Kuala Lampur, Dec. 17 -- When floods hit Malaysia, the first thing we notice is the rising water. It moves quickly, fills our streets, enters our homes and brings life to a temporary standstill. What we do not always see is the deeper story behind these disasters.

The decline of forests, weakened river systems and shrinking mangroves has slowly reduced the ability of our landscapes to absorb heavy rain and buffer storms. The World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Living Planet Report 2024 highlights that wildlife populations in the Asia Pacific have fallen by about 60 per cent since 1970. Freshwater species worldwide have declined by 85 per cent. These figures signal that ecosystems everywhere are struggling to cope with climate stress.

Biodiversi...