Malaysia: Royal Belum rainforest still untouched

Edmund Ngo The Star 26 Feb 12;

IPOH: No illegal logging activities have been detected in the 130 million-year-old Royal Belum rainforest in Hulu Perak, said Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He said based on aerial surveillance conducted by the state authorities recently, illegal logging was only detected in the Temenggor forest, which borders the Royal Belum rainforest area.

“Even so, we will not take things for granted and continue the surveillance to ensure that there is no intrusion, illegal logging or poaching in the rainforest,” he said yesterday.

Dr Zambry, however, added that the state would do its best to ensure that the precious green lung was preserved.

He clarified that some parts of the Temenggor forest had been allocated as logging areas.

“For these specific areas, logging is permitted with strict standards, such as the size of trees felled and proper reforestation programmes,” he added.