Doreena Naeg & Marilyn Ten, The Borneo Post 21 Feb 10;
THE status of the Kuching Wetlands National Park as a RAMSAR site is safe — at least for now.
The construction of the flood mitigation channel is not detrimental to the site so long as mitigation efforts are successfully made.
According to a well-placed source, the RAMSAR listing will only be removed if the site no longer fulfils at least one of the nine criteria required for its designation as a Wetland of International Importance.
Therefore, the State Forestry Department has to seek the co-operation of the contractors in minimising the impact of the construction taking place in the area on the ecosystem. This is essential to ensure sustainability of the wetlands’ rich biodiversity and maintain its value as an international tourism product.
The source also revealed at the time of the global listing, the authorities concerned had already noted (in the listing document) the proposed construction of the channel.
However, the scale of the impact stemming from the construction was not known at that time. The State Forestry Department has made plans to minimise this. Mangrove restoration in the area is in the works.
Forest Department Sarawak forester Hamden Mohammad said: “There are definite plans to restore the mangrove forest through replanting trees at the site where they have been demolished.”
However, he pointed out mangrove trees might not be suitable as the soil structure might have changed drastically due to the on-going construction.
“We will look at alternative species to restore the eco-balance but first, a soil study is imperative to determine the kind of trees to be planted,” he added.
Restoration will be done once the construction of the channel is completed.
Environmentalists and conservationists are concerned over the Park’s eco-imbalance consequential of the flood mitigation channel construction that could lead to the removal of the RAMSAR listing.
Pointed out conservationist, Rebecca D’Cruz, who is Malaysian Nature Society chairman and also very familiar with the Park: “The biggest problem is the impact caused by the clearing for and construction of the flood bypass channel which is massive in comparison to the size of the Park.”
There had already been enough damage to warrant an assessment of the impact it had had on the ecological character of the site, she said.
However, according to her, there is still hope in that while the construction work is underway, its impact can still be minimised.
“We appeal to the authorities concerned to do whatever it takes to reduce the damage already done to the Park and mitigate any further damage.”
Currently, the area required for the channel has been cleared and what’s left is a huge empty area. The current rainy season is not helping either — the soil is being washed into the river each time it rains, further deteriorating the situation within the Park.
That is just the start and when the construction proper begins, D’Cruz envisages more damage will follow.
“Heavy machinery will have to be brought in and more areas cleared for roads — and all these will result in more devastation.”
What she and other environmentalists would like to see is the relevant authorities monitoring the construction works to ensure the contractors are following NREB guidelines in land clearing as well as doing their utmost to reduce soil erosion.
If this is not being followed through, she fears the Park could lose its value as a RAMSAR site. The Park, after all, was designated by the state government on the ground of its value for biodiversity.
“It is only four years that the site has been designated to the List of Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR List) but in that time, we have managed to do this amount of damage to the site,” she noted.
There are about 2,000 sites on the List and very few have ever been removed.
“The last thing we want is the negative international attention this development would bring.”
According to D’Cruz, before the clearing of the land, a study on the environmental impact would have been done and its findings made known to the relevant authorities so that mitigation measures could have been discussed and implemented.
“I’m interested to know the content of the report, the predicted impacts of the project and the mitigation measures proposed because all we can see now is the extensive damage caused by the land clearing activities,” she said.
Estimates are that about one third of the Park (about 2,000 hectares) has been impacted.
On the site’s economic value, D’Cruz said being one of the popular tourist attractions in Kuching area, it sustains the livelihood of residents in nearby regions.
“The site is mainly used for tourism that benefits the nearby villages. Tourists by the dozens visit the site when the weather permits. And if the eco-balance is tipped, the tourism sector will feel the pinch.”
The site’s uniqueness lies in its locality. Within easy reach from the city, it provides an excellent sanctuary for those who want to get away from the hassle and bustle of the city. Besides its low maintenance, except for upkeep of the existing infrastructure, the place can be virtually left on its own — which is the very beauty of the area.
Pointed out D’Cruz: “We talk about promoting tourism and new tourism products and here, we have a product with all the natural attributes to attract global attention.”
The Kuching Wetlands National Park is the state’s first RAMSAR Site. There are six such sites nationwide — Tasek Bera, Pahang (1994), Pulau Kukup, Sungai Pulai and Tanjung Piai in Johor (2003), Kuching Wetlands National Park, Sarawak (2005), and the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands, Sabah (2008), covering a total area of 134,158 hectares.
