Southeast Asia is a land of wonderful nature. Every living creature on land and sea performs a function, creating an interconnected and interdependent ecosystem. Unfortunately, much of our surroundings is oppressed to meet human desires.
For example, deforestation claims 1.2% of Southeast Asia’s forests annually, considered one of the very best rates on the planet. Southeast Asia alone comprises almost 15% of the world’s tropical forests.
This problem leads to a different crisis corresponding to the decline of wildlife populations brought on by threats corresponding to illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss attributable to urbanization, increasing pollution and climate change. It doesn’t end there, plastic waste has also develop into one other crisis we now have to face.
Fortunately, these women from Southeast Asia have decided to take motion to guard our surroundings. Their work may start small, but their fighting spirit grows and even inspires others to assist improve the environment for future generations.
Like a tree that takes root to construct a robust foundation, a few of these women are starting foundations or organizations to make a greater impact on environmental protection. Who are these women? Have their actions actually had a positive impact on our surroundings?
Read also: Meet the Southeast Asian minister with probably the most environmental concerns
Source: TEDx Talks YouTube channel
Swietenia Puspa Lestari, also referred to as Tenia, is the founding father of Divers Clean Action (DCA). Her journey began when she accompanied her father to work on considered one of the Thousand Islands, Pramuka Island. Initially encouraged by her father, 29-year-old Tenia soon made diving a component of her life.
One day, while diving, she discovered a sea filled with garbage. This motivated her to routinely collect garbage from the ocean, especially plastic waste. Over time, DCA has regularly grown and now has over 1,000 volunteers across Indonesia helping to wash up marine debris at depths starting from 5 to 16 meters.
In addition, it educates coastal residents on sorting plastic waste, initiated a campaign against plastic drinking straws in Indonesia, and convinced roughly 700 restaurants to cut back using single-use straws. It also collaborates with universities, governments and industry on various research projects. Her extraordinary efforts have gained recognition around the globe, earning her a spot on the BBC’s 100 Women of Inspiring and Influential Figures in 2019 and on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2020 as a social entrepreneur.
Read also: 12 of probably the most amazing underwater environments on Earth
While working to finish the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam and internationally, Trang Nguyen began her ambition to watch the international wildlife trade. Her ambitions began at a young age when she witnessed bile being extracted from a live bear for Traditional Asian Medicine.
In 2012, she founded the Wildlife Action Center (WildAct Vietnam or WildAct), a non-profit organization that goals to have interaction young Vietnamese in wildlife conservation. Researching and monitoring markets for illegal wildlife products, Trang can be a author who gained recognition for her book Back to the Wild One (Back to the Wild) and graphic novel Wild – Bear (Chang is crazy about bears).
One of her interesting achievements was in 2013 as a personality in an internet game aimed toward raising awareness about rhino conservation. Interestingly, inside two weeks of its release, the sport attracted over 3 million players.
In 2018, Trang and her WildAct team organized the primary master’s course on combating illegal wildlife trade in collaboration with Vinh University. This course was designed for Vietnamese students and early profession ecologists. The organization also provides scholarships to exceptional students to support their research.
That same 12 months, Trang received the Future for Nature Award, becoming the primary Vietnamese woman to win the award. She was also named considered one of the World’s Most Influential Women in 2019 by the BBC and included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2020.
Source: Facebook/@masungigeoreserve
Dumaliang’s natural office is the mountains of the Philippines, specifically the Masungi Georeserve, a protected area and ecotourism destination positioned in Rizal Province within the Philippines.
Ann Adeline Dumaliang’s role as a conservationist and geotourism activist on the Masungi Foundation includes managing the protection of the 60-million-year-old limestone formations within the Masungi Georeserve and its larger watershed, which serves as Metro Manila’s last protective shield against lightning floods, typhoons and climate change.
To protect Masungi, Dumaliang has stopped illegal logging, mining and other activities which might be considered a threat to the world. Her remarkable transformation of Masungi Georeservevre into an ecotourism destination has had a major impact in educating visitors on the importance of environmental conservation and raising awareness of environmental protection. In addition, local communities are actively involved as stakeholders within the ecotourism initiative
Dumaliang’s work has shown that sustainable practices can have a positive and lasting impact on local communities and even the world. She has been invited as a world speaker at various forums including the World Economic Forum, COP Climate Change Conferences and the World Skoll Forum. In 2021, her efforts were recognized with the Vanity Fair “Changing Your Mind Travel Awards.”
