The Peak Malaysia engaged with the Director of YTL Hotels Nature Conservation, and Resident Naturalist, Justin Juhun, to explore the broadening forces triggering the natural world, and the sobering thought that, without timely intervention, we may be forfeiting far more than we realise.
For Juhun, his journey stems from a childhood that ignited a powerful mission to protect the natural world, evolving into a lifelong commitment to building meaningful initiatives and collaborating with enterprises for lasting environmental impact.
Charting the Future of Conservation
Looking back at how far society has come, its complex sphere has shifted from discovering gravity, to uncovering untapped regions, cultures colliding to various inventions, and from there — innovation has spurred ceremoniously. At times, the stretch of globalisation has bolstered communities to rise above the orthodox paradigm, but more often than not, where strengths come into play, so does the inevitable consequence, looming ahead.
Justin Juhun, Director of Conservation and Resident Naturalist
“In your view, can today’s children still cultivate the same intimacy with nature that shaped your own childhood, or has modern life shifted too far from those roots?” So when we compared the cultural-defying subject pertaining to the parallels between a decade before, and today’s hyper-digital arena — Justin Juhun, refreshingly candid, revealed rather valuable perspectives, that gave a compelling indication of his character as a parent and nature’s formidable steward. “That’s a rather complex one for me to answer… At first, I would have said yes, but now with the gadget’s underlying dimensions, I don’t believe so. When my daughter was waiting for her SPM results, she joined her group of friends to work as a part-timer. She didn’t join me, but she has gotten back in touch with nature, and the same goes with my son.”
Adapting Global Ingenuity to Malaysia’s Changing Landscapes
In some instances, children are not invariably aligned with their parents’ footsteps; they are, instead, shaped by the ebb and flow of their surroundings, nudged by peer groups, schooling pressures, and digital immersion. Yet Juhun believes that exposure — not enforcement — is what rekindles that instinctive bond with the natural world.
And while deliberating on this cultural and generational shift, Juhun reflects on the environmental transitions he has personally witnessed since first arriving on the beautiful shores of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. “The first time I moved to Kota Kinabalu, it was significantly different — KK was very small, but now it has become more industrial. I never needed to use the AC because of the proximity of the jungle and our homes; the air was cooler then.” Over just two decades, he has observed changes that signal urgent need for innovation and stewardship. Inherently, climate change conditions have constantly rebooted consequential challenges, such as temperatures are on the rise, pollution has not reduced, land development is continuum — which has led to forest degradation, and the impending threats to endangered species.
Photo: Pexels
“If you look at the Middle East, they do fresh farming in the deserts,” he highlights, further explaining how technique ingenuity such as vertical farming options, could be emulated and adapted for tropical regions like Malaysia. Then perhaps, we can move forward with repurposing degraded areas with conscious agricultural pursuits, as opposed to prioritising open-ocean farming, and tireless deforestation — stripping away what remains of our natural heritage. This way, the economy would be able to mitigate food security goals, and potentially cut back on exhaustive farming. He observes that through this framework of mindful landscaping, we could observe tangible improvements in habitat preservation — potentially benefiting Malaysia’s endangered species on both land and in its waters.
The Clock Is Ticking
But the challenges remain staggering.
“With forest degradation measures, I’ve seen about 50% damage done,” Juhun says gravely. “We used to be the third-largest mangrove forest in the world, and now we’ve dropped to 13th. We’re slipping fast.”On a global scale, the picture is no less alarming.
Over the past century, human activity has affected nearly 80% of mangrove forests worldwide — stripping, altering, or destroying them. “What has happened?” he asks, not rhetorically but urgently — an invitation for collective accountability. Mangroves, after all, are among the planet’s most crucial ecosystems: natural storm barriers, carbon sinks, nurseries for marine life. Their decline signals a rupture in the ecological balance we depend on.
Photo: Pexels
Mangroves, after all, are among the planet’s most crucial ecosystems: natural storm barriers, carbon sinks, nurseries for marine life. Their decline signals a rupture in the ecological balance we depend on. As it happens, the growing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are exacerbating climate change, especially in regions experiencing burgeoning economic development. Therefore, to counter such radical change, the environment relies on blue carbon habitats, such as the countries’ precious mangrove terrains to act by absorbing and storing carbon — but they can only do so if they remain healthy and intact.
With a weakening natural capacity to store carbon, the spillage results in coastal erosion, flooding, more sediment-laden waters, and faunal populations decline, consequently affecting local livelihoods and commercial resources. It inherently appears more clearly that the loss of these ecosystems sets off a cascade of environmental and socioeconomic consequences that become increasingly difficult to reverse.
Endangered Cloud Leopards
Among the species that embody the urgency of this work, are the Sunda Cloud Leopards. As solitary animals, they are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity. “You can’t keep them in close proximity during off-seasons — they’ll fight, even males and females,” Juhun explains. They need more space, but beyond captivity, the bigger issue lies in their fractured habitats.
“The pocketed forest system is one of the biggest problems,” he says. These fragmented patches make it increasingly difficult for cloud leopards to find each other, contributing to their declining numbers. Although pocket forests create greenery, they are not continuous — meaning the cats may remain isolated in a single pocket. Crossing plantations is rare and dangerous; encounters with people often end fatally.
Photo: Born Wild
To address this, Juhun has attended numerous conferences advocating for wildlife corridors — connective pathways linking forest fragments to safer, larger habitats. Places like Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah are stepping up, fulfilling their conservation duties by supporting such initiatives.
“Sabah understands the importance,” he states. Tourism ranks as the state’s second-highest revenue generator, tying its long-term stability directly to environmental stewardship. Yet many local communities still lack adequate conservation education — a gap Juhun and his team are actively working to close. Projects like the Pulau Pangkor turtle watch, for example, have shown how community-driven involvement can deliver real results.
“Malaysia is headed in the right direction,” he affirms. “And Sabah has the potential to set the national benchmark. At the state level, they recognise the value — we’re even involved in policy-making for species protection.”
Roots of a Conservationist
“I began my wildlife expedition with my father in primary six. Altogether, we cared for 50 animals, nurturing them from a young age until they were ready to be released,” Justin reminisces. The beauty of raising these creatures — watching them grow into their own independence before returning them to the wild — stirred something profound within him. It did more than occupy his childhood; it quietly shaped the path he would one day follow.
So when the moment arrived for him to step forward, at a time when YTL Group sought to establish a conservation division, Juhun didn’t hesitate. That spark from his youth ignited fully — setting him on a trajectory defined by devotion, scientific curiosity, and guardianship. He went on to study abroad, trained with a prestigious veterinary team, and eventually found deeper purpose in developing his own research methods, collaborating closely with WWF, and building trust with local communities.
One other crucial shift, he says, lies in recognising that conservation today is no longer a passive responsibility but a collective, active pursuit. The challenges are growing — and so must our solutions.
For Justin Juhun, the goal is to consider a 100-year horizon for habitats and the pace at which the country is advancing in research and development. The work undertaken today should help manifest a brighter future for at least the next century. Central to this vision is nurturing the younger generation, fostering collective awareness among those directly impacted — such as local communities and nearby urban neighbours, and encouraging socioeconomically advantaged groups to take meaningful action.
