(MY) 'Lost world' saved from destruction

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'Lost world' saved from destruction -Malaysiakini webpage

Tony Thien

Dec 2, 05 12:50pm

 

Call it a victory for conservationists or non-government organisations

(NGOs) or better still, for mankind. The biodiversity-rich Maliau

Basin in Sabah has not only been gazetted as a first-class forest

reserve, it is also likely to be declared a world heritage site.

 

The 600sq km crater-like pristine forest area, which is uninhabited by

human beings, has been described as Sabah's lost world and contains

one of the best eco-systems on earth with its numerous waterfalls and

large varieties of fauna and flora.

 

" It has also been the site of numerous scientific expeditions over the

years since its declaration as a first class forest reserve, " Sarawak

Tourism Board chairperson Tengku Dr Zainal Abidin told malaysiakini in

Kuching today.

 

" We are starting the process to have Maliau Basin declared as a world

heritage area but this could take years before it happens, " he said,

adding that as a first-class forest reserve it will remain protected

for conservation purposes permanently.

 

If and when declared a world heritage site, Maliau Basin, which is

larger than the island of Singapore, will be the third such site after

Mount Kinabalu and Mount Mulu in Sarawak.

 

" This is indeed very good news for NGOs who have been campaigning for

many years to protect the Maliau Basin and its surrounding areas from

illegal logging, " said Environmental Action Committee Sabah executive

operations chairperson Dr Henry Chok (right) when met at the same

venue.

 

Aerial evidence

 

Chok, who is also founder and former chairperson of Environmental

Protection Sabah, said he flew in a helicopter over the nearby

Kalabakan area after complaints were received less than a year ago

about illegal logging in the area supported by aerial photographic

evidence.

 

Following the aerial inspection which confirmed what had happened, he

said the local media highlighted the matter which subsequently led to

the halting of further illegal activities.

 

However, a large area had already been felled and cleared and even

planted with acacia magnium, which is said to be part of a proposed

250,000-hectare pulp and paper project for which a memorandum of

understanding (MoU) had been signed.

 

Later, those involved decided not to proceed with the project.

 

" We questioned the authorities on the purported paper and pulp

project, on the forest clearing and why there was no environmental

impact assessment (EIA) study report, " said Chok.

 

" What is left on the ground if you see it from the air is a big scar,

but we are glad all actvities have ceased, " he said of the illegal

logging that had been going on in the 250,000 hectare pristine forest

area.