Mining project contrary to PM's Central Forest Spine vision - environment group
The iron core mining project in Jerantut, Pahang runs counter to the vision of protecting the Central Forest Spine (CFS) which was announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in March, said environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).
"SAM is shocked to learn about the mining plans in an area in the CFS, which should be protected and not allowed for any mining or other forms of activities," said SAM president Meenakshi Raman.
"When launching the National Forestry Policy earlier this year, the prime minister highlighted the need for states to protect the CFS."
Meenakshi said it was disturbing to learn that the royal family is linked to the mining project in an environmentally sensitive area.
“The royals should be doing all they can in protecting our forests and environment and setting a good example for others to follow, as well as cease any involvement in such destruction,” she added.
Muhyiddin reportedly urged state governments to step up their efforts to gazette and maintain forested areas, especially in the CFS and Heart of Borneo (HoB) ecological corridors.
CFS is a swath of rainforests in Peninsular Malaysia that comprises four forest complexes, while HoB stretches across the territories of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.
SAM has also called on the Department of Environment (DOE) to thoroughly review the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report submitted for the mining project in the degazetted area of the Som Forest Reserve.
"We call on the DOE to ensure a proper and thorough scrutiny of the EIA is done.
"SAM has said countless times that mining should not be allowed at all in environmentally sensitive areas including in our forest reserves and bio-diverse rich areas like the CFS," Meenakshi said.
Home to Taman Negara
Meanwhile, Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Pahang chapter chief Noor Jehan Abu Bakar expressed disappointment over the proposed mining.
“As it is, Jerantut people are already in the process of challenging a huge logging activity in the area of Kampung Bharu, Jerantut and the battle is still ongoing. Now, they have to face a prospective mine in the near future, smack in their area.
“Jerantut is the gateway to our world-famous Taman Negara and it should be kept natural and pristine with basic development and infrastructure to attract and keep tourists.
"Logging and mining in Jerantut will just mar its status as the gateway to the beautiful and lush rainforest of Pahang," she said in a statement.
Jehan added that the clearing of the forest will potentially create human-animal conflict.
“Shrinking forests can cause wide-reaching problems, including soil erosion, water cycle disruption, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity losses. Combined, these four issues affect not only wild plants and animals in the Som Forest but human beings living nearby as well.”
On Monday, Malaysiakini revealed the EIA report of a Pahang royalty-linked mining project at Kuala Tembeling in Jerantut, Pahang.
The 60.75ha project site was excised from the Som Forest Reserve by the Pahang government through a gazette in June 2019.
The mining lease, which was subsequently approved by the state government, was issued to Tengku Nong Fatimah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the younger sister of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The mining lease is expected to expire on July 24.
The EIA report pointed out that the project will "significantly, permanently, and irreversibly impact" wildlife habitats, including 15 totally protected wildlife such as the tapir, Asian elephant and Malayan tiger.
The further opening and clearing of the forest are predicted to force these protected species out of their natural habitat, resulting in possible wildlife-human conflicts as there are existing plantations and mining areas nearby.
The report suggested that a Wildlife Management Plan (WMP) be established and submitted to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for approval. - Mkini
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