Episode description

Problematic forest plantations prompted Malaysia to call for a 15-year moratorium on new projects in Peninsular Malaysia, to buy time to plug the gaps in the system. But two and a half years on, states are still licensing planters to clear new sites. Why? In Macaranga's latest series, environmental journalist Law Yao Hua follows up on the issue of forest plantations in forest reserves, which is said to be one of the biggest drivers of forest loss in Peninsular Malaysia. Yao Hua joins us to delve into the many issues surrounding forest plantations, and we also speak to environmental activist Meor Razak bin Meor Abdul Rahman, a member of the NGO Sahabat Ekologi Perak, to discuss the impacts of forest plantations on local communities, flora and fauna. We also ponder - can forest plantations ever be sustainable in Peninsular Malaysia?

Image Credit: YH Law via Macaranga Media Sdn Bhd

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