ID :
85478
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 17:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/85478
The shortlink copeid
EXPLORE SPECIAL LEGISLATION FOR TROPICAL RAINFOREST PRESERVATION
IPOH (Malaysia), Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Stakeholders should explore the
possibility of enacting special legislation to ensure the comprehensive and
continued preservation of the development of the Belum-Temengor Tropical
Rainforest as a tourism product, the Crown Prince of northern state of Perak
Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said Wednesday.
"I cannot over-emphasise the importance of well-planned policies and
well-crafted legislation in safeguarding the integrity of the Belum-Temengor
Tropical Rainforest," he said when opening the conference "Towards the
Development of an Integrated Master Plan for the Belum-Temengor Tropical
Rainforest" here, Wednesday.
However, he said, policies and laws were only as effective as their
enforcement, so there should also be sufficient resources to efficiently
regulate, manage and protect the area, which is located in the northern state of
Perak.
"Limited finances, inadequate expertise and poor governance will all lead to
lax enforcement.
"These in turn will result in the failure to attain the vision and goals of
the upcoming master plan," he said.
Raja Nazrin said there were compelling reasons for the development of the
master plan, including the fact that while Belum-Temengor is the largest
remaining contiguous tract of unprotected rainforest in Peninsular Malaysia,
Temengor is currently not within the boundaries of national protection.
Its adjacent neighbour, the Royal Belum, however, has been gazetted a state
park.
"This means that it (Temengor) is defenceless against obliteration. Sadly,
although the Royal Belum is a protected forest, it has come to my attention that
the poaching of wildlife, including tigers and elephants, is still a major
problem there.
"Our large mammals are declining at an alarming rate, some face the threat
of extinction in the near future. This indicates that despite the existence of
numerous laws pertaining to wildlife protection, forestry and other aspects of
natural resource management, they are either inadequate or they suffer from
ineffective enforcement," he said.
Raja Nazrin said Malaysia, like other developing nations, placed a heavy
emphasis on economic development in order to raise the living standards of its
growing population.
However, economic development and population growth placed great demands on
scarce resources, he said.
"In Malaysia, a 2005 study by the Economic Planning Unit found that our
national parks, state parks and wildlife reserves are under-funded to the tune
of RM37 million (US$10.9 million) per year," he revealed.
He noted that the race towards economic progress had tipped the balance away
from efforts to tackle conservation issues.
He said logging and indiscriminate development remained the foremost
challenges to the continuity of Malaysia's rainforests, which ultimately
jeopardises the continued existence of precious species and sites.
Raja Nazrin said tougher times also called for endeavours to lead the people
out of poverty and towards improved living standards.
"But should we be exploiting more and more of our dwindling resources in
order to cope with an economic crunch? Are our forests worth more dead than
alive?
"In the short term, the answer appears to be 'yes'," he said.
However, he said, in the long run, the price to pay was the change in
climate, increase in carbon dioxide levels, lack of fresh water supply,
depletion of a large proportion of living species and the threat of natural
disaster.
Raja Nazrin said he was pleased to note a new consciousness about
environmental concerns on the global and local front, "to the point where it is
almost fashionable".
"There is a growing realisation that the old model of industrial development
is not good enough to sustain our well-being. Certainly not for the long haul.
We must discard our 'grow first, clean up later' mentality.
"We need to find ways to simultaneously pursue economic development while
preserving the balance of nature," he said.
He said being a "Johnny-come-lately" to the game of rainforest management
had its advantages and disadvantages.
The main disadvantage for Belum-Temengor was that the damage done could not
be easily reversed, he said.
However, the advantage was Malaysia could draw from the experience of
others, he said, and cited a few examples including that of the Danum Valley in
Sabah, which is renowned as a research haven that attracts researchers from
universities and institutions worldwide.
He said studies conducted at the Danum Valley contributed not only to the
science base, but also to the conservation and sustainable use of rainforests in
general.
Raja Nazrin expressed hope that the stakeholders would be receptive to the
ideas from outside the borders, and that the conclusion of the conference would
contribute towards the development of an enforceable and effective plan of
action.
-- BERNAMA
possibility of enacting special legislation to ensure the comprehensive and
continued preservation of the development of the Belum-Temengor Tropical
Rainforest as a tourism product, the Crown Prince of northern state of Perak
Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said Wednesday.
"I cannot over-emphasise the importance of well-planned policies and
well-crafted legislation in safeguarding the integrity of the Belum-Temengor
Tropical Rainforest," he said when opening the conference "Towards the
Development of an Integrated Master Plan for the Belum-Temengor Tropical
Rainforest" here, Wednesday.
However, he said, policies and laws were only as effective as their
enforcement, so there should also be sufficient resources to efficiently
regulate, manage and protect the area, which is located in the northern state of
Perak.
"Limited finances, inadequate expertise and poor governance will all lead to
lax enforcement.
"These in turn will result in the failure to attain the vision and goals of
the upcoming master plan," he said.
Raja Nazrin said there were compelling reasons for the development of the
master plan, including the fact that while Belum-Temengor is the largest
remaining contiguous tract of unprotected rainforest in Peninsular Malaysia,
Temengor is currently not within the boundaries of national protection.
Its adjacent neighbour, the Royal Belum, however, has been gazetted a state
park.
"This means that it (Temengor) is defenceless against obliteration. Sadly,
although the Royal Belum is a protected forest, it has come to my attention that
the poaching of wildlife, including tigers and elephants, is still a major
problem there.
"Our large mammals are declining at an alarming rate, some face the threat
of extinction in the near future. This indicates that despite the existence of
numerous laws pertaining to wildlife protection, forestry and other aspects of
natural resource management, they are either inadequate or they suffer from
ineffective enforcement," he said.
Raja Nazrin said Malaysia, like other developing nations, placed a heavy
emphasis on economic development in order to raise the living standards of its
growing population.
However, economic development and population growth placed great demands on
scarce resources, he said.
"In Malaysia, a 2005 study by the Economic Planning Unit found that our
national parks, state parks and wildlife reserves are under-funded to the tune
of RM37 million (US$10.9 million) per year," he revealed.
He noted that the race towards economic progress had tipped the balance away
from efforts to tackle conservation issues.
He said logging and indiscriminate development remained the foremost
challenges to the continuity of Malaysia's rainforests, which ultimately
jeopardises the continued existence of precious species and sites.
Raja Nazrin said tougher times also called for endeavours to lead the people
out of poverty and towards improved living standards.
"But should we be exploiting more and more of our dwindling resources in
order to cope with an economic crunch? Are our forests worth more dead than
alive?
"In the short term, the answer appears to be 'yes'," he said.
However, he said, in the long run, the price to pay was the change in
climate, increase in carbon dioxide levels, lack of fresh water supply,
depletion of a large proportion of living species and the threat of natural
disaster.
Raja Nazrin said he was pleased to note a new consciousness about
environmental concerns on the global and local front, "to the point where it is
almost fashionable".
"There is a growing realisation that the old model of industrial development
is not good enough to sustain our well-being. Certainly not for the long haul.
We must discard our 'grow first, clean up later' mentality.
"We need to find ways to simultaneously pursue economic development while
preserving the balance of nature," he said.
He said being a "Johnny-come-lately" to the game of rainforest management
had its advantages and disadvantages.
The main disadvantage for Belum-Temengor was that the damage done could not
be easily reversed, he said.
However, the advantage was Malaysia could draw from the experience of
others, he said, and cited a few examples including that of the Danum Valley in
Sabah, which is renowned as a research haven that attracts researchers from
universities and institutions worldwide.
He said studies conducted at the Danum Valley contributed not only to the
science base, but also to the conservation and sustainable use of rainforests in
general.
Raja Nazrin expressed hope that the stakeholders would be receptive to the
ideas from outside the borders, and that the conclusion of the conference would
contribute towards the development of an enforceable and effective plan of
action.
-- BERNAMA
