Oil palm planting constitutes the major portion of the total agriculture activities in Malaysia. The growth of the oil palm market has directly caused more and more forests in Malaysia to be substituted by oil palm plantations. This is the point where the challenge arises. The tropical rain forests in Malaysia are arguably one of the oldest and richest in biodiversity in the world. The cost of the substitution is so high that it will lead to the chain reaction of bringing down the biodiversity and also the sustainability of the ecosystem. As a result, the extinction of rare species will take place and cause further negative impacts on biodiversity.
In the state of Sabah, the expansion of oil palm plantations has exploited the sanctuary of the highly endangered Bornean Orangutans. The problem has raised concerns from worldwide organization such as the United Nations Environment Program – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Friends of the Earth (FoE) about the conservation status of this species. They estimated that the orangutans will extinct in 12 years time if the expansion continues without being seized.
My blogging buddy : Serene
In the state of Sabah, the expansion of oil palm plantations has exploited the sanctuary of the highly endangered Bornean Orangutans. The problem has raised concerns from worldwide organization such as the United Nations Environment Program – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Friends of the Earth (FoE) about the conservation status of this species. They estimated that the orangutans will extinct in 12 years time if the expansion continues without being seized.My blogging buddy : Serene
5 comments:
Ya....don't be deceive by the 'green' between the highway.Oil palm tree will actually spoil the land.The plantation will cause soil erosion and increased sedimentation in rivers.
Another case of environment deterioration in place of economic progress.
I quite agree with you. We should also consider why people want to cut down the forest. Like the deforestation in Brazil, people need food and money to survive. The balance between economy and environment is what we should seriously think about.
This is a very serious issue and you introduce it well.
Do you think the hunger for more plantation land will ever be abated in Malaysia? Will the government ever step in an say "enough is enough"?
I heard from my sabah friend that the orangutans are being relocated into nature parks or something along that line.
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