Sean Augustin and Koi Kye Lee New Straits Times 27 Sep 10;
PUTRAJAYA: A team of ecologists will study the ecosystem at Paya Indah Wetlands within two months to find out if its ecosystem has been affected by sand-mining activities nearby.
Landskap Malaysia general manager Othman Suleiman said the team, headed by a professor from Universiti Putra Malaysia, would study whether pollution had affected the 220 species of aquatic plants, 14 species of fish, 10 species of amphibians, 26 kinds of mammals and 20 types of reptiles.
"They will come up with a report by December. The team of ecologists is being assembled," he told the New Straits Times.
Environmental concerns were raised when it was reported that sand mining in Kampung Olak Lempit, just 20 metres from the southern boundary of the wetlands, was taking place.
It is feared that some of the 210 bird species have been unsettled by the dust and noise from the sand mining and might have left.
Some are migratory birds, such as the Greenshank, Redshank and various species of sandpiper, which are known to stop at the wetlands for food before continuing to Australia.
A source at the Paya Indah Wetlands told NST that the condition of the wetlands remained the same, but there was worry about damage in the long run.
"We are taking care of our boundary," the source said, adding that there had been no noticeable decline in tourists arrivals since the issue was first highlighted.
A quick way to asses any damage to the environment, though, would be to study the birds that flock to the wetlands now that the migratory season has begun.
Avid bird watcher Anuar McAfee said birds were a great indicator of environmental health as the slightest decrease in the number of birds in the area could mean that "something wrong has happened to the environment".
Migratory birds are expected to arrive in Paya Indah from the middle of next month.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) has yet to review the environment management plan (EMP) on the sand-mining activities near the wetlands.
MNS head of communications Andrew Sebastian said it had yet to receive the EMP, and two reminders had been sent last week to Selangor Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong's secretary.
The EMP, prepared by independent consultancy firm Enviro Enhance Sdn Bhd, details the mitigating measures that can be taken to reduce the adverse environmental impact from the sand mining at the site.
