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Highly irresponsible for states to promote deforestation

  • Publication Date | January 5, 2021
  • Document Type | Letter to the Editor
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Biodiversity, Deforestation, Water
  • Tags | Convention on Biological Diversity, Global Biodiversity Outlook, Kedah, Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals, Ulu Muda Forest Reserve
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is gravely concerned that several states in the country are continuing to promote deforestation for various purposes, instead of taking measures to protect and conserve our remaining forest resources.

Such efforts run counter to current thinking and trends in the era of climate change and the post COVID-19 pandemic, which is to promote green recovery efforts and to steer the nation to a truly more sustainable development pathway, which is in harmony with nature.

As stated in a most recent Global Biodiversity Outlook of the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), “The international focus on sustainable development as a pressing agenda for our century, with the particular prominence of tackling climate change as an existential issue of high urgency in political and public discourse, builds an opportunity to bring biodiversity into the mainstream. Many of the measures that are required to tackle poverty, reduce hunger, tackle climate change and reduce the risk of future pandemics are also those that are needed to support biodiversity, so there is potential for a powerful shared agenda giving attention and resources to conservation and sustainable use which have often been lacking in the past.”

Instead of embarking on a transformative green agenda, many states in the country are carrying on business-as-usual policies that allow deforestation and the destruction of our biodiversity including in our oceans, thus undermining the nation’s efforts at implementing our obligations under the Paris Agreement, CBD and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The latest news of such deforestation plans is the action by the Kedah government to allow the logging of 25,000 hectares (ha.) of rainforests in the state, which the Menteri Besar claims will not affect the water catchment forests.

The main problem is that the Kedah state has only gazetted 16% of the 106,418 ha of the Ulu Muda Forest Reserves as protected forests under the state’s Forest Enactment. 

Civil society groups have been calling for the protection of the entire Greater Ulu Muda forest complex which comprises 163,000 ha, and if we take this into account, only about 10% of the Ulu Muda are fully protected, with the remainder being susceptible to forest conversions and deforestation for all kinds of purposes.

The assurance by the Kedah MB that the proposed logging will not affect water catchment forests does not hold water and offers no comfort, as ecosystems do not function within limited legal definitions. Full legal protection must be given to the entire Ulu Muda forest complex to help maintain its ecosystem and environmental integrity.

As we have pointed out repeatedly, the destruction of the rainforests in Ulu Muda at such a scale threatens water supply security in Perlis, Kedah and Penang, especially during the annual dry seasons. 

Early last year, the farmers in the rice bowl of the nation experienced prolonged drought, which affected their livelihoods and food security. With climate change, such droughts are expected to be more frequent and more prolonged. 

The Greater Ulu Muda forest complex is the water catchment area for the Muda Dam, which supplies Sungai Muda in the South and the Pedu and Ahning Dams, which supplies Sungai Kedah in the North.

The raw water supply of about 70% of Perlis, 96% of Kedah and 80% of Penang originates from Ulu Muda’s rainforests. 

Around 4.2 million people will suffer as a result, in addition to the thousands who will suffer economic impacts due to water shortages and disruption in the northern region.

The short-sightedness of the Kedah Menteri Besar to log the rainforests and to also allow the exploitation of minerals, including rare earth elements for short-term gains must be urgently stopped.

The federal government must prevail over the state, in ending such environmentally unsustainable ventures, and help provide the necessary financial resources to the state for the protection of the forests ad biodiversity. 

As SAM has pointed out before, international funds are available for such efforts and states must be encouraged to understand that it makes economic and environmental sense to keep forests and biodiversity intact, as this is the only way to secure our current and future sustainability in the wake of climate change and the health pandemic.

We strongly appeal to the Kedah government to fully protect and gazette the entire Greater Ulu Muda forest complex of 163,000 ha in perpetuity, and act in the interest of not only its’ own citizens but that of the northern region as well, as the nation as a whole.  

For that, the Kedah MB will be recognised as a leader who has left a great legacy for current and future generations. Other states too should do the same!

Meenakshi Raman

President

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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