Environmental issues in Malaysia

Haze over Kuala Lumpur

Environmental issues in Malaysia

Issues

Endangered species

Main article: Endangered species

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

• Borneo pygmy elephant[2][3]
• Giant panda[4]
• Gorilla[5]
• Malayan tiger
• Marine turtles[6]
• Monkeys
• Orangutans
• Oriental darter
• Rhinos[7]
• Storm's stork

Deforestation

Main article: Deforestation in Malaysia

Deforestation at the following locations are threatening flora and fauna:

• Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Project
• Kelau Dam[8]
• Bukit Cherakah
• Ulu Padas
• Pulai River
• Sungai Mas[9]

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

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

Pollution

Main article: Pollution

• Air pollution in Malaysia
• 1997 Southeast Asian haze
• 2005 Malaysian haze
• 2006 Southeast Asian haze
• The Bukit Merah, Perak, rare-earth mine cleanup
• 2015 Southeast Asian haze
• 2016 Malaysian haze

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.	[10]
Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR)	Highways	Selangor	2008	Forest fragmentation in the Selangor State Park.	[11]
Forest Plantation Development[12]	Plantation	Selangor	2008-	Clearance of natural forest for timber plantations.	[13]
Empire Residence Development	Housing	Selangor	2008-	Hillslope clearance.	[14]
Pan Borneo Highway	Highway	Sarawak/Sabah	2016	Forest loss, Brunei sections and the Temburong Bridge project and its implications to Limbang	[15]

Environmental organisations

• Malaysian Nature Society

See also

• Environment of Malaysia
• List of environmental issues

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. "The Bakun Hydroelectric Project - Malaysia". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
11. "Selangor State Park Blog (TREES)". Retrieved 4 August 2011.
12. "Private sector forest plantation development in Peninsular Malaysia". www.fao.org.
13. "Reserve land cleared for reforestation". Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
14. "Don't Kill that Hill Campaign". Retrieved 8 August 2011.
15. February 2016, Published 2 years ago on 18. "10 packages for Pan Borneo Highway project to be tendered this year, says works minister - Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com.

External links