FWD: Lending Nature a hand

[Guest guest]

***************************Advertisement***************************

eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide

http://www.star-ecentral.com

 

 

*****************************************************************

This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling.

 

Comment from sender:

MNS has launched a fund dedicated to buying up wild lands pressured by

development and offering the public a direct way of conserving nature.

 

This article is from thestar.com.my

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2002/4/2/features/baronf & sec=fea\

tures

 

________________________

 

 

Tuesday, April 2, 2002

Lending Nature a hand

One local organisation looks set to emulate the Patagonia Land Trust. The

venerable Malaysian Nature Society has launched a fund dedicated to buying up

wild lands pressured by development and offering the public a direct way of

conserving nature, reports HILARY CHIEW.

 

FRUSTRATED that development is encroaching into precious wild places but feel

powerless to stop it? The only thing left to be done is to sit back and bemoan

the losses, you say? What if you get a chance to lay claim to an

ecologically-sensitive piece of land before another uncaring developer eyed it?

 

That’s the opportunity the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) offers with the

Heritage Trust Fund for Conservation.

 

“This fund is for the express purpose of conservation by supporting purchases of

habitats and supporting expeditions for inventory work that would encourage the

establishment of nature parks,” says Dr Leong Shown Chong, the society’s Science

and Conservation Committee chairman.

 

He says the fund came about as a result of growing concerns within the MNS that

habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity were occurring faster than current

conservation capabilities. New measures were needed to mitigate this. One way is

by purchasing areas which are rich habitats and ecologically-sensitive and

reserving them for conservation. Of course, to do this, the society needs funds.

 

“Traditionally, the society has depended on funds from government agencies,

charitable foundations and non-governmental organisations. It still does, but

with the Heritage Trust Fund, the society’s own members and sympathetic members

of the public are being asked to donate.

 

“There is already a list of areas MNS is interested in but much depends on the

amount of funds raised and the willingness of land owners to sell their property

..

 

“What MNS is offering is an alternative to the traditional way of using land

mainly for property development, agriculture and industry. MNS believes that

conservation and sustainable use of ecologically-rich areas for research,

conservation and recreation are viable and important components of any

intelligent and balanced national land-use policy,” Leong adds.

 

Since the setting up of the fund was announced last November in the society’s

newsletter, many letters of support and suggestions have been received. Some

suggested individual legacies and wills that favour the fund, a common practice

in Western countries that has proven to be an effective instrument for

conservation.

 

The feasibility of the fund is based on the calculation that if 5,000 members

pledge an average of RM100 a year, it would provide RM500,000 to kick-start the

project. If the pledge is renewed annually and compounded, the sum may be large

enough to cover large land transactions.

 

“RM100 is not a big sum, considering what we spend on a meal, clothes and

unnecessary purchases. We all should consume less and conserve more,” urges

Leong.

 

On a practical note, he admits that the fund may not be large enough to purchase

really large areas for conservation, at least not within the next few years.

Nevertheless, he says, it should be able to afford smaller but

ecologically-sensitive areas that are threatened by development pressures.

 

As it is foreseen that wilderness areas will diminish, those lands purchased

through the fund will appreciate in value, says Leong. “So, in a sense, members’

contributions will be an investment in real estate.”

 

He believes that the public is generally a caring lot, as evident from the

overwhelming response to the society’s Endau-Rompin expedition over a decade

ago.

 

“With the passage of time, there is always the hope that there will be the

growth of a more enlightened attitude towards conservation.”

 

He reckons the success of the fund depends on good marketing skills and the fact

that it is for a good cause. Before seeking public support, contributions will

be sought first from MNS members, people who are already committed towards

conservation – “This is a chance for MNS members to show that they care enough

to contribute, and to lead by example.”

 

<LI> To contribute to the fund, contact the MNS (% 03-2287 9422 / e-mail <A

HREF= " natsoc " >natsoc</A>/visit <A

HREF= " http://mns.org.my " >http://mns.org.my</A>).

 

 

________________________

Your one-stop information portal:

The Star Online

http://thestar.com.my

http://biz.thestar.com.my

http://classifieds.thestar.com.my

http://cards.thestar.com.my

http://search.thestar.com.my

http://star-motoring.com

http://star-space.com

http://star-jobs.com

http://star-ecentral.com

http://star-techcentral.com

 

1995-2001 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written

permission of Star Publications is prohibited.