Ecotourism offers significant benefits to both people and the planet by promoting responsible travel that conserves the environment, sustains local communities, and fosters cultural appreciation. The Sustainable Tourism Network Malaysia is a platform aimed at fostering responsible travel and supporting operators in adopting more sustainable approaches. We find out more about their work and plans from Justine Vaz, the Executive Director of The Habitat Foundation and Mariam Ghani, a Senior Programme Manager with The Habitat Foundation, and the Lead for the Sustainable Tourism Network Malaysia. We also discuss some hidden ecotourism gems in Malaysia, including the Perlis Geopark, which offers travellers beautiful forests, limestone hills, caves and more.

Ecotourism offers significant benefits to both people and the planet by promoting responsible travel that conserves the environment, sustains local communities, and fosters cultural appreciation. The Sustainable Tourism Network Malaysia is a platform aimed at fostering responsible travel and supporting operators in adopting more sustainable approaches. We find out more about their work and plans from Justine Vaz, the Executive Director of The Habitat Foundation and Mariam Ghani, a Senior Programme Manager with The Habitat Foundation, and the Lead for the Sustainable Tourism Network Malaysia. We also discuss some hidden ecotourism gems in Malaysia, including the Perlis Geopark, which offers travellers beautiful forests, limestone hills, caves and more.

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

Earth Matters

Exploring Conservation Through Sustainable Tourism

Budget 2025 was announced on the 18th of October 2024, by Malaysia's Prime Minister & Finance Minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. We speak to Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Head of Programmes at the Third World Network, to discuss both highlights and missed opportunities from Budget 2025 in terms of allocations for the environment. 

Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.



Image credit: Shutterstock

Budget 2025 was announced on the 18th of October 2024, by Malaysia's Prime Minister &amp; Finance Minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. We speak to Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Head of Programmes at the Third World Network, to discuss both highlights and missed opportunities from Budget 2025 in terms of allocations for the environment.&nbsp;Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image credit: Shutterstock

Budget 2025 - What's In It For Environmental Conservation?

In conjunction with the Journey to End Plastic Pollution event, we speak to Weng Dun Xin, a Zero Waste Campaigner, at Greenpeace SEA (Malaysia), to explore the pressing issue of plastic pollution and its far-reaching impacts on our health, wildlife, and climate. The three-day event, organised by the Malaysia Stop Waste Trade Coalition, will feature art installations, interactive activities, and expert-led discussions to shine a light on the dark side of plastic and present real solutions.



Image credit: Greenpeace Malaysia

In conjunction with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/journey-to-end-plastic-pollution-tickets-1040254397907">Journey to End Plastic Pollution</a> event, we speak to Weng Dun Xin, a Zero Waste Campaigner, at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/greenpeacemy/">Greenpeace</a> SEA (Malaysia), to explore the pressing issue of plastic pollution and its far-reaching impacts on our health, wildlife, and climate. The three-day event, organised by the Malaysia Stop Waste Trade Coalition, will feature art installations, interactive activities, and expert-led discussions to shine a light on the dark side of plastic and present real solutions.Image credit: Greenpeace Malaysia

Journey to End Plastic Pollution

Sharks and rays are vital to marine ecosystems, but their populations are dwindling rapidly. Conservation efforts face challenges due to the lack of detailed data on their critical habitats, but in a bid to map these areas, a groundbreaking atlas has been created, drawing from the collaborative efforts of divers, fishers, and scientists. We explore more about Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) - regions identified as critical for the conservation of shark and ray species based on scientific criteria. Helping us do that are scientists Serena Adam (Marine Conservation Officer, WWF-Malaysia, member of the IUCN) and Assoc. Prof. Dr Amy Then (Senior Lecturer, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya), and also environmental journalist and co-founder of Macaranga, Wong Siew Lyn, who just released an article on this, titled: Divers, Fishers and Scientists Map Sharks and Rays to Save Them. The article also has an accompanying interactive map of Malaysia’s new 10 Important Shark and Ray Areas.

Sharks and rays are vital to marine ecosystems, but their populations are dwindling rapidly. Conservation efforts face challenges due to the lack of detailed data on their critical habitats, but in a bid to map these areas, a groundbreaking atlas has been created, drawing from the collaborative efforts of divers, fishers, and scientists. We explore more about Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) - regions identified as critical for the conservation of shark and ray species based on scientific criteria. Helping us do that are scientists Serena Adam (Marine Conservation Officer, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wwf.org.my/">WWF-Malaysia</a>, member of the IUCN) and Assoc. Prof. Dr Amy Then (Senior Lecturer, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya), and also environmental journalist and co-founder of Macaranga, Wong Siew Lyn, who just released an article on this, titled: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.macaranga.org/divers-fishers-and-scientists-map-sharks-and-rays-to-save-them/">Divers, Fishers and Scientists Map Sharks and Rays to Save Them</a>. The article also has an accompanying <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.macaranga.org/where-sharks-swim/">interactive map</a> of Malaysia’s new 10 Important Shark and Ray Areas.

Exploring Conservation Through Sustainable Tourism

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