https://www.scmp.com/rss/517620/feed Mohammad Yunus is a researcher from Riau Province, Indonesia. He holds a master’s degree in biological sciences from Khon Kaen University, Thailand. His expertise includes ecology, environmental economics, conservation, and sustainability. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yunus The deadly floods in Sumatra at the end of November that killed more than 1,000 people exposed the devastating effects of deforestation, with massive logs washed downstream. Public pressure has forced the Indonesian government to respond and environmental authorities have announced investigations into eight companies suspected of contributing to the flooding and landslides. What happened in Indonesia was not an isolated tragedy. Similar floods have devastated Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3337932/forest-conservation-must-be-long-term-priority-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3337932/forest-conservation-must-be-long-term-priority-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yunus Europe is once again embroiled in a prolonged argument over how to keep deforestation-linked timber out of its markets. The European Union’s deforestation regulations, once promoted as a bold step forward, have instead become a symbol of hesitation and uneven political will. Some governments want delays and others push for exemptions, creating persistent uncertainty. For Asia, observing this from afar, the indecision carries more consequence than might initially be apparent because the region... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3333265/why-asia-cant-wait-europe-lead-deforestation-free-timber?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3333265/why-asia-cant-wait-europe-lead-deforestation-free-timber?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 21:30:09 +0000 Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yunus Bali turned into torrents of mud and debris recently as floods killed at least 18 and displaced hundreds. Cars and motorbikes were swept away and tourists evacuated from hotels. The disaster was fuelled by days of heavy rainfall that overwhelmed rivers already narrowed by upstream deforestation and rapid development. The resort island was, for several days, gripped by chaos. Almost simultaneously, typhoon Ragasa tore across the Philippines before curving towards China’s coast. Winds flattened... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3327049/asia-must-enlist-natures-defences-against-fury-extreme-weather?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3327049/asia-must-enlist-natures-defences-against-fury-extreme-weather?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yunus Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has launched a campaign against illegal palm oil plantations, seeking to reclaim millions of hectares of forest lost to unchecked expansion. The authorities confirm that plantations on 3.7 million hectares are illegal, and more are under review. In Riau, the heart of Indonesia’s palm oil economy, the government has begun dismantling plantations in Tesso Nilo National Park and relocating families who have long lived within its shrinking forest... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3323383/how-china-can-help-rewrite-future-indonesian-palm-oil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3323383/how-china-can-help-rewrite-future-indonesian-palm-oil?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yunus A regional workshop in Malaysia on energy transition brought together governments, international organisations, industry leaders and academics in June. Around the table, there was a consensus that Southeast Asia must find sustainable and alternative energy solutions to meet fast-rising demand. One key driver of this rising demand is the rapid growth of data centres. Across Asia, data centre capacity is expected to nearly double in the next five years, reaching around 25,000 megawatts. Over the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3321711/ai-driven-data-centre-boom-could-drain-asias-rivers-without-due-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3321711/ai-driven-data-centre-boom-could-drain-asias-rivers-without-due-care?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yunus Southeast Asia is in the grip of a coconut fever. Indonesia saw coconut prices increase by 57 per cent year on year in May, and the same has been true in the Philippines since late 2024. Prices have more than doubled in both Thailand and Vietnam. This surge was driven by an increase in coconut exports, particularly to China. As a home to several of the world’s coconut powerhouses, the price surge represents both opportunity and crisis for Southeast Asia. The region’s aggressive export push has... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3311167/coconut-price-surge-chance-aid-southeast-asias-small-farmers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3311167/coconut-price-surge-chance-aid-southeast-asias-small-farmers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 May 2025 01:30:09 +0000 The US cutback in foreign aid delivers a devastating blow to nature conservation in Southeast Asia, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. For decades, US funding has played a crucial role in safeguarding endangered species, curbing wildlife trafficking and preserving fragile ecosystems. The sudden withdrawal of aid raises a pressing question: can conservation efforts survive without international funding, or is this a wake-up call for a new, more self-sufficient approach? According to the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3301676/usaid-cut-could-have-silver-lining-southeast-asian-ecosystems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3301676/usaid-cut-could-have-silver-lining-southeast-asian-ecosystems?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Mar 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Earlier this year, scientists at the Zoological Survey of India announced the discovery of a new pangolin species, the Indo-Burmese pangolin. Found in mountainous and subtropical habitats across Nepal, India and Myanmar, the discovery adds to growing knowledge of these elusive mammals. However, this breakthrough in biodiversity research also raises concerns about increased risks. The UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency has warned that legal loopholes could allow traffickers to take... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3298225/asia-must-act-avoid-eating-pangolins-out-existence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3298225/asia-must-act-avoid-eating-pangolins-out-existence?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Feb 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Asia’s construction boom is driving a global scramble for sand, a critical resource. Last month, the Philippine coastguard discovered 13 undocumented Chinese workers aboard a dredger ship in Mariveles off the Bataan coast. In October, Indonesian authorities found two Malaysian-operated ships allegedly involved in stealing sand off Batam and headed for Singapore. China and Singapore, with their immense demand for infrastructure development, illustrate this trend. From 1995 to 2020, China’s sand... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3292072/asia-must-not-let-its-appetite-sand-consume-its-rivers-and-seas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3292072/asia-must-not-let-its-appetite-sand-consume-its-rivers-and-seas?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:30:08 +0000 Nature’s delicate balance, shaped by millions of years of evolution, is on the verge of collapsing. WWF, the global conservation body, released its 2024 Living Planet Report this month. According to the report, wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73 per cent since 1970, with some regions facing even steeper declines. In Latin America and the Caribbean, wildlife populations have decreased by 95 per cent, signalling a near-total breakdown of the ecological systems. This crisis... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3284159/case-eco-friendly-alternative-gdp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3284159/case-eco-friendly-alternative-gdp?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:30:06 +0000 A recent US Department of Labour report, which placed Indonesian nickel on its list of items produced through forced labour, has dealt a significant blow to Indonesia’s ambition to become a leading global supplier of critical battery materials. The report highlighted the poor working conditions prevalent in nickel smelters, primarily located on the islands of Sulawesi and Maluku, where workers face harsh treatment including arbitrary wage deductions, violence and constant... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3280646/indonesia-and-philippines-must-clean-their-nickel-mines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3280646/indonesia-and-philippines-must-clean-their-nickel-mines?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:30:09 +0000 Asia is experiencing a demographic revolution: it is ageing faster than any other region globally. The proportion of older people – aged 60 and above – has more than doubled from 5.9 per cent in 1960 to 13.5 per cent in 2022, and the trend is set to continue, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). By 2050, Asia will have more than 1.2 billion older people, making up over a quarter of its population – and 55.6 per cent of the world’s older population. Crucially, population ageing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3275208/asias-elderly-are-climate-vulnerable-theyre-not-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3275208/asias-elderly-are-climate-vulnerable-theyre-not-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Aug 2024 21:30:12 +0000 Asia’s oceans face heatwaves of increasing frequency and intensity. These extreme events affect all marine life, creating a dangerous feedback loop that exacerbates the problem. Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, are particularly vulnerable. In Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province, a recent survey showed that up to 90 per cent of corals have experienced bleaching over the past four decades due to elevated temperatures. This devastation extends beyond corals, affecting the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3272484/asia-needs-urgent-help-turn-tide-ocean-heatwaves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3272484/asia-needs-urgent-help-turn-tide-ocean-heatwaves?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:30:11 +0000 Smallholders are instrumental in Southeast Asia’s palm oil production. Indonesia alone, they cultivate roughly 41 per cent of the land dedicated to oil palm, while in Malaysia, that number is at least 27 per cent. Globally, smallholders are responsible for roughly 35 per cent to 40 per cent of the world’s total oil palm plantations. Therefore, as global concerns about sustainability increase, smallholders play an important role in sustainability initiatives. However, the path to sustainability... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3270183/push-sustainable-palm-oil-isnt-going-far-enough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3270183/push-sustainable-palm-oil-isnt-going-far-enough?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jul 2024 12:30:10 +0000 Despite occupying a mere 3 per cent of the Earth’s land surface, peatlands hold a staggering 550 gigatonnes of carbon – twice as much as all the world’s forests combined. When drained or burned, the carbon stored in peat is released as carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Dr Susan Page, a peatland ecologist from the University of Leicester in the UK, offers a compelling analogy. She describes peatlands as a bank account where we have been making deposits of carbon for thousands of years.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3266324/southeast-asias-peatlands-are-crisis-what-can-be-done?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3266324/southeast-asias-peatlands-are-crisis-what-can-be-done?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jun 2024 01:30:09 +0000 A recent WWF report sounds the alarm about the Mekong River’s fish. With one-fifth of species facing extinction, these vital creatures are under immense pressure. The Mekong boasts incredible biodiversity, with more than a thousand fish species, including the legendary Mekong giant catfish. The report also said that given the limited data on fish conservation status, the true number of threatened species is likely much higher. The Mekong River’s plight is just one example of a widespread problem... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3262647/why-asias-dying-rivers-will-take-people-and-economies-down-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3262647/why-asias-dying-rivers-will-take-people-and-economies-down-them?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 May 2024 21:30:18 +0000 A grim record-breaking milestone was reached in 2023, as it was identified as the hottest year in recorded history. Regrettably, the trend continues into 2024, as evidenced by the alarming data for March: global temperatures have surged to unprecedented levels, surpassing those of previous decades by 0.73 degrees Celsius, and notably exceeding the pre-industrial benchmark by 1.68 degrees. Southeast Asia, home to more than 600 million people, is currently experiencing a rise in the number of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3260404/southeast-asias-heatwaves-threaten-food-security-how-can-nations-adapt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3260404/southeast-asias-heatwaves-threaten-food-security-how-can-nations-adapt?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Apr 2024 21:30:21 +0000 Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum published its 2024 Global Risks Report and named climate change as one of the most perilous crises we face. The many coastal communities in Southeast Asia need no reminding. Southeast Asia’s long coastlines leave it vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather. Rising sea levels and erosion are already swallowing homes along the region’s coastline, and will affect millions of people as they worsen. Big cities, small fishing villages and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3257532/southeast-asia-survive-climate-change-timid-effort-not-enough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3257532/southeast-asia-survive-climate-change-timid-effort-not-enough?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Apr 2024 07:45:18 +0000 The skies over East Asia were once filled with the remarkable sights and sounds of millions of migratory birds making their annual journey between breeding and wintering grounds. Enormous flocks including shorebirds, cranes, geese and songbirds traverse the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the world’s crucial bird migration routes, twice each year. However, this spectacular natural phenomenon faces a significant decline. Evidence suggests a population drop of more than 42 per cent in... https://www.scmp.com/comment/asia-opinion/article/3255954/how-asias-development-push-driving-migratory-birds-extinction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/asia-opinion/article/3255954/how-asias-development-push-driving-migratory-birds-extinction?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Mar 2024 21:30:23 +0000 In 2020, mangrove forests spanned an extensive area of more than 145,000 sq km worldwide. Southeast Asia, extending from the Andaman Sea to the Timor Sea, boasts the largest share of these forests, encompassing an estimated 32 per cent of the total. Notably, Indonesia stands out within Southeast Asian, containing about 20 per cent of the world’s mangrove forests. Conversely, neighbouring nations such as Malaysia and Myanmar account for comparatively little of the global mangrove area. There has... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3252048/save-southeast-asias-mangrove-forests-or-risk-environmental-devastation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3252048/save-southeast-asias-mangrove-forests-or-risk-environmental-devastation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Feb 2024 21:30:20 +0000