Sunday, September 18, 2011

Belum forest clearing : Shocks greenies, MB orders probe

 PETALING JAYA: Fresh forest clearing in the Belum-Temengor wildlife corridor has alarmed environmentalists who are demanding an immediate halt to development plans in the critical buffer zone and the Perak Government is moving in on the case.

It is learnt that some 74ha of state land is set to be cleared, believed to be for oil palm plantations, posing a serious threat to endangered wildlife such as the Asian elephant and Malayan tiger.

A check with the orang asli living in one of the nearby settlements confirmed that clearing began some two weeks ago.

Many of the residents were unhappy with the plan to clear the land as logging would pollute the river and worsen human-wildlife conflict.

Belum forest is a protected and gazetted area, says Perak MB

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir has ordered an in-depth probe into ongoing activities to clear some 74ha of land within the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC) wildlife corridor.

“I will not tolerate any abuse. We are committed to protecting the environment, especially Hutan Belum because it is a protected and gazetted area,” the Perak Mentri Besar said in a statement yesterday, adding that the probe was to ensure all laws were adhered to.

The land clearing being carried out is supposedly to make way for an oil palm plantation, a move which environment and wildlife experts warn could be perilous for wildlife in the area.

The Perak State Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC) denied knowledge of any oil palm plantation development plan despite being named the land owner of that area.

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