainforests and address the critical rat...
Become a Wira Zero Waste (W0W)
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Zero Waste Malaysia have been working hard to create awareness on the zero waste lifestyle, which essentially wants people to shift from the take-make...
Saving Turtles in the Time of a Pandemic
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
She's known as "Mek Tuntung" among locals - Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok is the co-founder of the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, and is a freshwater t...
Macaranga Environmental Stock Take: June 2020
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
SL Wong and Law Yao Hua, the editors of Macaranga.org, join us for their monthly show, to discuss major environmental news from June this year, and to...
Pulau Tioman as a Sustainable Tourism Destination
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For many islands, their social, economic and environmental well being is tied strongly to the fate of a single sector: tourism. But badly planned tour...
Pulau Tioman as a Sustainable Tourism Destination
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For many islands, their social, economic and environmental well being is tied strongly to the fate of a single sector: tourism. But badly planned tour...
The PONGO Alliance
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The PONGO Alliance is an alliance of oil palm growers, businesses and NGOs, who aim to make resilient landscapes for wildlife and people, by seeking w...
A New Era for Environmental Conservation?
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In a matter of months, the world has changed. Covid-19 has changed the way we live and the pandemic's stay-at-home orders have brought a welcome relie...
COVID-19 and The Ocean - What does the future hold for Marine Ecosystems?
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
COVID-19 has upended lives and livelihoods across the planet, and it's impact is not only being felt on land, but at sea too, and is affecting our &ld...
Taking Stock of the Environment with Macaranga
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Macaranga is a journalism portal covering environment and sustainability-related topics in Malaysia. Helmed by writers Law Yao Hua and SL Wong, the du...
How COVID-19 is Affecting Sun Bear Conservation
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Across the world, many wildlife reserves and animal sanctuaries have been severely impacted by the coronavirus lockdown measures which has led to redu...
Degazettement Process Goes On, Despite COVID-19 Pandemic?
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The current Movement Control Order (MCO) and the suspension of activities by NGOs by the Registrar of Societies, have made it impossible to have any p...
World Water Day 2020 Special: Use Water Wisely
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Water is one of the basic necessities of life, which we use almost without thinking, and this can lead to significant waste. While we're always advise...
Southeast Asia: At the heart of wildlife trade
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A report released by wildlife trade monitoring organisation Traffic has concluded that a new strategy is urgently needed to curb wildlife trafficking ...
Why Not Preserve the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve?
24 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) currently covers about 958ha of peat swamp forest – a small remnant of a much larger forest that w...
What Now, Post COP25?
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The UN Conference of Parties (COP) 25 which was held last year in Madrid, Spain, was deemed as a failure by many. Both activists and experts who atten...
Creating Future-Proof Cities
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Creating Future-Proof Cities is a publication that aims to serve as a practical guide to individuals, communities and cities to step up action to curb...
World Wetlands Day 2020
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrated every year on the 2nd of February, World Wetlands Day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on the same day in 1971,...
Conservation Roadmap for Flying Foxes in Peninsular Malaysia
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Flying foxes are giant fruit bats, and are one of the most threatened groups of bats in the world, with their numbers declining sharply due to hunting...
Australia's bushfire crisis - is this what a climate crisis looks like?
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The unprecedented and catastrophic bushfires in Australia have killed more than 25 people, burned hundreds of thousands of hectares of land, caused ma...
2020 - the 'year of action' against climate change?
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, the world woke up to the climate emergency. Many of us were also jolted by the global report by the International Panel on Biodiversity and...
Best of Earth Matters 2019 - Part 1: The Climate Crisis
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We revisit some of the best interviews from Earth Matters, from 2019. On this episode, we look at the climate crisis, and whether ASEAN’s approa...
The Power and Potential of Seagrass
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Seagrasses are submerged flowering plants with deep roots that are found in meadows along the shore of every continent except Antarctica. Although the...
International Anti-Corruption Day 2019: How Corruption Facilitates Wildlife Crimes
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Wildlife crime is big business. Run by dangerous international networks, wildlife and animal parts are trafficked much like illegal drugs and arms. Th...
Mini-grids For Rural Electrification
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With the reduced cost of renewable technologies and rising innovation, mini-grids are a growing opportunity in emerging markets, one which is already ...
Jane Goodall's Reasons For Hope
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jane Goodall is considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. Her extensive research into the behaviour of chimpanzees, which ...
The Orangutan-Palm Oil Conflict
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The orangutan is an iconic primate which inhabits the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Over the past several decades however, its habitat has been c...
MyForest Watch
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
MyForest Watch was launched back in 2017, and looks at Malaysia’s natural heritage, our forests, and how non-state actors - non-governmental org...
Pest or Pest Control? The study of pig-tailed macaques in oil palm plantations
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Pig-tailed macaques have a bad reputation as crop raiders, widely regarded as a pest in agricultural crops, including oil palm. But a new study shows ...
The Birds of Taman Rimba Kiara
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you're lucky enough, you might spot an Oriental Pied hornbill flying around Taman Rimba Kiara in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. You can also catch sight of o...
Clean Air for All
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clean air is a basic human right, but a lot of people are deprived of it. Two thirds of the cities in the world with adequate air quality data are suf...
World Food Day Special: Because Food Matters
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Since their launch in April 2016, The Lost Food Project has been working to rescue food, reduce waste and fight hunger in Malaysia. The organisation w...
Ice Diaries
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Jean McNeil is a novelist, poet and essayist, and was writer-in-residence with the British Antarctic Survey for a few months, and has since made se...
Ice Diaries
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Jean McNeil is a novelist, poet and essayist, and was writer-in-residence with the British Antarctic Survey for a few months, and has since made se...
Saving Rivers, Saving Lives
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A lifelong campaigner for the people of Sarawak, Peter Kallang, the chairman of the SAVE Rivers Network, was very recently honoured with the 2019 Seac...
Conserving Species on the Brink
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Monitor Conservation Research Society (Monitor) is a nonprofit organization that works to end illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. Founded by...
Malaysia Day 2019: Development - at what & whose cost?
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The proposed Papar Dam Project in Sabah, if constructed, would displace more than 3,200 people, and affected communities are also concerned that the d...
Malaysia Day 2019: Development - at what & whose cost?
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The proposed Papar Dam Project in Sabah, if constructed, would displace more than 3,200 people, and affected communities are also concerned that the d...
Malaysia Day 2019: Development - at what & whose cost?
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The proposed Papar Dam Project in Sabah, if constructed, would displace more than 3,200 people, and affected communities are also concerned that the d...
The Role of Businesses in Sustainability
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Gary Theseira, the Special Functions Officer to the Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change tells us more about how...
International Coastal Cleanup Day 2019
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is a non-profit organisation that was registered to raise awareness of the importance of our coral reefs. With International...
Dealing With Food Waste the Sustainable Way
19 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A shopping centre in Shah Alam has found a sustainable way to manage food waste by recycling them into animal feed and farm fertiliser. We find out ho...
The International Congress for Conservation Biology 2019
19 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
International Congress for Conservation Biology (or ICCB) was held last month in Kuala Lumpur from 21-25 July 2019. On today’s show, we look at ...
Cutting Down on Food Waste
05 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysians reportedly dispose no less than 3,000 metric tonnes of food daily. These are foods that are still fit for consumption. The Lost Food P...
Global Tiger Day 2019
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Malayan Tiger has been critically endangered for years now. Yet, with ecologists and tiger conservation groups sounding the alarm on their imminen...
Asean’s Climate Change Approach
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Association (AIPA) took place last month in June. Joining us on the show today to tell us more about what was the outcom...
The Climate Crisis
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Climate Reality Project was founded by former US Vice President Al Gore to move forward the conversation on climate change and turn awareness into...
The Climate Crisis
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Climate Reality Project was founded by former US Vice President Al Gore to move forward the conversation on climate change and turn awareness into...
Developing a Sustainable Business
12 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
"People, planet, and profit" is the popular description of the triple bottom line that should be adopted by companies who are striving to be sustainab...
Sustainable Water Management in Malaysia
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Water is a critical ingredient to our social and economic needs. However, rapid development and urbanization in Malaysia is resulting in a steady incr...
Developing a Sustainable Business
24 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
"People, planet, and profit" is the popular description of the triple bottom line that should be adopted by companies who are striving to be sustainab...
Malaysia’s Second Zero Waste Fest
17 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Zero Waste Malaysia is back for the second year. Sue Yee, Co-founder of Zero Waste Malaysia joins us on the show today to talk about the aim for this ...
Protecting Pangolins
10 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Said to be the world’s most heavily-trafficked wild mammal, it's estimated that more than 100,000 pangolins are poached from the wild every year...
Promoting Youth Development Through Environmental Expeditions
10 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
From adventure activities to community service, Raleigh KL runs expeditions in various locations around the world with the purpose of promoting youth ...
The Global Trade of Recyclable Plastics
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most, if not all of us depend on the use of plastics daily. But once they have served their use, we throw them away. So, imagine industrialized countr...
Responsible Food Habits for Ramadan and Hari Raya
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As the fasting month comes to an end and with Raya around the corner, we look back and reflect on what we could have done better when it comes to food...
Clean, Green and Clever
13 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Christine Milne was a former Senator for Tasmania and leader of the Australian Greens, and is considered one of Australia’s most experienced env...
Whither The Environment, In Malaysia Baru?
06 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Just last month, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that "our effort to become a developed nation will not be achieved or recognised if all we can see are t...
The Earthworm Foundation
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Earthworm Foundation was formerly known as The Forest Trust, and has 20 years of experience in finding solutions to the major social and environm...
Klang Valley City Nature Challenge 2019
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Klang Valley City Nature Challenge is a 4-day bioblitz style international competition between cities, to engage as many people as possible to doc...
Earth Day 2019 Special: Make the Greater Ulu Muda Forest Complex a State Park
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The greater Ulu Muda is a 160,000-hectare forest located in east Kedah. Rich in biodiversity, it's also a main source of raw water for South Kedah and...
Radioactive Materials, Radiation and How It Affects Us
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There has been heated debate over the radioactive waste produced at the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Kuantan, which is owned by Lynas Corp...
Sikit-sikit, Lama-lama Jadi Habit
08 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sampah-Menyampah has been going from strength to strength since it was launched back in 2017, helping to get us all moving towards a cleaner, healthie...
Taking Action For Mulu
01 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Mulu rainforest, which is part of the Gunung Mulu National Park, is Sarawak’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, but an oil palm plantation is...
Connect to Earth
25 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With a call to #Connect2Earth, the theme for this year's Earth Hour celebration aims to spark conversations on nature and the unique diversity of life...
YB Khalid Samad: Why I Gazetted the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020
18 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The gazettement of the Kuala Lumpur City Plan (KLCP) 2020 by Federal Territories Minister YB Khalid Abdul Samad late last October, was met with dismay...
Recycle the Right Way
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In Malaysia, it's estimated that an average of 37,000 tonnes of waste is generated every day, with most of it piled up at landfills. Although we're al...
The Illegal Trade Of Tarantulas - Bio-piracy in Malaysia?
04 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A new spider species - Birupes simoroxigorum - was described in the February issue of The Journal of the British Tarantula Society, by arachnologists ...