Environmental issues in Malaysia explained

Malaysia faces several environmental issues. Malaysia's environment possesses megadiverse biological diversity, with globally significant endemism and biodiversity, but is threatened by several issues. Deforestation is a major issue in the country that has led to many species becoming threatened with extinction. As a major economic sector, palm oil production has had a substantial environmental impact. Air pollution is also a major issue, with the country one of the most affected countries by seasonal Southeast Asian haze. The country is also affected by climate change.

Issues

Endangered species

See main article: Wildlife of Malaysia and Flora of Malaysia.

Deforestation

The following are notable projects contributing to deforestation:

Malaysia had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.01/10, ranking it 111th globally out of 172 countries.[8]

Pollution

See also: Air pollution in Malaysia. Air pollution in Malaysia is a major issue, with the country one of the most affected by seasonal Southeast Asian haze.[9]

Reclamation

See main article: Land reclamation. Coastal reclamation is damaging mangroves and turtle nesting sights.

Recycling and waste management

See main article: Recycling in Malaysia.

The country has numerous waste and recycling policies and initiatives but overall low rate of recycling and problems with violations and enforcement of such laws and policies.

Water

Controversial projects and policies

Project/Area affected Activity State Began Notes Ref.
2008 Forest loss. [12]
Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR) 2008 Forest fragmentation in the Selangor State Park. [13]
Forest Plantation Development[14] 2008- Clearance of natural forest for timber plantations. [15]
2008- Hillslope clearance. [16]
Pan Borneo HighwayHighwaySarawak/Sabah2016Forest loss, Brunei sections and the Temburong Bridge project and its implications to Limbang[17]

Environmental organisations

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Elephant - WWF Malaysia. www.wwf.org.my.
  2. Web site: About WWF-Malaysia - WWF Malaysia. www.wwf.org.my.
  3. Clements . Reuben . Rayan . Darmaraj Mark . Ahmad Zafir . Abdul Wahab . Venkataraman . Arun . Alfred . Raymond . Payne . Junaidi . Ambu . Laurentius . Sharma . Dionysius Shankar Kumar . 2010-04-01 . Trio under threat: can we secure the future of rhinos, elephants and tigers in Malaysia? . Biodiversity and Conservation . en . 19 . 4 . 1115–1136 . 10.1007/s10531-009-9775-3 . 21913372 . 1572-9710.
  4. Web site: The Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project in Malaysia (Kelau Dam). FoE. Japan. FoE Japan.
  5. Web site: 2016-03-03 . Development Disasters – Japanese-Funded Dam Projects in Asia . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211514/http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/attached-files/030309.irnjbic.pdf . 2016-03-03 . 2022-08-16 .
  6. Web site: Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve, Malaysia Map with Wikipedia Places . 2022-08-16 . itouchmap.com.
  7. Web site: Agkillah Maniam, Ignorance is not bliss in conservation matters, The Malaysian Insider, 12 October 2014 3:01 PM, accessed 1/25/2015 . 25 January 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150103102622/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/ignorance-is-not-bliss-in-conservation-matters-agkillah-maniam . 3 January 2015 . dead .
  8. Grantham. H. S.. Duncan. A.. Evans. T. D.. Jones. K. R.. Beyer. H. L.. Schuster. R.. Walston. J.. Ray. J. C.. Robinson. J. G.. Callow. M.. Clements. T.. Costa. H. M.. DeGemmis. A.. Elsen. P. R.. Ervin. J.. Franco. P.. Goldman. E.. Goetz. S.. Hansen. A.. Hofsvang. E.. Jantz. P.. Jupiter. S.. Kang. A.. Langhammer. P.. Laurance. W. F.. Lieberman. S.. Linkie. M.. Malhi. Y.. Maxwell. S.. Mendez. M.. Mittermeier. R.. Murray. N. J.. Possingham. H.. Radachowsky. J.. Saatchi. S.. Samper. C.. Silverman. J.. Shapiro. A.. Strassburg. B.. Stevens. T.. Stokes. E.. Taylor. R.. Tear. T.. Tizard. R.. Venter. O.. Visconti. P.. Wang. S.. Watson. J. E. M.. Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material. Nature Communications. 11. 1. 2020. 5978 . 2041-1723. 10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3. 33293507 . 7723057 . free.
  9. Tacconi . Luca . July 2016 . Preventing fires and haze in Southeast Asia . Nature Climate Change . en . 6 . 7 . 640–643 . 10.1038/nclimate3008 . 2016NatCC...6..640T . 1758-6798.
  10. News: Bradsher . Keith . 2011-03-08 . Mitsubishi Quietly Cleans Up Its Former Refinery . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-08-16 . 0362-4331.
  11. News: 2019-03-20 . Pasir Gudang: How one quiet lorry sparked a toxic waste crisis . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-08-16.
  12. Web site: The Bakun Hydroelectric Project - Malaysia . 8 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205649/http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/bakun_hydroelectric_project.html . 27 September 2007 .
  13. Web site: Selangor State Park Blog (TREES) . 4 August 2011.
  14. Web site: Private sector forest plantation development in Peninsular Malaysia. www.fao.org.
  15. Web site: Reserve land cleared for reforestation . 8 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121019061734/http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=%2F2009%2F7%2F2%2Fcentral%2F4216454&sec=central . 19 October 2012 .
  16. Web site: Don't Kill that Hill Campaign . 8 August 2011 . 30 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180130090906/http://www.armaneeterrace.com.my/announcements/don%E2%80%99tkillthathillcampaign . dead .
  17. Web site: 10 packages for Pan Borneo Highway project to be tendered this year, says works minister . Malay Mail. 18 February 2016.

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