Story and photo by Geetha Krishnan, The Star 10 Apr 09;
THE Selangor executive council has placed double and triple caveats on the state forest land to prevent them from any further exploitation.
According to estate workers’ affairs, poverty eradication and caring government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar. the state executive council has final say in the approval and implementation of any plan to develop forest land in state,
Xavier said all land and district offices in the state would have to submit all plans related to the development of forest land to the state executive council for its approval.
“Only 30% of the land in Selangor remain as forests. To prevent further devastation of the natural environment, the state government has placed double and triple caveats on the forest land,” he said.
Xavier told reporters this after launching the Sepang GoldCoast (SGC) — Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Environmental Interpretive Centre (EIC) in Sepang yesterday.
“We are in the midst of auditing more forest areas in Damansara and Ulu Kelang. We are going to redeem the land taken away from the state,” he said.
In his speech earlier, Xavier said that Sepang was the gateway to the nation but people rarely stayed on in Selangor to enjoy the sights there.
He said that so far no one had taken an active role in promoting the state, for instance, by featuring its natural resources.
“Sungai Pelek in Sepang is rich with mangrove swamps and we are appreciative of the MNS and SGC’s efforts in promoting eco-tourism through the EIC,” Xavier said.
MNS vice-president Datuk Dr Hashim A. Wahab said the EIC served as a resource centre for the unique eco-system there and would help balance the ongoing physical development in Sepang with environmental aspects.
“We only realised the importance of mangroves after the tsunami in 2004 when the population of fishes, prawns and crabs dwindled. Mangrove swamps are breeding grounds and also attract resident and migratory bird species,” Hashim said.
To boost eco-tourism efforts in Sungai Pelek, SGC president Ho Hok Seng announced that the mangrove cruise and exploration would be launched soon.
The EIC offers bird-watching, the Banghuris Homestay, a day with the indigenous mah meri tribe, beach walk and mangrove walk.
The EIC is the initiative of the SGC with the contribution of RM300,000, a symbolic cooperation with the MNS in supporting the environment and eco-tourism.
