Malaysia: Preserving Kuala Langat South Peat Swamp Forest

Stuart Michael and Christina Low The Star 11 Jan 11;

DUE to fear of losing the Kuala Langat South Peat Swamp Forest (KLSPSF) to agriculture, non-government organisations and government organisations have got together to document rare species of animals, birds, trees and plants in the area.

Their intention is to stop the state from allowing it to become an oil palm plantation and preserve one of the last remaining peat swamps in Selangor.

Recently, the Selangor government had approved a Selangor State Agricultural Corporation proposal to turn the entire 6,908ha swamp forest into an oil palm estate.

Since March 2008, the Selangor Forestry Department has banned logging in the state and has not issued any licence for the purpose.

Now, the department is forced to issue logging licences and it has been receiving several calls from contractors.

Environmentalists are alarmed by news of the proposed oil palm plantation and fear many flora and fauna would disappear.

The conservation of this forest is crucial to maintaining the population of rare, threatened and endangered species of the area — some of which are not found anywhere.

The area is also the last virgin jungle reserve in a peat swamp forest south of the Klang River.

During their visit to the swamp forest few weeks ago, members from the Global Environment Centre, Wildlife Department, Malaysian Nature Society, Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia, State Forestry Department and Universiti Putra Malaysia, documented the species of birds, animals and trees in the eco-system.

The group said the peat land was an important carbon store and played a significant role in the regulation of greenhouse gas emission and global climate.

They said the exploitation and degradation could lead to the release of carbon that would affect the environment.

Studies by these NGOs showed that the average depth in swamp forest is 3.3m, which is classified as deep.

The deeper the peat, the less suitable it is for agriculture as it involves huge capital and technical know-how to develop the peat land.

The usual method of turning the soil here for agriculture is by burning the trees so that planting could take place.

KLSPSF was gazetted as a forest reserve on May 13, 1927 under the provisions of the Federated Malay States Forest Enactment 1918.

It was originally 12,141ha and had since been subjected to de-gazattement several times, with most of the areas used for agriculture.

The forest reserve is surrounded by towns such as Banting, Sepang, Sungai Pelek and Tanjong Sepat.

Swamp forests act as natural reservoirs, absorbing and retaining water and releasing it slowly during drier periods.

Without swamp forests, towns like Banting and other areas in Kuala Langat could easily flood during the monsoon season.

The dominant trees in the area are stemonurus secundiflorus Icacinaceae and koompassia malaccensis (Kempas), which are tropical rainforest species.

Some endangered species of trees like meranti bunga are found in huge numbers in this forest.

Another four species that are under threat are the shorea teysmanniana, meranti bakau, mersawa paya and meranti paya.

The endangered tapir and wild boar could also be found in the forest.

The other animals seen during the visit are the silver leaf monkeys and lesser short-nosed fruit bat and a lizard called cyrtodactylus baluensis.

The swamp is also home to birds species like the collared scops-owl, banded woodpecker, oriental dwarf kingfisher, maroon woodpecker, chestnut-winged cuckoo, green Iora and lesser racket-tailed drongo.

Many speak up to save south peat swamp forest
Christina Low The Star 12 Jan 11;

THE Kuala Langat South Peat Swamp Forest issue is heating up with various parties hitting out at the state government for its non-action on the matter.

Petaling Jaya Utara federal development coordinator Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou said instead of protecting swamp forest to fight climate change, the state government was destroying it by planning to utilise the land for agriculture.

Dr Wong said they were not only destroying the natural habitat of the hundreds of animals, insects and trees but also wiping out the entire jungle by turning it into an oil palm plantation.

Wong, who enjoys jungle-trekking during his free time, said protecting the peat swamps would benefit the future generation.

“By going ahead with the proposed plan, they are not keeping to their election promise of conserving the environment,” he said.

He also questioned if Selangor Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong knew about it and why she had not given her views on the matter.

“What is the point of come up with different ways to save the environment like planting tress and not using plastic bags on certain days and at the same time take away the forest reserve? ” he asked.

The internet is also rife with activities with Facebook and Twitter users taking turns slamming rhe move.

Several environmental groups such as Eco Warriors Malaysia (ECM) and the Malaysian Youth Climate Justice Network (MYCJN) have even started a public group page to save the forest.

On its page, the ECM, which has more than 3,700 members, started a signature campaign at Mid Valley Megamall just before Christmas to save the forest.

On Dec 30, MYCJN conducted a one-day phone-in campaign which they claimed was successful.

MYCJN urged the public to call the mentri besar’s office from 10am to 3pm to speak or to his personal assistant on the issue.

Not missing out of the action is Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) president Associate Prof Dr Maketab Mohamed who urged his members to support to MNS Selangor’s campaign as well as make phone calls to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim or leave messages on his twitter account at @Khalid_Ibrahim

On MNS’ website, Maketab said they were still working with the Selangor government, as they were the coordinator for the inventory study for the area with Selangor Forestry, Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and FRIM.

While on Loyarburok.com, the online journal writers also wrote about their experience at the site which they visited on Dec 26.

The writers noted that within two hours in the reserve, they were able to see a range of wildlife from birds to insects.

“It is a friendly reminder there are still wildlife in the reserve and a hasty conversion to agriculture will lead to the extinction of many species,” said the writers on the site.

Environmentalist Datuk Dr Mikaail Kavanagh Abdullah said in his email that peat swamps were able to store a lot more carbon than other types of forest in the decaying vegetation that builds up as peat.

“Unlike dry land forests, peat land continuously accumulate and store carbon. Therefore, is the proposal compatible with Malaysia’s commitment to reduce its release of carbon gases into the atmosphere as part of the global effort to combat climate change?” Mikaail asked.

Mikaail, who was formerly WWF-Malaysia chief executive officer, said Malaysia’s palm oil industry had been working hard to show the world that it was sustainable and produced palm oil in a way that was environmentally responsible.