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It isn’t hard to realise that nature is that rainforests house a wide variety of
gradually disappearing, forest areas are
decreasing, oceans are being polluted, and
animals living in these terrible conditions
are facing extinction. Climate change and
habitat loss pose larger threats than what
most of us understand. It’s never too late
to start taking precautions and do our part
for Mother Nature.
Malaysia is gifted with natural
Our Home, aquatic resources. While travelling to
islands like Pulau Redang and Pulau
Tioman, tourists are able to set eyes on
Our the breathtaking coral reefs and real-
life sea turtles when snorkelling. Do you
Responsibility know that coral reefs play a major role
in the ocean’s ecosystem? Sadly though,
most coral reefs are deteriorating as the
condition remains unpleasant. Applying
Written by Goh Zhi Xin sunscreen containing Oxybenzone or
Octinoxate harms coral reefs. Instead of
using these, why don’t we opt for a reef-
Nature is a beautiful and magical being. After billions of years, it still remains friendly one?
mysterious, with some parts still covered under a shawl, yet to be explored by humans.
Forests, oceans, waterfalls, coral reefs, and animals of all kinds are mother nature’s Another troubling issue is plastic
creations, a spectacular gift that we should be grateful for. Imagine living in a world of bags. Turtles tend to mistake plastic
concrete, without a single glimpse of greenery, wouldn’t you find it dull and depressing? bags for jellyfish and try to consume
them, which often results in starvation.
Biodegradable and paper alternatives were
then introduced to minimise the use of
plastic bags. However, reusable bags are a
better option for mitigating this issue.
Widely known as the largest
rainforest on earth, the Amazon rainforest
is one of the unfortunate victims of
deforestation and climate change. One in
five of all bird and fish species are found
in the Amazon rainforest, and Amazonian
rivers and streams respectively. This proves
Photo by Ch’ng Tze Ray
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living species and therefore contribute to
biodiversity. By the year 2018, 17% of the
Amazon rainforest was reported to have
been lost.
Agriculture is one of the many
reasons why deforestation happens. We
should be aware that our dietary habits can
affect deforestation as the razed lands are
used as ranches for domesticated animals
such as cattle which expel methane, one
of the many types of greenhouse gases.
Thus, reducing the intake of beef would
be a great help. Even in Malaysia itself,
overlogging is happening as more and
more land is needed to amass enough food
for the citizens. With this, wild animals
face extinction, and cultures are also
struggling to be preserved. Buying animal
products like ivory and fur should be
strictly prohibited as this results in animals
getting killed intentionally just for human
greed and materialism. We should use less
paper as well to prevent overlogging.
As normal inhabitants living on
Earth, it is our responsibility to protect
Mother Nature from being harmed any
further. By changing our habits for the
better and acting accordingly, we are giving
time for nature to heal itself. I’m sure no
one will hope for the future generations
to learn all about these extraordinary
flora and fauna from the mere perspective
behind a digital screen, with no natural
habitats or national parks left to visit, or
the list of extinct animals getting longer
than ever imagined. Thus, let us do our
very best and hope for a better future!
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