EIA sought over logging plans
Monday, July 17, 2006
The Star
Show us the EIA report. This is the call by environmentalists concerned over the proposed logging in the Malua and Ulu Segama forest reserves covering 236,825ha in east Sabah. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, they said, was necessary for such a massive project and should be put to public scrutiny if it existed.
Dr Edwin Bossi, a former Sabah Wildlife Department veterinarian based at the Sepilok Orang Utan rehabilitation centre, said strict measures should be taken to minimise the impact on wildlife and also ensure that logging did not take place close to rivers.
The Star yesterday reported that state-owned Yayasan Sabah had appointed at least three contractors to log the reserves estimated to be three times the size of Singapore. The logging is expected to begin in a month or two.
Dr Edwin was worried that the logging might have an impact on the wildlife, especially sun bears, gibbons, Borneo pygmy elephants and orang utans. The Malua reserve has over 800 orang utans while Ulu Segama is home to about 3,000 of the primates. “If any wildlife is affected by the logging, certain mitigating measures should be taken such as creating forest corridors or even relocating the animals,” said Dr Edwin.
Former state Tourism, Culture and Environment permanent secretary Datuk Wilfred Lingham said that although the Government had the right to allow the logging, there must be strict supervision. “There should be no logging along steep slopes and riverbanks,” he said.
Malaysian Nature Society executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong said the forest reserves had been logged before and were not considered pristine areas.
However, since the forest reserves were bordering the Danum Valley and the Maliu Basin, they served as an important buffer zone and a link between the two. “The state should clarify what logging rights they have agreed to and the reduced impact logging regiment carried out. “If half of Malua had been logged as recently as four years ago while the other half more than 10 years ago, the logging cycle would be too short and not sustainable,” he said.
Those in the timber industry said that EIA reports were required for all logging operations. However, they believe the EIA could be circumvented by dividing the concession area into small blocks of less than 20ha.
Meanwhile, a Chief Minister’s Department spokesperson said Yayasan Sabah director Tan Sri Khalil Jamalul and Forestry Department director Sam Mannan would hold a press conference on the planned logging today.
The Star
Show us the EIA report. This is the call by environmentalists concerned over the proposed logging in the Malua and Ulu Segama forest reserves covering 236,825ha in east Sabah. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, they said, was necessary for such a massive project and should be put to public scrutiny if it existed.
Dr Edwin Bossi, a former Sabah Wildlife Department veterinarian based at the Sepilok Orang Utan rehabilitation centre, said strict measures should be taken to minimise the impact on wildlife and also ensure that logging did not take place close to rivers.
The Star yesterday reported that state-owned Yayasan Sabah had appointed at least three contractors to log the reserves estimated to be three times the size of Singapore. The logging is expected to begin in a month or two.
Dr Edwin was worried that the logging might have an impact on the wildlife, especially sun bears, gibbons, Borneo pygmy elephants and orang utans. The Malua reserve has over 800 orang utans while Ulu Segama is home to about 3,000 of the primates. “If any wildlife is affected by the logging, certain mitigating measures should be taken such as creating forest corridors or even relocating the animals,” said Dr Edwin.
Former state Tourism, Culture and Environment permanent secretary Datuk Wilfred Lingham said that although the Government had the right to allow the logging, there must be strict supervision. “There should be no logging along steep slopes and riverbanks,” he said.
Malaysian Nature Society executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong said the forest reserves had been logged before and were not considered pristine areas.
However, since the forest reserves were bordering the Danum Valley and the Maliu Basin, they served as an important buffer zone and a link between the two. “The state should clarify what logging rights they have agreed to and the reduced impact logging regiment carried out. “If half of Malua had been logged as recently as four years ago while the other half more than 10 years ago, the logging cycle would be too short and not sustainable,” he said.
Those in the timber industry said that EIA reports were required for all logging operations. However, they believe the EIA could be circumvented by dividing the concession area into small blocks of less than 20ha.
Meanwhile, a Chief Minister’s Department spokesperson said Yayasan Sabah director Tan Sri Khalil Jamalul and Forestry Department director Sam Mannan would hold a press conference on the planned logging today.
posted by Gundohing at
7:48 PM
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