Pandemic and Our Natural Capital
Malaysia is blessed with abundant flora and fauna thanks to our fertile land. The warm climate coupled with regular rain creates a perfect habitat for many plants to thrive, which in turn supports the different animals that live on the land. The lack of volcanoes and earthquakes has helped to prevent mass extinction to happen on this land, allowing different species of flora and fauna to prosper. Malaysia’s rich biodiversity has been ranked 12th in the world according to the National Biodiversity Index.
Unfortunately, the rapid development of the land and expanding human activities have continuously threatened the land, flora, and fauna. Illegal logging and mining activities directly destroy the habitats of many species. Overuse of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture disrupts the chemical balance in the soils and water bodies and negatively affects the ecosystem. High movement of fossil-fuelled vehicles emits a large amount of greenhouse gasses. People’s lack of awareness on environmental preservation and sustainability practices continues to pollute our natural capital.
While the Covid-19 global pandemic has brought with it many undesirable effects particularly to the economic and health sectors, the same cannot be said about the environment. Within the first few weeks of the Movement Control Order (MCO), photographs of beautiful looking of otherwise gloomier landscapes emerged. Around the country people commented experiencing a cleaner and nicer environment overall. Among the comments were clearer river, bluer sky, lower temperature, fresher air, and more chirpings of birds. These observations were supported by studies performed on the effects of the lockdown on the environment. It was believed that limited movement of people (particularly less vehicles and limited outdoor activities) had dramatically reduced the greenhouse gasses emission and waste production. In several weeks and without any environmental campaign, our country turned much cleaner and beautiful.
Unfortunately, after the government announced the MCO would be laxed, people’s movement started to increase. Many industries started to slowly open back their businesses. Employees were asked to come back to work physically. Cars started to flood the road once again. Factories started to produce waste. And the environment started to suffer.
Have we gone back to square one?
The Covid-19 pandemic is undeniably devastating. A lot of lives were lost to it and some survivors are still struggling with the side effects. However, we cannot push away the fact that it has helped our natural capital to recover to some extent. Perhaps it is high time for us to reflect on how we do our daily activities and implement change accordingly, so our environment does not have to suffer again.
There is always a silver lining behind every adversity. Let us not miss the one brought by this pandemic.
Unfortunately, the rapid development of the land and expanding human activities have continuously threatened the land, flora, and fauna. Illegal logging and mining activities directly destroy the habitats of many species. Overuse of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture disrupts the chemical balance in the soils and water bodies and negatively affects the ecosystem. High movement of fossil-fuelled vehicles emits a large amount of greenhouse gasses. People’s lack of awareness on environmental preservation and sustainability practices continues to pollute our natural capital.
While the Covid-19 global pandemic has brought with it many undesirable effects particularly to the economic and health sectors, the same cannot be said about the environment. Within the first few weeks of the Movement Control Order (MCO), photographs of beautiful looking of otherwise gloomier landscapes emerged. Around the country people commented experiencing a cleaner and nicer environment overall. Among the comments were clearer river, bluer sky, lower temperature, fresher air, and more chirpings of birds. These observations were supported by studies performed on the effects of the lockdown on the environment. It was believed that limited movement of people (particularly less vehicles and limited outdoor activities) had dramatically reduced the greenhouse gasses emission and waste production. In several weeks and without any environmental campaign, our country turned much cleaner and beautiful.
Unfortunately, after the government announced the MCO would be laxed, people’s movement started to increase. Many industries started to slowly open back their businesses. Employees were asked to come back to work physically. Cars started to flood the road once again. Factories started to produce waste. And the environment started to suffer.
Have we gone back to square one?
The Covid-19 pandemic is undeniably devastating. A lot of lives were lost to it and some survivors are still struggling with the side effects. However, we cannot push away the fact that it has helped our natural capital to recover to some extent. Perhaps it is high time for us to reflect on how we do our daily activities and implement change accordingly, so our environment does not have to suffer again.
There is always a silver lining behind every adversity. Let us not miss the one brought by this pandemic.
References
Abdullah, S., Mansor, A.A., Napi N.N.L.M., Mansor W.N.W., Ahmed, A.N., Ismail, M., Ramly, Z.T.A. (2020). Air quality status during 2020 Malaysia Movement Control Order (MCO) due to 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic. Sci Total Environ 729:139022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139022
Lee Goi C. (2020). The river water quality before and during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 2, 100027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2020.100027
Malaysia - Main Details. (n.d.). Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=my
Ujang, D. S. D. Z. (2021, January 14). Impact of Covid-19 on the environment. NST Online. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2021/01/657271/impact-covid-19-environment
Lee Goi C. (2020). The river water quality before and during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 2, 100027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2020.100027
Malaysia - Main Details. (n.d.). Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=my
Ujang, D. S. D. Z. (2021, January 14). Impact of Covid-19 on the environment. NST Online. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2021/01/657271/impact-covid-19-environment
