FWD: Give greater attention to protection of environs and resources

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This article is from The Star Online

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/4/15/focus/7709918 & sec=focus

 

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Thursday April 15, 2004

Give greater attention to protection of environs and resources

 

 

WHILE welcoming the setting up of the Natural Resources and Environment

Ministry, Sahabat Alam Malaysia calls on Minister Datuk Adenan Satem to give

greater attention and focus on the need to protect and conserve our natural

resources.

 

We view with extreme caution the statement by Adenan as reported in the papers

recently that the target of the ministry is “?to create more wealth. Land and

forests are our national assets which we must not leave dormant.”

 

While we appreciate the minister & #8217;s approach in wanting to strike a

balance between the exploitation of our natural resources and environmental

protection, we wish to bring to his attention that over the years, in exploiting

our natural resources, Malaysia has yet to do enough for environmental

protection.

 

The so-called balance has not been achieved and what has instead resulted is a

gross imbalance against environmental protection.

 

There has not been enough appreciation at the government level of the immense

value of the ecological services provided by our various natural ecosystems.

 

Recent government figures show that only 10% of our natural forests are

classified as protected.

 

Although it is claimed that Malaysia has a forest cover of about 59%, much of

this is set aside for “productive” purposes and is not protected.

 

We have already lost much of our biodiversity and more is in jeopardy if

immediate measures are not taken to reverse the trend and rehabilitate what has

been degraded.

 

While we appreciate the minister & #8217;s concern for generating wealth out of

natural resources, wealth generation should come from conservation and

protection of such resources and not from continued exploitation.

 

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS,

 

President,

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia,

 

Penang.

 

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