Environmental issues in Malaysia

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Haze over Kuala Lumpur in 2010.

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 to become 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[]

Main article: Endangered species

The IUCN Red List gives 2890 native endangered species.[1]

Deforestation[]

Main article: Deforestation in Malaysia

Deforestation at the following locations are threatening flora and fauna:

Deforestation is taking place for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Dams
  • Housing development
  • Oil palm plantations
  • Roads
  • Timber plantations.

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

Pollution[]

Main article: Pollution

Reclamation[]

Main article: Land reclamation

Coastal reclamation is damaging mangroves and turtle nesting sights.

Recycling and Waste Management[]

Main article: Recycling in Malaysia

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

Controversial projects and policies[]

Project/Area affected Activity State Began Notes Ref.
Bakun Dam Dams Sarawak 2008 Forest loss. [11]
Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR) Highways Selangor 2008 Forest fragmentation in the Selangor State Park. [12]
Forest Plantation Development[13] Plantation Selangor 2008- Clearance of natural forest for timber plantations. [14]
Housing Selangor 2008- Hillslope clearance. [15]
Pan Borneo Highway Highway Sarawak/Sabah 2016 Forest loss, Brunei sections and the Temburong Bridge project and its implications to Limbang [16]

Environmental organisations[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  2. ^ "Elephant - WWF Malaysia". www.wwf.org.my.
  3. ^ "About WWF-Malaysia - WWF Malaysia". www.wwf.org.my.
  4. ^ "Giant panda - WWF". wwf.panda.org.
  5. ^ "Gorillas - WWF". wwf.panda.org.
  6. ^ "Marine turtles - WWF". wwf.panda.org.
  7. ^ "Rhinoceros - WWF". wwf.panda.org.
  8. ^ Japan, FoE. "The Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project in Malaysia (Kelau Dam)". FoE Japan.
  9. ^ "Agkillah Maniam, Ignorance is not bliss in conservation matters, The Malaysian Insider, 12 October 2014 3:01 PM, accessed 1/25/2015". Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  10. ^ 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. (2020). "Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material". Nature Communications. 11 (1). doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3. ISSN 2041-1723.
  11. ^ "The Bakun Hydroelectric Project - Malaysia". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Selangor State Park Blog (TREES)". Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Private sector forest plantation development in Peninsular Malaysia". www.fao.org.
  14. ^ "Reserve land cleared for reforestation". Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Don't Kill that Hill Campaign". Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  16. ^ "10 packages for Pan Borneo Highway project to be tendered this year, says works minister". Malay Mail. 18 February 2016.

External links[]


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