Macaranga Annual 2023
Macaranga
macaranga.org
ANNUAL 2023
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Maca Thank You Macaranga Annual 2023
Our 2023 Macaranga Supporters who contributed to keep our stories free for all Grants: Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network French Embassy to Malaysia Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY) Soroptomist International Bentong US Agency for Global Media
In-kind support: Embassy of Switzerland in Malaysia Worq
Macaranga Annual 2023 Published by Macaranga Media Sdn Bhd., Kuala Lumpur, 2024 Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Editorial: SL Wong Law Yao Hua Design and layout: Sharon Yap
ranga Contents 004 Letter from the Editors
FEATURES 006 Popular Songbird Gets Trade Protection 008 Navigating the Multiverse of Forest Data 010 What’s Replacing Natural Forests 012 Voices Along An Elevated Highway Macaranga is an independent journalism portal covering the environment, climate and sustainability in Malaysia through in-depth features and knowledge building.
014 What’s in store, El Niño?
Run by specialist environmental and science journalists, our objective is to be relevant, insightful and accurate, and to fill a gap in producing local content for Malaysian and global readers.
024 Unlocking Rare Earth Riches in Malaysia
We also train and mentor journalists in these areas, and provide a platform for voices and experts on the ground.
macaranga.org editorial@macaranga.org @macarangatweets @Macaranga Media @macarangamedia @macaranga.org linkt.ree/macaranga
018 Nature’s Forts Key to Weathering Storms 020 Grandfather Stories Can Save Our Seas 022 One Thousand and One Ways to Protect The Ocean 026 Sowing Seeds of Resilience in Heirloom Rice 028 Pouring Concrete on Tioman Island
Macaranga Annual 2023
016 Securing Water in a Harsher Climate
030 Republications 031 Translations
REMARKS 032 What Happens After Poachers Are Arrested? 033 No Fiercer Tiger Defender Than Kae 034 The Real Meaning of ‘Water is Life’ Menghormati dan Bekerjasama dengan Orang Asal yang Berpindah
035 Please Stop Loving Our Corals to Death 036 TRAINING 038 OUTREACH 040 RADIO 041 AWARDS 042 SUPPORT US 043 WHO WE ARE 003
Macaranga Annual 2023
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
Dear Reader, Welcome to our 2023 Annual. This encapsulates what we did in the past year and encourages you to re-read (or read) our stories. Here, we present selected stories in one or two visuals, a summary, and links so you can go to the full stories or listen to podcasts. We continued our thematic focus on deforestation by looking at why official forestry data differs so much from satellite data. Yao Hua delved into the implications of that difference, from timber certification to flood management, and what could be done to rectify this (p8). He also identified projects that have been approved in forest reserves and mature forests (p10). We started building our marine thematic focus with features by Siew Lyn on climate impacts and ecosystems; traditional knowledge related to
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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
We brought readers through a virtual journey by mapping another controversial project, the PJD Link (p12). We were the first to do a deep dive into rare earth mining (p24) and reported on El Niño as it begins its multi-year phase (p14). Look out for more stories on these hot topics next year. Wildlife was covered from the point of trade and conservation (pp6, 32 and 33). We also co-led a wildlife trade media training workshop for different newsrooms; look out for the stories following this by our writers in 2024. Based on feedback, we increased training and outreach this year. We want to help elevate environmental journalism as a whole in Malaysia. As such, we have held 3 multi-day workshops, 3 training sessions and mooted a 3-month mentorship programme for 3 media (pp36-37). We have also grown our cohort of contributing writers, including Ashley Yeong, who is on retainer with us for a
year. Mentoring is a huge part of our work with them. In terms of outreach, from July, we have been running a webinar and radio segment on our monthly story theme. We also started an Instagram account and increased our presence on LinkedIn. And we teamed up with environmental youth group YUFE for them to produce social media posts based on our stories (p37). Meanwhile, our monthly Macaranga Wrap-up of environmental news on radio continues with our pals from ‘Earth Matters’ on BFM89.9 Radio. So, all this and much more in the following pages. We hope you enjoy the Annual!
Macaranga Annual 2023
fisheries; and marine protected areas (pp18-23). We covered the controversial proposed Tioman airport, which would have damaged the marine ecosystem and island livelihoods. A photo essay showed the area that was to be destroyed (p28), and a Remarks commentary wrapped up the issue with next steps for the island (p35).
Siew Lyn and Yao Hua
Hyperlink Glossary
Radio Webinar READ
Live Event
Story link
Training Talk 005
WILDLIFE | FEATURES
Image by Freepik
POPULAR SONGBIRD GETS TRADE PROTECTION
Features
Macaranga Annual 2023
by Lee Kwai Han
At the core of Macaranga’s writing are in-depth, evidence-based features. These aim to provide thoughtful, balanced analysis and insight into issues using text and multimedia.
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Birdkeepers enter their songbirds into competitions for prizes and prestige. | Photo by Lee Kwai Han
FEATURES
But locally in Peninsular Malaysia, wild shama remain at risk of extinction. This is despite the many licences required to trap, breed, sell and own them. Captive breeding is promoted to meet demand but too many wild birds are still being illegally trapped. Nonetheless, the CITES listing of the sharma is expected to reduce its rampant international trading. This is
particularly to Indonesia, to which more than half of all shipments from Malaysia are bound.
“Listing White-rumped shamas in CITES gives Malaysia international assistance against illegal export of the birds. As a party to CITES, Indonesia is obliged to take action against smuggling of White-rumped shamas. They should be held accountable if they don’t.” — Dr Chris Shepherd, Monitor Conservation Research Society
Macaranga Annual 2023
The bird with the melodious voice, the White-rumped shama, is now better protected against illegal international trade. Known as murai batu (Copsychus malabaricus), it is highly sought after for bird-singing competitions and as pets in Southeast Asia.
Malaysia appeared frequently in trade routes associated with White-rumped shama seizures. Between January 2008 and June 2018 | Source: Leupen et al, 2018, with permission from Oriental Bird Club
[Edited by SL Wong] Partial funding for the story was provided by the United States Agency for Global Media. → Popular Songbird Gets Trade Protection
Hyperlinks READ
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FOREST | FEATURES
NAVIGATING THE MULTIVERSE OF FOREST DATA by Law Yao Hua
Macaranga Annual 2023
Malaysian officials have repeated for years that about 55% of the country is forested. Macaranga dived into two decades of forest data and state gazettes from Peninsular Malaysia (2002—2021) to investigate if and why this might be so. A key reason is definition. ‘Forest’ is defined according to its legal landuse status. Therefore, a ‘forest’ could be cut to the stump and still count as forest cover. But Global Forest Watch satellite data detected six times the forest loss. Forestry data comes from the Forestry Department Forest. It appears to be outdated and contradictory from year to year. It also differs from forest area listed in state gazettes, required to be published when adding or removing forest reserves. Stakeholders say bad forest data hampers efforts to meet sustainability commitments, bolster timber trade, protect wildlife, and manage floods.
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FEATURES
Macaranga Annual 2023
The Department of Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia) would like to have forest cover data and complete Forest Management Plans of the states. If these were available, PLANMAlaysia could design better policies and “alert government agencies to stop deforestation and make sure related targets like low-carbon and 50% forest cover can be achieved,” says one PLANMalaysia officer.
[Edited by SL Wong] In collaboration with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network.
Hyperlinks READ
→ Navigating the Multiverse of Forest Data
→ BFM89.9 Radio Earth Matters → CityPlus FM 009
FOREST | FEATURES
WHAT’S REPLACING NATURAL FOREST by Law Yao Hua
Macaranga Annual 2023
Projects inside Peninsular Malaysia forests, July 2001—June2021
Compiled from a selected list of EIA reports approved by the Department of Environment. © Macaranga Media
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FEATURES
What projects are these? We identified 5 main project types: forest plantations, farms and aquaculture, logging, oil palm and rubber plantations, and mines and quarries. These were drawn from 705 environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports approved by the Department of Environment (DOE). These are projects that clear forests larger than 50 ha.
They are approved by the state exco, particularly the state Menteri Besar or Chief Minister who almost always oversees natural resources and economic matters.
Forest plantations pose immediate concerns, not least because they involve cutting huge swathes of healthy forest reserves. Macaranga had earlier revealed that as many as two-thirds of forest plantation projects have been abandoned after the developers had logged the site.
Macaranga Annual 2023
Land is a valuable resource. It is especially so for state governments because land and forests are the few assets that they have full authority over. But as Malaysia experiences rapid population and economic growth, natural forests have inevitably given way to development. This includes within forest reserves.
[Edited by SL Wong] In collaboration with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network. Hyperlinks
READ
→ Projects that Replaced Natural Forests in Peninsular Malaysia → Notes on the Analysis
BFM89.9 Radio Earth Matters
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INFRASTRUCTURE | FEATURES
VOICES ALONG AN ELEVATED HIGHWAY Macaranga Annual 2023
by Law Yao Hua and Hannan Azmir Threatening to pass through some of the most crowded residential and commercial areas in Petaling Jaya, the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link Expressway (PJD Link) drew heated and sustained protests. Macaranga plotted the 25.4 km route to show what the highway would impact. PJD Link exits are projected to feed traffic into already congested roads and add 478,968 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
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We also asked 42 locals along the way what they felt about the project. While public transport would be the ideal substitute, many interviewees preferred solutions centred around cars and driving: expand existing highways, reduce traffic lights, carpooling, alternate driving hours, or shift the highway elsewhere. The highway was announced as cancelled by the caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar before the August Selangor state elections.
FEATURES
Macaranga Annual 2023
“.. While the opposers of PJD Link [are] unhappy about the construction of the highway, it is largely motivated by a NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) motivation. They would still want to consume public road space for their private cars, just not built at their expense” — Cha-Ly Koh, founder, Urbanmetry
Map by YH Law/Macaranga; Image: SayNoToPJDLink.org (Justin Lee, Timo Ong, Timothy Tan, Chan Jun Ming, Lee Zu En
[Edited by SL Wong]
Hyperlinks READ
→ Voices Along An Elevated Highway → What Way If Not the PJD Highway? 013
CLIMATE | FEATURES
WHAT’S IN STORE, EL NIÑO?
Macaranga Annual 2023
by Law Yao Hua
Officers monitoring the weather at the Weather Operation Centre, Malaysian Meteorological Department in Selangor | photo by YH Law
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Malaysia is now warmer than in the 1990s due to climate change. With the start of the El Niño phase last year, the country had to position itself for higher temperatures. Though natural, El Niño had “considerable effect on the warming in Malaysia” between 1985–2018. In fact, hot days doubled during previous El Niño years.
FEATURES
Very high temperatures are deadly. Prolonged exposure can kill, particularly when humidity is high and people’s sweat cannot evaporate to cool their bodies.
Macaranga Annual 2023
The Malaysian Meteorological Department declares a hot weather alert when maximum temperatures exceed 35°C for 3 days in a row.
“If I may make a bold conjecture, I would say that the El Niño effect will be more widespread” — Liew Ju Neng, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
[Edited by SL Wong] Hyperlinks
READ
→ What’s in store, El Niño? → Explainer: El Niño and Southeast Asia
→ BFM89.9 Radio Earth Matters → CityPlus FM
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CLIMATE | FEATURES
Macaranga Annual 2023
Cloud-seeding had to be conducted in June 2023 to replenish the water at Air Hitam Dam, Penang | Image from Google Earth Pro, June 22, 2022
SECURING WATER IN A HARSHER CLIMATE by Ashley Yeong Climate change and poor water resource planning are threatening Malaysia’s water infrastructure, say experts. In 2022, Peninsular Malaysia extracted 81% of its raw water from rivers. Water is stored in 62 dams. El Niño tends to reduce rainfall in northern Peninsular Malaysia, and it was there that 6 dams reached the Warning Level (less than 60% storage). One – Muda Dam in Kedah – reached Critical Level (less than 30%).
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At the same time, significant treated water is lost due to burst pipes, leaks, and unauthorised usage. The northern states of Perlis, Kelantan, and Kedah lose more than 50% of its water this way. These states, along with Melaka and Johor, have yet to meet the minimum 15% water reserve margin target set by the national regulator.
FEATURES
Macaranga Annual 2023
“[Our] infrastructure may not be designed to manage extreme rainfall or dry spell conditions, leading to flooding or raw water supply issues. Adapting infrastructure to the changing climate is essential to ensure its resilience” — Mohd Zaki bin Mat Amin, director general of the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM)
[Edited by Law Yao Hua]
Hyperlinks READ
→ Securing Water in a Harsher Climate 017
MARINE | FEATURES
NATURE’S FORTS KEY TO WEATHERING STORMS by SL Wong
Macaranga Annual 2023
Together, coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses are formidable natural barriers against the climate change impacts of storm surges and rising sea levels. They should likewise be collectively protected. The government forecasts that climate change impacts could affect almost 2.5 million of the population, on 16% of Malaysia’s land area (50,000 sqkm). Protecting and restoring natural coastal and marine ecosystems
Mangroves’ density and root structure effectively protect coasts against storm surges | Photos by SL Wong
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could mitigate that. Researchers have identified 229 actions of such naturebased solutions, ranging from reef balls in Sarawak and translocation of seagrass sprigs in Sabah, to mangrove replanting in Penang.
“If you have all three ecosystems in front of [a coast], you are the safest from erosion and storm surges.” — Affendi Yang Amri, coral reef ecologist
Beneath the paradisical island veneer of Pulau Lang Tengah, Terengganu, is an amazing scientific race against warming seas to save Malaysian corals from extinction. Scientists are heat-testing ‘super coral’ individuals that can withstand warmer seas, and planting them.
FEATURES
Macaranga Annual 2023
MANGROVES, SEAGRASSES AND CORAL REEFS PROTECT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
Copyright © Macaranga Media
[Edited by Law Yao Hua] This feature is part of #SeaWorld, our series on marine issues, supported by the French Embassy to Malaysia. Hyperlinks
READ
→ Nature’s Forts Key to Weathering Storms → Urgent Search for Malaysia’s Super Corals
Macaranga webinar What’s in Our #SeaWorld Roundtable, Alliance Francaise 019
Macaranga Annual 2023
MARINE | FEATURES
Mah Meri fisher Zarul anak Miring is documenting the gear and fish that are part of his community’s marine ecological knowledge | Photos by SL Wong
GRANDFATHER STORIES CAN SAVE OUR SEAS by SL Wong
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FEATURES
The artisinal Mah Meri fishers of Pulau Carey, Selangor, are documenting their extensive knowledge. They are working with the Fisheries Department towards the possibility of protecting their traditional coasts and waters.
“We can’t just preserve nature, but leave out the local communities and indigenous people in those areas” — Izarenah Md Repin, research officer, Department of Fisheries
Macaranga Annual 2023
As small-scale fishers lose livelihoods due to coastal development and depleted catches, their traditional knowledge is also being lost. Recognising this knowledge could save their fisheries and cultural identity.
The framework being considered is ICCA, a novel approach locally recognising territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities.
[Edited by Law Yao Hua] This feature is part of #SeaWorld, our series on marine issues, supported by the French Embassy to Malaysia. Hyperlinks
BFM89.9 Radio Earth Matters
READ
→ Grandfather Stories Can Save Our Seas
Macaranga webinar What’s in Our #SeaWorld Roundtable, Alliance Francaise
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MARINE | FEATURES
ONE THOUSAND AND ONE WAYS TO PROTECT THE OCEAN
Macaranga Annual 2023
by SL Wong
Protecting marine and coastal resources such as these Tioman coral reefs involves strengthening the management and functions of MPAs | Photo by Alvin Chelliah/Reefcheck Malaysia 022
FEATURES
Climate Change
The Malaysian target is to double MPA size to 10% of our seas.
Culture and Knowledge
Economy
Coastal Protection
Livelihoods Ecosystem Protection
Food Security
Fisheries
Focus on oceans is growing through frameworks such as the billion-ringgit Blue Economy (for economic growth), and Blue Carbon (to tackle climate crisis impacts). To ensure better management, experts call for improved and stable governance and management, more community decision-making participation, and networking MPAs to create larger protected areas.
“If you protect all these [marine] habitats, you are managing fisheries, and you won’t lose ikan bilis, tenggiri, bawal putih, kerapu .. everything we love to eat.” — Kevin Hiew, first Head of Marine Parks, Department of Fisheries Malaysia
Macaranga Annual 2023
Malaysia is working hard to increase its marine protected areas (MPAs). In the last 2 years, the peninsula has 13 new Marine Parks and Sarawak is in the midst of gazetting the seas along almost all of its 750km coastline.
[Edited by Law Yao Hua] This feature is part of #SeaWorld, our series on marine issues, supported by the French Embassy to Malaysia. Hyperlinks
BFM89.9 Radio Earth Matters
READ
→ One Thousand and One Ways to Protect the Ocean
Macaranga webinar What’s in Our #SeaWorld Roundtable, Alliance Française 023
MINING | FEATURES
UNLOCKING RARE EARTH RICHES IN MALAYSIA
Macaranga Annual 2023
By Lee Kwai Han and Law Yao Hua
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A pilot mining project near a Sungai Perak tributary is paving the way for a ramp-up of a 800 billion-ringgit rare earth industry for Malaysia. It uses in-situ leaching, which clears less forest but risks contaminating rivers and groundwater with heavy metals and chemicals.
FEATURES
Used in wind turbines and electric vehicles, rare earths are critical to the global transition to renewable energy. Experts say water contamination can be contained by strictly adhering to the SOP and constant monitoring. Naysayers are wary due to Perak’s history with the Asian Rare Earth radioactive leaks in the 1980s and more recent mysterious Perak arsenic contamination.
Macaranga Annual 2023
The results of this pilot project will inform federal authorities and their upcoming national standard operating procedures (SOP) on rare earth mining.
The rare earth mines (red) are close to Sungai Rui, a tributary of Sungai Perak, which has 8 water treatment plants (blue dots) supplying water to the state © Macaranga Media
[Edited by SL Wong] Hyperlinks
→ Unlocking Rare Earth Riches in Malaysia READ
→ BFM89.9 Radio Earth Matters → CityPlus FM Macaranga webinar
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FOOD SECURITY | FEATURES
SOWING SEEDS OF RESILIENCE IN HEIRLOOM RICE Macaranga Annual 2023
By Liani MK “You’ll never go hungry at Long Semadoh.” In Sarawak’s highlands, indigenous Lun Bawang farmers grow enough rice to last them up to 5 years. The rice they grow is heirloom or traditional rice. It comes from different varieties – up to 30 in Long Semadoh. Each harvest, the best seeds are kept for the next planting. Heirloom rice’s resilience and diversity make it superior to commercial rice. These traits result from having been grown over many generations in various environments, and the communities having kept many of the varieties. Having varieties is crucial for Malaysia’s rice food security. New rice varieties must withstand the climate crisis impacts of increased storms, drought and salt water intrusion into paddies. 026
FEATURES
Macaranga Annual 2023
“If we empower our farmers, I feel we won’t be in a situation as critical as we are today. We really have to focus and accept that our aim is not to profit and .. not to politicise this — it is just for the sake of food security and to feed everybody in this country.” — Muhammad Shafie bin Md Sah, research officer, MARDI
Photo by Arieff Zafir
[Edited by SL Wong] Produced with the support of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network. Hyperlinks
→ Sowing Seeds of Resilience in Heirloom Rice READ
BFM89.9 Radio Earth Matters Macaranga webinar
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Macaranga Annual 2023
CONSERVATION | FEATURES
The marine park protects the island’s fringing reefs, which harbour and nourish marine resources | Photo by David ST Loh
POURING CONCRETE ON TIOMAN ISLAND By SL Wong & David ST Loh 028
FEATURES
Also threatened would be Peninsular Malaysia’s largest colony of island flying foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus) | Photo by David ST Loh
A proposed airport on Tioman island would have covered beach, sea, corals and fish with 186.36 ha of concrete, stone and an asphalt runway. It would have levelled the forested hill behind and impacted 700 people involved in small-scale tourism.
Twenty-eight chalet and homestay operations and 18 seasport operators would lose their sea fronts | Photo by David ST Loh
Macaranga Annual 2023
Besides providing food and supporting fishers’ livelihoods outside the park, reefs sustain snorkeling and diving tourism | Photo by David ST Loh
We used drone, underwater and land photos to picture what exactly would be lost in the marine park and wildlife reserve. The project was eventually shelved.
[Edited by Law Yao Hua] → Pouring Concrete on Tioman Island
Hyperlinks
Macaranga webinar
READ
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REPUBLICATIONS REGROWING SABAH’S PRECIOUS RAINFORESTS
Macaranga Annual 2023
By Chen Yih Wen
This video features Amaziasizamoria Jumail, a Sabahan conservationist who is studying the carbon sequestration from her project’s tree planting efforts. She works in the severely logged Lower Kinabatangan River, and her objective is to better understand and more effectively implement reforestation.
Hyperlinks WATCH
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Regrowing Sabah’s precious rainforests
REPUBLICATIONS
TRANSLATIONS
TRANSLATIONS
By Ushar Daniele While Malaysian towns bear the consequences of extreme weather, experts and politicians push for the long-awaited Climate Change bill to be signed into law. Needing 2—3 years to be completed, the government says the bill would take a “whole-nation approach” that aimed to reduce the impacts of climate change on society in a just manner. It would also include “provisions to strengthen the institutional and governance structure of climate change in Malaysia.” These stories were first published in China Dialogue.
To have our stories reach as wide a readership as possible, they are translated whenever the budget permits. Translations require tremendous time and effort. We thank the French Embassy to Malaysia for translating our #SeaWorld stories. Our translators and editors were Adriana Nordin Manan, Natural Translations, Mun Yee San, Leong Jie Yu, Cheong Wei Jin, Lucie Benoit, Gilles Bernard and Solène Soulas. Bahasa Malaysia Macaranga Annual 2023
AS DISASTERS RISE, CLIMATE CHANGE ACT CLEARLY NEEDED
Kubu Alam Semula Kunci Mengharungi Ribut Badai Pencarian Segera untuk Super Karang Malaysia Kisah Nenek Moyang Boleh Menyelamatkan Perairan Kita Seribu Satu Cara Menyelamatkan Lautan
Chinese 大自然的堡垒——抵御风暴的关键 紧急寻找马来西亚的超级珊瑚 小渔民祖传智慧，守护海洋未来 海洋保育解方千百种
French Hyperlinks
READ
As Disasters Rise, Climate Change Act Clearly Needed
Les Forteresses Naturelles, la clé pour Affronter les Tempêtes Recherche Urgente des Super Coraux de Malaisie Les récits de grands-pères peuvent sauver nos mers Mille et une façons de protéger l’océan 031
Remarks
Macaranga Annual 2023
Exhibits are viewed by a judge and court officers during a wildlife case court hearing | Photo by Justice for Wildlife Malaysia
Curated commentaries by experts on the ground
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WHAT HAPPENS AFTER POACHERS ARE ARRESTED? By Dr Nor Arlina Amirah Ahmad Ghani, Justice for Wildlife Malaysia Many Malaysians want to see people behind bars for committing wildlife crimes. But very rarely do they pay attention to the labyrinthine pathway after the arrest and what it takes to convict offenders. Prosecuting wildlife crimes is complex and capacity weak. Members of the public with expertise in for example, law, finance, and sociology can plug some gaps.
REMARKS
NO FIERCER TIGER DEFENDER THAN KAE
Macaranga Annual 2023
By Wong Pui May, conservationist
What does it take to speak up for tigers? The great Malayan tiger defender, Kae Kawanishi, has a singular passion for the animal. She is determined in her cause and values, has and continues to struggle and jump through hurdles and is still doing it more than 20 years later. All that, while being so humble about it. She has also mentored a generation of tiger specialists and conservationists.
Hyperlinks READ
→ What Happens After Poachers Are Arrested?
Kae Kawanishi in Taman Negara with PERHILITAN wildlife rangers
→ No Fiercer Tiger Defender Than Kae 033
REMARKS
Macaranga Annual 2023
Photo by Alliance for River Three
THE REAL MEANING OF ‘WATER IS LIFE’ By Kennedy Michael, Alliance of River Three and Gabungan Darurat Iklim Malaysia The only way we can get our raw water at the volume and costs we do now, is by tapping our ecosystem resources such as the water cycle, forests, biodiversity, wetlands, groundwater, lakes and ponds as well as the oceans. We rely entirely on rain and evaporation to resupply our clean water; this means paying attention to rain water catchment and storage in dams.
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Foto oleh Wong Pui May
MENGHORMATI DAN BEKERJASAMA DENGAN ORANG ASAL YANG BERPINDAH Oleh Wong Pui May, ahli konservasi, & Mohammad bin Pokok, Tok Batin Kampung Orang Asli Kuala Koh, Kelantan Pemuliharaan alam semula jadi perlu dilaksanakan dengan kerjasama masyarakat tempatan, khususnya Orang Asal yang berpindah, apabila wilayah kehidupan mereka bertindih dengan kawasan pelindungan yang bakal dirizabkan oleh pihak kerajaan. Ini seruan antarabangsa di Bengkel Dana +20, Jordan.
PLEASE STOP LOVING OUR CORALS TO DEATH
Photo by Alvin Chelliah/ Reefcheck Malaysia
Macaranga Annual 2023
REMARKS
By Julian Hyde, Reefcheck Malaysia The new airport for Tioman has been averted. Now, tourism needs a good relook as travel, waste, sewage pollution, physical impacts – all play their part in damaging coral reefs. There is a need to consider limiting tourist numbers, better planning and regulations, and assisting locals to participate more in tourism management. Hyperlinks
→ The Real Meaning of ‘Water is Life’ READ
→ Menghormati dan Bekerjasama dengan Orang Asal yang Berpindah → Please Stop Loving Our Corals to Death 035
TRAINING Training journalists has been core to what we do and became a key activity this year. Our training includes sessions within training programmes run by other outfits, full media workshops on environmental journalism, as well as months-long mentoring of our own contributing writers and journalists from other newsrooms. Details on our training programmes are in our blog.
Macaranga Annual 2023
TRAINING & MENTORSHIP PROGRAMMES Mentorship of Macaranga contributing writers We mentored 5 contributing writers on stories on respectively, rare earths, food security, water supply, infrastructure, and wildlife trade (see stories). Macaranga Newsroom Mentorship Programme in Just Energy Transition A 3-month mentorship programme developed and led by Siew Lyn for 3 newsrooms to produce stories on just energy transition. It was kicked off by a story development workshop with sessions by Siew Lyn, Yao Hua and Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY) at a venue courtesy of the Swiss Embassy to Malaysia. The programme is supported by KAMY. The newsrooms are Macaranga, BERNAMA and FMT. 036
Workshop on Solutions Journalism for Reporting on Nature Crimes in Malaysia Siew Lyn co-led a 3-day workshop for 20 journalists from different newsrooms on wildlife trade. Participants learned to research trafficking data using the CITES database, made a field reporting trip on gaharu and developed story ideas on everything from crocodiles to orchids. The workshop was organised by the US Agency for Global Media.
Photo by USAGM
TRAINING
Investigative journalism basics, International Media Support Data and environmental reporting, EB Impact Data journalism in environmental reporting, Pulitzer Center/The Fourth
Macaranga Annual 2023
TRAINING SESSIONS
[conducted by Yao Hua]
Collaboration with YUFE on Social Media Stories Macaranga is collaborating with non-profit Youths United For Earth (YUFE) to produce social media content based on Macaranga stories. The #YUFExMacaranga collaboration was kickstarted by an environmental journalism workshop by Macaranga. The workshop was supported by Soroptomist International Bentong. WORQ KL sponsored the venue on Day 2.
Activity details are in our blog.
Photo by EB Impact 037
OUTREACH 5 SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS 5 WEBINARS
@macarangatweets @Macaranga Media @macarangamedia @macaranga.org
3 FIELD REPORTING DISPATCHES
linkt.ree/macaranga
Macaranga Annual 2023
9 NEWSLETTERS
TALKS • • • • • • • • 038
Small team does investigative journalism, International Journalism Festival, Italy Environmental journalism in Malaysia, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris What happened to our forests? Sahabat Alam Malaysia, KLSCAH Orang Asli and forest loss, GERIMIS, GMMB Concerns with logging in Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA Rainforest Realities forum, Pulitzer Center/The Fourth, Universiti Malaya Forest Plantations in Peninsular Malaysia, Nottingham University Malaysia It’s Getting Hot in Here, Ilham Gallery
OUTREACH
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Photos by Lee Kwai Han
ROUNDTABLE & BOOTH, LA NUIT DES IDEES We organised a panel discussion with marine scientists, What’s in Our #SeaWorld Roundtable, based on our #SeaWorld stories. We also set up our first Macaranga outreach booth. This was in partnership with the Alliance Française Kuala Lumpur and the French Embassy to Malaysia, who supported our marine series.
PANEL MODERATION Climate and energy transition reporting in Peninsular Malaysia’s mainstream news media, Klima Action Malaysia
Macaranga Annual 2023
Our Semai & Tuai 2023 in-person event was a successful gathering to make friends and discuss environmental issues. Forty-eight participants turned up from media, environmental groups, and members of the public. A roundrobin session saw discussions on urban green landscapes, mass tourism, rare earth mining, wildlife trafficking, and environmental journalism. Four NGO booths were also focal points. Venue sponsored by WORQ.
World Press Freedom Day Strategic Legislation Against Public Participation Roundtable, Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism & Human Rights, Collective of Applied Law &Legal Realism, and Macaranga Media
MEMBER OF • Covering Climate Now
• The Environmental Reporting Collective
Activity details are in our blog. 039
RADIO
Macaranga Annual 2023
SEGMENTS ON BFM89.9 RADIO
MONTHLY WRAPUP ON BFM89.9 RADIO
Macaranga has a regular segment on ‘Earth Matters’ with Juliet Jacobs on BFM89.9 Radio. It is a 20-minute discussion of key environmental news and issues in Malaysia at the end of each month. December sees a review of the year that was. All podcasts are available on our blog and on www.bfm.my.
ON AIR
MACARANGA STORY DISCUSSION 040
Tune in every last Monday of the month at 3.30pm on BFM89.9 Radio or www.bfm.my.
We also appear on ‘Earth Matters’ to discuss issues and findings raised in our monthly stories. The 40-minute segment hosted by Juliet Jacobs features us with our contributing writers, interviewees or experts. All podcasts are available on our blog and on www.bfm.my.
RADIO | AWARDS
AWARDS
Yao Hua won the Sigma Award for Data Journalism (portfolio) for his #ladanghutan series on forest plantations in forest reserves. He is one of 11 winners out of 638 entries from 80 countries. The prize committee highlighted Macaranga‘s achievements in elevating data journalism in Malaysia, particularly in addressing environmental issues “in a country which has many needs in this area.” The stories were written by Yao Hua and edited by Siew Lyn, and supported by a Rainforest Investigations Network fellowship from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for Yao Hua.
Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Awards 2023 • Gold Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting for our #TanahAir series • Silver Award for Excellence in Investigative Journalism for our #ladanghutan series
Macaranga Annual 2023
AWARDS
• Bronze Award for Excellence in Feature Writing for features on pig farm pollution in Penang, oil palm story in Pahang and another oil palm story in Johor
FELLOWSHIPS Pulitzer Centre Rainforest Investigations Network Fellowship (2022-2023) for Yao Hua
International Visitor Leadership Program: Edward R. Murrow Program for Investigative Journalism (US Department of State) for Siew Lyn 041
SUPPORT US
Macaranga Annual 2023
Environmental journalism of the type we do here at Macaranga is time consuming and expensive to produce. A feature takes a minimum of 1 month, and data-driven investigative pieces, up to a year. The photo essay we did to highlight the proposed environmentallydestructive Tioman airport cost about RM5,000 to produce. But it was worth it: the lead organiser against the airport highlighted our report as seminal in having the airport stopped. So we feel these analyses and attempts to incorporate all sides of a story must be told. Environmental issues are more urgent than ever, with the climate crisis intensifying floods, food insecurity and livelihood loss. Air, plastic and general waste pollution is poisoning our natural resources and burdening local councils.
The unsustainable clearing of forests and mangroves is hitting our water supply and eroding our coastlines. But there are positives aplenty too, from community reforestation to the uptick in protected marine areas, and the implementation of the national energy transition roadmap. You are receiving this Annual because you believe in the importance of holding those in power accountable, getting facts out, and highlighting solutions. We thank you for supporting home-grown independent journalism. Please continue to do so, and please get your family and friends to support Macaranga too.
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CO-FOUNDERS
Wong Siew Lyn has been creating content about the environment for over 30 years, working on everything from books and reports to documentaries and project management. This is the fourth content portal she has built and run. She has a soft spot for conservation, grassroots efforts and marine issues. 042
Law Yao Hua has been reporting on science and the environment since 2014. He is a two-time Pulitzer Centre Rainforest Investigative Network fellow and has written for Science, Science News, and The Atlantic. He loves to eat durians and observe insects, reliving his days as a full-time insect ecologist.
WHO WE ARE
Ashley Yeong is an independent journalist who is drawn to narratives that shed light on our environment and human rights. Her work has appeared in various media outlets such as Malay Mail, Southeast Asia Globe, and Fair Planet. She is a member of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network.
Lee Kwai Han is a freelance writer who started writing about people and happenings in Penang’s art scene in 2020. In 2022, she delved into environmental journalism. She thinks what happens in the environment reflects how a social system functions. She wishes to keep learning about it and keep each part of the system informed.
Bryan Yong is a Masters in Oceanography research candidate who wants to be an environmental journalist. He believes it is important to bridge the gap between researchers and the public through good and informative storytelling. He also co-founded EcoCupid, an environmental media project connecting Southeast Asia.
Hannan Azmir is a science writer and journalist based in Kuala Lumpur. After making the jump from pipette to pen, she is interested in exploring stories about science, the people behind it and the people affected by it.
Liani MK is an independent journalist, writer, and artist whose work focuses on migration, gender, culture and Indigenous rights. She is a recipient of the Said Zahari Young Journalist Award 2022. Her work has appeared in New Naratif, NPR, Rest of World, Southeast Asia Globe, and The New York Times.
David ST Loh is an internationally-published photojournalist, aerial landscape artist and publisher based in Penang. He has worked in various newsrooms, including 20 years as pictures editor with Reuters. He also has a BSc in biology.
Macaranga Annual 2023
CONTRIBUTORS
Read the Macaranga Annual 2022
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macaranga.org editorial@macaranga.org @macarangatweets @Macaranga Media @macarangamedia @macaranga.org linkt.ree/macaranga 0044