(MY) 4 letters on conservation

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Thursday October 20, 2005 - Letters - The Star

 

1. Time we got serious about conservation

 

WHEN our national emblem ends up in the fridge and is readied for the

cooking pot, it is not funny anymore. We are losing our natural

jungles to agriculture faster than we can say " Malaysia Boleh! "

 

Protected marine parks, once idyllic and pristine, are making way for

marinas and large-scale developments. And as unbelievable as it may

be, we who live among tropical rainforests, face water supply

problems. It begs the question whether we really do have a

conservation policy.

 

The public should be worried. We pride ourselves on our abundant

biodiversity. We even use it to sell the country overseas. But more

importantly, it is this biodiversity and vast natural resources that

keep our taps running and our economy in motion – not forgetting,

creating the perfect habitat for human population.

 

Yet today, this very biodiversity is over-exploited by the users

themselves. We, as custodians of this gift, have failed miserably in

our duty.

 

While the collective responsibility of all is ideal, much weight lies

on the enforcers. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources

was founded to enhance effectiveness and focus on conservation of our

natural environment.

 

Two years on, the public will agree with me that little has been done.

Enforcement remains weak and most dissatisfactory. The conservation

agenda is not seen nor felt.

 

Obviously, conservation is secondary to the economy. However, we must

recognise the fact that we are not a poor country anymore.

 

If we can host the F1, build massive structures such as the Petronas

Twin Towers and Putrajaya, have opulent shopping havens such as Star

Hill and luxurious housing areas in Bukit Tunku and Damansara Heights,

I see no reason why resources cannot be routed to conserve our

biodiversity.

 

I am sure there is a national environment management plan for the

country. The question is, how well have we adhered to this or is it

just another memo which everyone signs off and dumps in the shredding

pile? Rules should be enforced and this starts with the most minute of

things.

 

Of course, enforcement needs money, too. More importantly, put the

right people in the right jobs.

 

Those who are passionate about the environment and have the required

talent to drive the agenda should be considered for managerial

positions over the traditional criteria of seniority and " old boys

club " .

 

The GLCs have already taken this path. Is the Government brave enough

to initiate this within the ministries?

 

Conservation brings with it long-term benefits – both social and

economic. There is no room for short-sightedness here. The last thing

any government would want to hear in five years' time is a

conservationist telling them " I told you so " when something bad

happens.

 

When will we learn? Soon, I hope. As a taxpayer, I reckon that it's

time to get serious about conservation. We are watching and keeping

score.

 

THE DUGONG DUDE,

 

Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

 

2. Take measures now to nip poaching in the bud

 

IT IS truly appalling that a country like Malaysia that is striving to

achieve developed status has started to ignore the most pressing issue

of wildlife conservation.

 

The Government really has to take the initiative to nip the problem in

the bud. Do not let it develop into a full-blown irreversible

epidemic. If that occurs, no amount of crying over spilt milk and

cleaning up the mess will be of any help.

 

There are several measures that can be taken.

 

·THE Education Ministry should introduce Environmental Management or

Environmental Science at all levels of schooling.

 

Most young Malaysians are enrolled at public schools and the quickest

way to open their eyes to the plight of our endangered species is

through the school system.

 

Parents may worry that the introduction of another subject will burden

their children, so allow this subject to be an elective it comes to

major examinations

 

But to ensure the message gets across to every student, conduct road

shows and exhibitions at public schools with the help of NGOs like WWF

Malaysia and the Malaysian Nature Society;

 

·REWARD those who inform the authorities on poaching and illegal

trade, and increase the penalties on those found guilty.

 

The penalty for cruelty towards animals should also be increased to

deter people from ill-treating domestic and wild animals.

 

Send officers to spot-check traditional medicine shops, especially

Chinese medicine shops and traders in night markets, to ensure they do

not sell products consisting of parts of endangered species;

 

·REVIEW the budget allocation for the management of our local zoos and

national parks;

 

·CONSIDER increasing the protected areas in less densely populated

areas of the country, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

 

Minimise logging concessions and give incentives to the same companies

to curb poaching and illegal logging in those areas.

 

Granting long-term logging permits will also encourage timber

companies to manage their areas properly to ensure a controlled rate

of forest clearing; and

 

·THE authorities can consider enlisting the help of indigenous people

like the orang asli in the peninsula who know the forest well.

 

Any poaching activity and illegal removal of forest products can be

spotted quickly by them.

 

Leong Mun Yi,

 

Ipoh.

 

(via e-mail)

 

 

 

3. Throw the book at tiger poachers

 

I REFER to your report, " Furore over butchering " , (Sunday Star, Oct 16).

 

As long as there are people who consume tiger parts as medicine, or

eat its meat, wild tigers will continue to be killed.

 

Tigers removed from the wild because of conflict with humans or

rescued from smugglers all end up in zoos. Once removed, tigers have

almost no chance of making it back to the wild.

 

Wildlife poaching and trafficking continue as a collective result of

superstitious consumers, greedy poachers, indifferent public,

incomplete law, insufficient law enforcement and ignorant judiciary

system.

 

The biggest market for, and manufacture of, tiger products is China.

And despite the law, tigers are almost gone from there and the

neighbouring Indochinese countries.

 

Just last month, a tiger poacher was sentenced to seven years' jail in

Cambodia. In Malaysia, no tiger poacher has ever been penalised to the

full extent of the law, which is a RM15,000 fine or a five-year jail

term.

 

The law is meaningless if the poacher gets away with a small fine.

When the Protection of Wild Life Act is amended in the near future,

the maximum penalty will increase. But it will still be meaningless if

it is not used to punish the criminal.

 

 

DR KAE KAWANISHI,

 

Kuala Lumpur.

 

(via e-mail)

 

 

4. Increase the penalty for killing tigers

 

IT IS really sad to see tigers being killed because of human greed,

and the utter disregard for the conservation of Malaysia's threatened

wildlife.

 

According to the international wildlife organisation, Born Free, there

are only about 500-600 tigers left in Malaysia.

 

The killing of tigers and the trafficking in tiger parts show that the

maximum penalty of five years in jail and a fine of RM15,000 is not a

deterrent to the killing of tigers or the serving of tiger meat in

restaurants.

 

A fine of RM150,000 to RM300,000 and 10 years' jail, will make

restaurant owners and traditional herbalists think twice before

serving or selling tiger parts.

 

 

 

CONCERNED NATURALIST,

 

Alabama, USA.

 

(via e-mail)