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