The good people from environmental journalism portal Macaranga return, for another roundup of top environmental news from the month past. Lots of big (and rather alarming) news from October 2023 - Kelantan authorities are seeking to make changes to forest classification - RimbaWatch reports that there is an "unprecedented proposal" to remove all environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) in Kelantan from the Kelantan State Structure Plan, Local Plan and Special Area Plan. Then just last week, we heard from SPAN that seven of our dams are in critical condition, due to ageing structures, which could spell danger for our water security in the country. And finally, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (LPTA) just updated the current terms and conditions of Lynas’ operating licence, including the permission to import raw materials containing naturally occurring radioactive materials, and to allow Cracking and Leaching activities to continue, subject to certain conditions. What does all of this mean? We've got Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of Macaranga to help break it all down for us.

Image Credit: 123RF, Wikimedia Commons

Produced by: Juliet Jacobs

Presented by: Juliet Jacobs

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Categories:  environment,  Law/Activism

Tags:  kelantan state government,  environmentally sensitive areas,  water dams,  radioactive materials,  macaranga,  deforestation,  food security,  water security,  span,  lynas,  rare earth,