Jan 2001Newsletter
Cameron Highlands on the Titiwangsa Range-best to
have minimal development
The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) welcomes
the move by the government to put all new hill projects on hold in all
the hill stations of Malaysia, pending a study on the environmental degradation
which, has accelerated tremendously during the last decade. It is important
to review back the structural plans and the approved plans of all the up-coming
projects and future projects to have a holistic view on their effects on
the fragile highlands. To put up just one high density resort will attract
the complementary develop-ment that comes with it, for example, workers,
workers accommodation and facilities, food supplies, schools, security,
entertainment, road, electricity, water, which means more land clearing.
It comes down to not looking at the project but everything that comes with
it. Apart from the tourist industry, the authorities should freeze the
issuing temporary occupation licences while awaiting the results of the
study.
MNS wishes to stress again the importance
of social and environment impacts of such development. Losing our natural
environment also means that we are losing our long term revenue from bio
prospecting for medicinal value plants, new food crops, the function
of the whole ecosystem which affects our water supply and soil richness,
in addition to the loss of future tourist dollars from the degradation
of the aesthetic and visual value which tourists are looking for. But caution
must be taken to preserve such aesthetic values, the idea of mass tourism
with high density resorts is not a solution because of the visual impact
which does not complement with the environment. Ecotourism may be more
suitable and sustainable option with vacationers living in farmlands, small
villages, cottages and campsites, like those in the Lake District and the
Peak District in United Kingdom, which successfully attract a lot of tourists
from around the world. People from around the world are attracted to such
serene and natural places.
How should the highlands be developed?
The British created hill top stations as places to get away from the lowland
heat, which later developed into highland farming areas such as Cameron
Highlands. Cameron Highlands has been an agriculture hill station for decades
with minimal facilities for vacationers. Keeping Cameron Highlands as an
agriculture station with minimal and controlled development is still the
best choice for the highlands.
MNS offers its, support, help and expertise,
to work closely together with the various level of authority and at a grassroot
level too. MNS members from Cameron Highlands will play a frontline role
in advising and support the local planners, educating the locals on nature
awareness programs, and monitoring the situation. MNS will also be working
closely with other NGOs like WWFM in solving the problem.
Dato' Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor
President
Letter to the Editor Kuala Lumpur, 19 October 2000
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Created on 1 Jan 2001