(MY) save Belum campaign

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Logging vs life: Save Belum campaign on - Malaysiakini.com

 

May 10, 06 5:38pm

 

A campaign, led by the Malaysian Nature Society, is currently

underway to stop the destruction of one of the world's oldest tropical

rainforests and preventing irreversible damage to the nation's

eco-system.

 

The Belum-Temengor forest reserve, which measures up to a sprawling

300,000 hectares (four times the size of Singapore) is presently under

threat from heavy logging activities causing loss of wildlife habitat

and siltation of rivers.

 

The campaign aims to lobby for a stop to logging by gazetting the

entire area as the Royal Belum State Park, complete with a site

conservation management plan.

 

Perak Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Ghazali upon hearing of the campaign

on April 19, reportedly said there was 'no way' logging activities

would be stopped as it would cost thousands of jobs and an estimated

RM35 million in timber revenue annually.

 

National importance

 

The MNS, on the other hand, firmly believes the protection of the

forests will bring in lucrative long-term eco-tourism benefits,

including income and jobs, on a scale that would far outstrip that

provided by logging.

 

Furthermore, Belum-Temengor has already been identified as a

Environmentally Sensitive Area (Rank 1) which stipulates the abundance

of flora and fauna is of national importance and that the forest

should be left untouched.

 

Apart from a signature campaign to drive this message home to the

government, a postcard campaign addressed to Prime Minister Abdullah

Ahmad Badawi and Tajol has also been initiated.

 

The postcard campaign aims to urge the federal government to find ways

to support the conservation and sustainable use of Belum-Temengor.

 

Those wishing to sign an online petition to save Belum-Temengor and

obtain further information on the campaign may visit MSN's website.

 

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