Eight sensitive areas identified to protect nation's natural assets

27 January 2005

Eight sensitive areas identified to protect nation's natural assets

BY TEOH TEIK HOONG

PETALING JAYA: Eight environmentally sensitive areas including forests located 1,000m above sea level have been identified as crucial areas for protection under the National Physical Plan.

The areas are the peat swamps in Kuala Selangor and Kuala Langat in Selangor, several islands off Klang, parts of the Matang Forest Reserve in Perak, Templer Park in Selangor, Ulu Muda Forest Reserve in Kedah, South-east Pahang Peat Swamp Forest and Tasik Chini in Pahang.

According to a source, the areas should be placed under the Federal ambit for better management, monitoring and integration with the national economic and development policies.

On Tuesday, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting announced that a nationwide plan to protect and preserve the country’s mangroves and wetlands had been drafted and would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

Under the plan, development in areas gazetted as protected mangrove and wetlands is banned.

The source said buffer zones should also be set up to ensure that those areas were not affected by development and permanent buildings should not be built there, except for agro-forestry activities.

“No development, agriculture or logging will be permitted except for low-impact nature tourism, in the environmentally sensitive areas,” said the source.

The source added that uncontrolled development in the highlands was also a growing problem that required unambiguous policy directions.

Meanwhile, several environmental groups voiced yesterday their support for the plan.

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), however, pointed out the need for equal emphasis on other natural habitats.

In a statement, the society said the plan needed the commitment of the state authorities and the areas identified must be managed properly.

Worldwide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF) national programme director Dr Dinonysius Sharma said the authorities could use the Matang mangroves in Perak as a model to manage the remaining mangroves in the country.

Consumers’ Association of Penang president S. M. Mohd Idris said no development or de-gazetting should be allowed in environmentally sensitive areas.

“The remaining unprotected mangrove forests and peat swamps in the country, including small parcels left in certain areas, should be fully protected.”