INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE CURRICULUM IN ADDRESSING DEFORESTATION IN MALAYSIA

     Many have known deforestation is an issue in Malaysia that is endangering many lives including animals and the earth itself. Deforestation is an act of removing a wide area of trees and this act has caused other environmental issues such as flood and climate change. As a developing country, some irresponsible parties have been using the ‘developing’ terms to cut trees for their own self-interest. In some other places in the country, trees were cut to build more homes and buildings for the people. According to Vizzuality (2021) Malaysia lost 122kha of natural forest, equivalent to 85.2Mt of CO2e of emissions. 

To cater to deforestation, many authorities including Non-Government Organization(NGO) have come out with many plans followed by actions to help Malaysia from being hit with a more serious environmental issue caused by deforestation such as flood. Malaysia as a tropicanal country receives rains throughout the year and when monsoon season hits the earth, it will affect Malaysia’s citizens especially those who live in a low geography area because there are not enough trees to slow the rain drops movement to the land. Landslides are also not a new thing when a huge deforestation activity is being held either legally or illegally. For this reason, there are many activists or authorities who constantly take action to reduce deforestation and cater to it. 

First and foremost, the government of Malaysia should tighten the conditions for deforestation to ensure a minimal deforestation will happen but at the same time maximizing the development. If this particular action was taken seriously, Malaysia will not be able to be a developed country but also a country that emphasizes the environmental ecosystem. The imbalance of nature and buildings will be diminished and will  be beneficial to both humans and animals. 

Secondly, the ministry of education should ensure the curriculum and co-curricular activity held in school gives a good impact to the environment. For example, a science subject in school should involve an activity outside the lab and classroom which involves the environment and nature to ensure the students realize how important nature is to us and how science should always prioritize the environment despite the need to have advanced technology. 

Lastly, the education system at school in collaboration with environmentalists should make it obligatory for the school community to plant a tree with an ongoing care per person. By doing these, it will help the country to have more trees and involvement from students, especially at their early teens will ensure the country can cater to those illegal deforestation done by the irresponsible. Furthermore, their action will indirectly let more people understand how crucial trees are to us. It indeed needs a huge effort to make it a success but it is not impossible when everyone plays their role. 

In conclusion, deforestation has become a serious environmental issue in Malaysia and it is not too late for everyone to take part to raise awareness  or even to take an action to ensure everyone knows how these trees around us play an important role to both country and world.