Loh Chi Leong

Executive Director, Malaysian Nature Society

Today’s Date: 5th December 2007

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

It would have to be a visit to a palm forest on a mountain top in what is now the Endau Rompin National Park in Johor, Malaysia. It is an ageless place where you can see the balance of the ecosystem very clearly and things remain unchanged for years.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

The beach and mangrove forests of Port Dickson, Malaysia. Unfortunately most of that is severely degraded today.

Now? It would still have to be Endau Rompin National Park.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

It would be the Grey Squirrel primarily because I enjoy interacting with an intelligent and relatively un-shy animal.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

Our immediate emergency has to be climate change which threatens our environment, our food security, water availability and species survival. The challenge for the future is to reduce our impact of ecological footprint which can only be done if we curb rampant consumerism and wastage as well as take steps to reduce or control population growth. The truth is that the Earth’s ability to support us and our lifestyle is finite.

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

That we must take responsibility of the problem and act in our own lives to reduce impact and lobby corporations and governments for more sustainable practices.