Fortunes of our wetlands ebb and flow like the tide

Evangeline Majawat, New Straits Times 2 Feb 09;

KUALA LUMPUR: In the aftermath of the Asian tsunami in 2004, wetlands were thrust into the nations' consciousness when people realised how wetlands cushioned the full force of the waves, saving many lives.
Overnight, mangrove replanting and wetland rehabilitation projects received a boost in funding and manpower.

Sadly, five years on, enthusiasm has ebbed, leaving environmentalists frustrated.

Wetlands International Malaysia communications officer Gabriel Chong said wetlands' contribution to the ecology remain "undervalued".

This is evident from how wetlands are threatened by continuous encroachment.
"Short-term economic gains such as logging, aquaculture and agriculture are valued over the long-term implications of destroying wetlands.

"With climate change upon us, the value of these ecosystems is more important and has to be recognised."

He suggested that the potential losses incurred from the degradation of these ecosystems be calculated in ringgit and sen so that people better understand the problem.

Malaysian Nature Society executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong said the government must coordinate its efforts.

"The government's effort to replant mangroves are appreciated: however, while some areas are rehabilitated, other areas are threatened. Over the years, a lot of mangrove forest reserves have been de-gazetted for development."

He said awareness of the value of wetlands might have increased but many still think peat swamps have no value.

"Swamps are some of the cheapest land, which is why they are almost always the first to be developed."

He said the message for World Wetlands Day is simple: "Wetlands are crucial for our existence but we have not been taking good care of it.

"From the mangroves and swamps at the coast and upstream in catchment areas, we must take care of them."

Wasteful ways leave us high and dry
New Straits Times 2 Feb 09;

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be "headed for a water crisis" if water resources are not managed properly.
"Malaysians seem to think that we have a lot of water, but we have a finite number of rivers. A country like Britain has far fewer water resources but is still able to support a larger population because they take care of their rivers.

"We're just wasteful. This is why we're forced to build more dams and take water from more rivers, spend a lot on inter-basin water transfer and purifying our water," said Malaysian Nature Society executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong.

He said the theme of this year's World Wetlands Day, "Upstream-Downstream-Wet-lands Connect Us All", highlights the interdependence of different ecosystems and the need for coordinated management of water resources.

"What we do upstream will affect us downstream."
The way forward to sustainable water resources management was through integrated river basin management (IRBM), he said.

This means one body managing land and other resources in a river basin, from catchment area, river, wetlands and coast, without affecting the soil and water.

At present, land matters are under the state governments' jurisdiction. But natural resources, such as water, are managed by several federal departments, including the Drainage and Irrigation Department, and some local councils.

"At present there is no coordination. It is only logical that one body manages our river basins. Everyone has their own targets and objectives. Local planners want to maximise land use, so, to them it makes sense to develop land near rivers. But factories located upstream of water intake points could pollute the river if development is not carried out properly."

While Loh credits the government for "sponsoring many discussions on IRBM and its implementation nationwide", he says it has remained just that -- talk. It has been implemented only for Sungai Selangor and Sungai Kinabatangan in Sabah.

"Everyone has demands on our river basins. But only with proper management will everyone achieve what they want without jeopardising the environment."