New Straits Times 25 Mar 09;
GEORGE TOWN: The rehabilitation and preservation of mangrove swamps in Penang has been poorly executed and should be made a priority, said Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Penang chairman Kanda Kumar.
He said among the reasons for the poor preservation of the ecosystem was the incomplete listing of protected areas.
He stated that while gazetted mangrove swamps were well preserved, the same could not be said for mangrove swamps that were not protected.
"We are pushing for all the mangrove swamps to be protected," he said yesterday.
"These mangrove swamps have diminished significantly due to excessive tree cutting and conversion for housing, aquaculture and factory purposes."
Kanda Kumar said mangrove swamps could also be promoted as a form of educational tourism, especially to tourists from Europe.
On the state government's proposed tiger park plan, Kanda Kumar said it was the wrong concept for eco-tourism.
