state parks enactment, fish bombing in Sabah and Bakun dam

[Guest guest]

Letter to Editor from the President of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) -

The Star 24.4.01 - Approval of the Perak State Parks Enactment.

The bill will pave the way for the setting up of the Belum state park and

other establishments for the preservation and management of wildlife and

natural resources throughout the state.The reserve is one of the last

remaining untouched virgin forests in the country. The reserve is home to

huge concentrations of large mammals such as the elephant, tiger, gaur,

rhino, tapir and bear. It is also home to various flora and fauna,

including insects, fish, and scores of plants, many of which are rare and

threatened. Belum is one of 29 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the country,

home to thousands of hornbills and other protected and endemic bird species.

With large tracks of forest, especially lowland forest, being logged and

turned into plantations, protected forest, being logged and turned into

plantations, protected forests such as national or state parks are essential

for the conservation of the nation's biodiversity. Most animals, especially

the bigger mammals, have large home ranges and thus need huge tracks of

forest to survive. The Belum state park will further enhance and conserve

the link between the Endau-Rompin Forest in the south, Taman Negara in the

centre and the existing protected areas in Thailand in the north. In turn,

this will preserve the trans-boundary distribution of the genetic material

of flora and fauna from north to south. Large forests such as the Belum and

Temenggor Forest Reserves are essential as water catchments for downstream

developments and populations. They also serve as important carbon sinks and

local weather regulators, maintaining the constant temperature and humidity

of the surrounding areas.

MNS hopes that the state would be wise in its development planning for the

park, as it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that there is

minimal damage and disturbance to the virtually uncharted forests.

The state government should draw up a policy framework to effectively manage

the lush untouched habitat of Belum and see to it that its status is

honoured. Belum has been described as an " open museum in a natural

environment " and a prized heartland that can be turned into a research,

education and conservation area.

The Perak Tourism Masterplan has also identified Belum and Temenggor as

potential tourist destinations. Its unspoiled charm has the potential of

eco-tourism, an industry that is growing tremendously worldwide.

Nevertheless, its integrity and incredible biodiversity have to be retained

to remain an attraction.

MNS has confidence, after all the scientific work it has carried out in this

area, that the Perak state would manage the Belum park well. If invited,

the society is willing to work with the state in the planning and management

of the park.

 

Pantai Acheh to be a national park - The Star.

The Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve on Penang island's north-western tip, which

has a unique " meromictic " lake, will become the country's first national

park. The Science, Technology and Environment Ministry had agreed to the

gazetting of the park and would a masterplan to promote the park for

eco-tourism. The national park status will give the forest international

prominence although it is probably the smallest in the world. It

encompasses 1 265ha which is just slightly above the 1 000ha requirement for

a national park. The forest would be gazetted under the National Parks Act

1980. Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve would continue to be under the purview of

the state government and administered by the Wildlife and National Park

Department. Fundings will be sought from local and international

organisations for flora and fauna research.

 

The Star - 25.4.01. Bakun Dam

 

Physical construction work on the RM300mil river diversion tunnels in Bakun,

the first component of the massive RM9bil hydroelectric dam project, has

been completed. The construction of the coffer dam will be the next major

part of the project. This dam will measure 90m high and it will take about

18 months to complete. The main dam construction will follow. The Bakun

project comprised 12 components - the river diversion tunnels, a protection

dike at the inlet of the tunnels, a protection dike at the outlet, an

upstream cofferdam, a downstream cofferdam, the 210m high main dam, power

intake structure, power conduit, power house, spill-way, release

water-outlet, plug and line transmission from Bakun to Bintulu and to Sabah.

The dam construction could withstand an earthquake measuring up to 7.3 on

the Richter scale. The main dam will create a water catchment reservoir of

700 feet deep. The authorities responsible for the project estmated that

the chances of a massive flood occurring in Bakun was once in 10 000 years.

Sarawak will build a rural growth centre in the Sungai Asap Resettlement

Scheme in Bakun aimed at helping the more than 10 000 villagers earn a

living since they have been displaced by the RM9mil hydro-electric dam

project. There is little economic activity now in Sungai Asap. A substantial

number of resettled people are jobless. Many are still trying to adjust and

adapt to their new environment.

Letter to Editor from the President of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) -

The Star 24.4.01 on the approval of the Perak State Parks Enactment. The

bill will pave the way for the setting up of the Belum state park and other

establishments for the preservation and management of wildlife and natural

resources throughout the state.The reserve is one of the last remaining

untouched virgin forests in the country. The reserve is home to huge

concentrations of large mammals such as the elephant, tiger, gaur, rhino,

tapir and bear. It is also home to various flora and fauna, including

insects, fish, and scores of plants, many of which are rare and threatened.

Belum is one of 29 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the country, home to

thousands of hornbills and other protected and endemic bird species.

With large tracks of forest, especially lowland forest, being logged and

turned into plantations, protected forest, being logged and turned into

plantations, protected forests such as national or state parks are essential

for the conservation of the nation's biodiversity. Most animals, especially

the bigger mammals, have large home ranges and thus need huge tracks of

forest to survive. The Belum state park will further enhance and conserve

the link between the Endau-Rompin Forest in the south, Taman Negara in the

centre and the existing protected areas in Thailand in the north. In turn,

this will preserve the trans-boundary distribution of the genetic material

of flora and fauna from north to south. Large forests such as the Belum and

Temenggor Forest Reserves are essential as water catchments for downstream

developments and populations. They also serve as important carbon sinks and

local weather regulators, maintaining the constant temperature and humidity

of the surrounding areas.

MNS hopes that the state would be wise in its development planning for the

park, as it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that there is

minimal damage and disturbance to the virtually uncharted forests.

The state government should draw up a policy framework to effectively manage

the lush untouched habitat of Belum and see to it that its status is

honoured. Belum has been described as an " open museum in a natural

environment " and a prized heartland that can be turned into a research,

education and conservation area.

The Perak Tourism Masterplan has also identified Belum and Temenggor as

potential tourist destinations. Its unspoiled charm has the potential of

eco-tourism, an industry that is growing tremendously worldwide.

Nevertheless, its integrity and incredible biodiversity have to be retained

to remain an attraction.

MNS has confidence, after all the scientific work it has carried out in this

area, that the Perak state would manage the Belum park well. If invited,

the society is willing to work with the state in the planning and management

of the park.

 

Pantai Acheh to be a national park - The Star.

The Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve on Penang island's north-western tip, which

has a unique " meromictic " lake, will become the country's first national

park. The Science, Technology and Environment Ministry had agreed to the

gazetting of the park and would a masterplan to promote the park for

eco-tourism. The national park status will give the forest international

prominence although it is probably the smallest in the world. It

encompasses 1 265ha which is just slightly above the 1 000ha requirement for

a national park. The forest would be gazetted under the National Parks Act

1980. Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve would continue to be under the purview of

the state government and administered by the Wildlife and National Park

Department. Fundings will be sought from local and international

organisations for flora and fauna research.

 

The Star - 25.4.01. Bakun Dam

 

Physical construction work on the RM300mil river diversion tunnels in Bakun,

the first component of the massive RM9bil hydroelectric dam project, has

been completed. The construction of the coffer dam will be the next major

part of the project. This dam will measure 90m high and it will take about

18 months to complete. The main dam construction will follow. The Bakun

project comprised 12 components - the river diversion tunnels, a protection

dike at the inlet of the tunnels, a protection dike at the outlet, an

upstream cofferdam, a downstream cofferdam, the 210m high main dam, power

intake structure, power conduit, power house, spill-way, release

water-outlet, plug and line transmission from Bakun to Bintulu and to Sabah.

The dam construction could withstand an earthquake measuring up to 7.3 on

the Richter scale. The main dam will create a water catchment reservoir of

700 feet deep. The authorities responsible for the project estmated that

the chances of a massive flood occurring in Bakun was once in 10 000 years.

Sarawak will build a rural growth centre in the Sungai Asap Resettlement

Scheme in Bakun aimed at helping the more than 10 000 villagers earn a

living since they have been displaced by the RM9mil hydro-electric dam

project. There is little economic activity now in Sungai Asap. A substantial

number of resettled people are jobless. Many are still trying to adjust and

adapt to their new environment.

Letter to Editor from the President of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) -

The Star 24.4.01 on the approval of the Perak State Parks Enactment. The

bill will pave the way for the setting up of the Belum state park and other

establishments for the preservation and management of wildlife and natural

resources throughout the state.The reserve is one of the last remaining

untouched virgin forests in the country. The reserve is home to huge

concentrations of large mammals such as the elephant, tiger, gaur, rhino,

tapir and bear. It is also home to various flora and fauna, including

insects, fish, and scores of plants, many of which are rare and threatened.

Belum is one of 29 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the country, home to

thousands of hornbills and other protected and endemic bird species.

With large tracks of forest, especially lowland forest, being logged and

turned into plantations, protected forest, being logged and turned into

plantations, protected forests such as national or state parks are essential

for the conservation of the nation's biodiversity. Most animals, especially

the bigger mammals, have large home ranges and thus need huge tracks of

forest to survive. The Belum state park will further enhance and conserve

the link between the Endau-Rompin Forest in the south, Taman Negara in the

centre and the existing protected areas in Thailand in the north. In turn,

this will preserve the trans-boundary distribution of the genetic material

of flora and fauna from north to south. Large forests such as the Belum and

Temenggor Forest Reserves are essential as water catchments for downstream

developments and populations. They also serve as important carbon sinks and

local weather regulators, maintaining the constant temperature and humidity

of the surrounding areas.

MNS hopes that the state would be wise in its development planning for the

park, as it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that there is

minimal damage and disturbance to the virtually uncharted forests.

The state government should draw up a policy framework to effectively manage

the lush untouched habitat of Belum and see to it that its status is

honoured. Belum has been described as an " open museum in a natural

environment " and a prized heartland that can be turned into a research,

education and conservation area.

The Perak Tourism Masterplan has also identified Belum and Temenggor as

potential tourist destinations. Its unspoiled charm has the potential of

eco-tourism, an industry that is growing tremendously worldwide.

Nevertheless, its integrity and incredible biodiversity have to be retained

to remain an attraction.

MNS has confidence, after all the scientific work it has carried out in this

area, that the Perak state would manage the Belum park well. If invited,

the society is willing to work with the state in the planning and management

of the park.

 

Pantai Acheh to be a national park - The Star.

The Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve on Penang island's north-western tip, which

has a unique " meromictic " lake, will become the country's first national

park. The Science, Technology and Environment Ministry had agreed to the

gazetting of the park and would a masterplan to promote the park for

eco-tourism. The national park status will give the forest international

prominence although it is probably the smallest in the world. It

encompasses 1 265ha which is just slightly above the 1 000ha requirement for

a national park. The forest would be gazetted under the National Parks Act

1980. Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve would continue to be under the purview of

the state government and administered by the Wildlife and National Park

Department. Fundings will be sought from local and international

organisations for flora and fauna research.

 

The Star - 25.4.01. Bakun Dam

 

Physical construction work on the RM300mil river diversion tunnels in Bakun,

the first component of the massive RM9bil hydroelectric dam project, has

been completed. The construction of the coffer dam will be the next major

part of the project. This dam will measure 90m high and it will take about

18 months to complete. The main dam construction will follow. The Bakun

project comprised 12 components - the river diversion tunnels, a protection

dike at the inlet of the tunnels, a protection dike at the outlet, an

upstream cofferdam, a downstream cofferdam, the 210m high main dam, power

intake structure, power conduit, power house, spill-way, release

water-outlet, plug and line transmission from Bakun to Bintulu and to Sabah.

The dam construction could withstand an earthquake measuring up to 7.3 on

the Richter scale. The main dam will create a water catchment reservoir of

700 feet deep. The authorities responsible for the project estmated that

the chances of a massive flood occurring in Bakun was once in 10 000 years.

Sarawak will build a rural growth centre in the Sungai Asap Resettlement

Scheme in Bakun aimed at helping the more than 10 000 villagers earn a

living since they have been displaced by the RM9mil hydro-electric dam

project. There is little economic activity now in Sungai Asap. A substantial

number of resettled people are jobless. Many are still trying to adjust and

adapt to their new environment.

Harsher penalties to cripple fish bombing activities in Sabah - New Straits

Times - 25 April, 2001

 

The unprecedented move some months ago to place masterminds of fish bombing

activities in Sabah under restricted residence was a relief to many. It is

high time that such action be taken against the culprits as fish bombing

problem is serious. People held under restricted residence are banished to

an isolated place where their movements can be monitored closely by police.

While the authorities, particularly the Fisheries Department, deserve to be

commended for coming up with the idea, some wonder if the punishment is

harsh enough to be a deterrent.

Sabah Environmental Protection Association secretary general S M Muthu

questioned the effectiveness of restricted residence, considering the

availability of modern communication technology. Describing the masterminds

of fish bombing as the nation's enemy, Muthu said the action not only killed

fish but also destroyed coral reefs, which are habitat of marine life as

well as tourist attraction.

Masterminds are people who financed fish bombing activities and profited

from the illegal harvest. They are mostly locals, while bombers are

recruited from among the illegal immigrants in the State.

A fish bomb costs only about RM4 but it can kill one tonne of fish and

destroy several hundred square metres of coral reefs. Besides restricted

residence, the department should also look at enhancing the penalties for

fish bombers.

A study carried out by Univeristy Malaysia Sarawak recently showed that 90

per cent of the State's 129 coral reefs had been damaged by fish bombing.

There would be no fish bombing if consumers refrained from buying bombed

fish. The Fisheries Department has been urged to conduct regular checks at

the fish market.

What matters most is for the authorities to implement the decisions made to

combat fish bombing.

 

 

 

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