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| Rafflesia
- The Rafflesia is the largest flower in the world and is very rare.
A parasite on vines, it is world famous as one of nature's curiosities.
It is described as "an evil-smelling monster...named, unfortunately
perhaps, after the famous British administrator and founder of Singapore."
Its smell, which is nauseating, attracts swarms of files and other
insects. It produces no stem, leaves or roots but an enormous flower
bud the size of a cabbage that blossoms into a massive striking flower.
Two feet or more across, the flower varies in colour from brownish-red
to reddish-purple and is sometimes a bright crimson. There are seven
species of Rafflesia in Malaysia, two in Peninsular Malaysia and five
in Sarawak. Most species are indigenous and are therefore vulnerable
to extinction from habitat disturbance and host cutting and from activities
such as land clearing, logging and ethnobotanical collection. Cutting
vines in the forest to encourage the growth of commercial timber species
pose a threat to the flower. Land clearing and logging is threatening
the Bornean species. Over-collecting of the buds by the local population
for sales as medicines is apparently the greatest threat in Peninsular
Malaysia. In-situ conservation is only possible in gazetted National
Parks, State Parks and Virgin Jungle Reserves. Ex-situ conservation
either through introduction to botanic gardens or tissue culture remains
very remote. [ back ] Rajah Brooke's Birdwing - Malaysia is famous for a few of its butterfly species, above all the Rajah Brooke's Bird-wing, which is know to butterfly lovers the world over. The magnificent Rajah Brooke bird-wing butterfly (named after the swashbuckling nineteenth-century Englishman James Brooke, who became the first Rajah of Sarawak) is thought to contain the soul of the White Rajah and must not be harmed. The exploitation of butterflies, already rare and indigenous, for commercial sale and as live exhibits exerts tremendous pressure on their numbers. This may be true of the Rajah Brook's Birdwing, (Trogonoptera brookiana). Existing law prohibiting the unlicensed collection of Trogonoptera brookiana albescens, one of the two subspecies, have not protected it effectively against commercial exploitation. T. b. albescens inhabits the central and northern parts of the peninsula's main range. Collectors, the majority of whom are hired indigenous people, practice needless killing of butterflies. Middlemen pay them meagre sums for each specimen in good condition. Frequently, specimens are damaged by poor collecting techniques thus increasing the number of specimens that are killed to obtain a good sale. If continued collection is allowed coupled with habitat loss as a result of logging, agriculture and development, it could ultimately result in a threat to their survival. There is a need for a more effective deterrent against commercial exploitation of this species. [ back ] Ramsar Convention - The Ramsar Convention, drawn up in Iran in 1971, is the world's oldest environmental convention and has the single purpose of conserving wetlands through international commitment and cooperation. Since than 103 states have become contracting parties to the convention. Malaysia became the 84th signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 1994 and proposed Tasek Bera as its first Ramsar site. Following this a National Steering Committee was formed to formulate a policy on wetland conservation and coordinate the implementation of the provisions of the convention. Subsequently, a National Technical Committee was formed to provide technical advice to the National Steering Committee. Wetlands International, a member of both the National Steering and National Technical Committees, is in the process of helping draft the framework for a National Wetland Policy. A national policy on wetlands will ensure a systematic comprehensive approach to wetland conservation and management. [ back ] Ranau - Since 1975, an open cast copper mine, the largest in Malaysia and one of the largest in Southeast Asia, has been in operation in Ranau, Sabah. Copper is the most important mineral export of Sabah, after petroleum. With the accidental breakage of a tailing pipe spilling waste material over residential and farmland, the mine has been a primary cause of environmental concern in Ranau. The mine operation - drilling, scraping, milling, washing and drying of the ore - involves the use of several chemicals. The copper mine may be a source of selected heavy metals as well as a cause of river siltation arising from open-caste operations. Copper mining often involves sulphur compounds as by-products, such as hydrogen sulphide and sulphur oxides. These may contribute to air pollution and may cause respiratory problems, especially in conjunction with increased solid matter. Acid rain may also be produced from the release of these sulphur compounds into the environment. [ back ] Reclamation - There are now 76 coastal reclamation projects covering 97,000 ha being planned for gradual implementation on some parts of Malaysia's about 4,800km coastline. The 16,300ha reclamation project in Kedah is Malaysia's largest, and is unsurpassed by world standards in terms of surface area and costs involved. Perak's reclamation involving 6,804ha is second largest after Kedah, and Selangor's reclamation of 4,047ha comes third. Reclamation along the west coast of West Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak will have an adverse impact on mangroves and fisheries stock if not properly planned. Inadequate planning would affect the stability of the coastline and sustainability of the fisheries sector. Coastal reclamation here involves the dumping of fill materials mined from offshore and ecologically sensitive sources which are in turn dumped onto equally ecologically-sensitive coastal zones. As a result, some reclamations have resulted in degradation of coastal resources such as mangrove vegetation and fisheries stock. To date 64 percent of the coastal zones nationwide have been developed for agriculture, aquaculture, housing, infrastructure, industrial, commercial and recreational purposes. [ back ] Recycling - In general, the practice of separating waste materials at source in households is non-existent. In 1992, the amount of solid waste separated for recycling in Malaysia was less than 2 percent, and a 1994 survey showed no further increase or separation at source. Manufacturers recycled because there was a strong demand for materials, a stable market price and to reduce production cost. Currently, the key players in the recycling business are landfill scavengers, collection workers, middlemen and traders as the activities provide income for scavengers, extra income for municipal collectors, new business for traders and costs savings for manufacturers. Municipalities play a minimal and a non-formal role in recycling. A major hindrance to recycling lies in the lack of policy guidelines at the local, state and national levels. Waste recycling has economic and environmental benefits including energy savings, conserve landfill space and natural resources. Scavenging and scrap-dealing are traditional trades carried out by a group of Indian chetiars in the urban areas. They collect scrap metal for export to Japan and retrieve timbers from condemned buildings for local resale. They scavenge for used bottles, tin drums and newspaper for sale to recycling centres. [ back ] Reef Habitats - Malaysia has some of the finest reef habitats in the world. There is evidence that these habitats are being altered and degraded due to sediments and pollutants from developments on land, over-exploitation, and boat anchoring. The rich coral reefs are being destroyed through excessive and indiscriminate coral harvesting. The setting up of the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Park is but the first step in the attempt to halt this destruction. There is a need for more marine parks, not only in East Malaysia, but also both on the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia. Not only do these coral reef ecosystems represent an important source of protein for local people, but they also provides a potentially valuable tourist attraction. In addition to the submarine life, turtles, otters and dugongs - all endangered species - depend on these fragile ecosystems. [ back ] Rivers - From 1994 to 1995, the number of polluted rivers remained at 14 as in the previous year: Dondang, Sg. Juru and Sg. Jejawi in Penang; Sg. Deralik and Sg. Raja Hitam in Perak; Sg. Kelang, Sg. Buloh and Sg. Sepang in Selangor; Sg. Tukang Batu, Sg. Pasir Gudang, Sg. Sedili Kecil, Sg. Kempas, Sg. Pontian Kechil and Sg. Rambahbah in Johor. Of the 119 rivers monitored for human and animal wastes, 34 rivers exceeded the standards for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and total coliforms. The numbers of affected rivers were nine in Johor, seven in Selangor, six in Sarawak, three in Terengganu, two each in Melaka, Pahang, Perak and Sabah and one in Negeri Sembilan. As for the level of iron, only five rivers met the Standards for Class III Water Use (fishery, water supply with extensive treatment and livestock drinking). [ back ] River Monitoring - The Department of Environment (DOE) has reported that 20 of Malaysia's 116 major rivers are seriously polluted. With the DOE's current sampling criteria and methods, actual pollution levels might be understated and consequently more rivers may be contaminated. The department uses the "grab" method of monitoring river water quality whereby a sample is taken randomly. This method's ability to give accurate representation of the state of the rivers has been questioned. Random monitoring may omit to detect discharge of effluents at that point in time when the monitoring is carried out, or the volume of water at that time might be less. The method of regularly scrutinizing only some of the factories discharging effluents is ineffective and the location of the monitoring stations may be unstrategic. Compared with monitoring only once a day under the grab method, the more widely accepted "flow proportional" method samples the river at different times on the same day. The flow is the volume of water in the river at a particular time that gives an indication of the actual loads of pollutants of the river. The grab method of "load base allowable" standards (which state ambient water quality) to a river only records concentration. This standard measures the accumulated discharges that may prove too much for a river to absorb. The inaccuracy and unreliability of this method of monitoring has inadvertently led to the certification of polluting industries. [ back ] River Terrapin - Historically the River Terrapin (Tuntong) is associated with the Perak River on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The Tuntong, with its prominent upturned snout, lives in the mouths of large rivers but lays its eggs in sandbanks further upstream. The eggs are delicacy and the trade in eggs is the main reason for the decline in the Tuntong's numbers. Before the Second World War, the collection of the reptile's eggs along the Perak River was the prerogative of the Sultan of Perak. The beginning of the egg collection season was heralded by the drumming made by the terrapins as they covered the sand over their eggs - a sound which gave rise to the Malay name, Tuntong. A glittering ceremonial royal procession marked the collection. At the turn of the century, the Tuntong numbered in the thousands but they are now counted in the hundreds. The reptile is herbivorous and removal of riparian vegetation endangers its food supply. In addition, the removal of sand and silting by tin-mining has also posed a threat to the terrapin's nesting areas. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared the River Terrapin an endangered species. [ back ] Roads - The road network increased from 43,415 km in 1985 to 63,445 km in 1990, an average annual increase of 7.9 percent. Road construction was concentrated in the Klang Valley, with Kuala Lumpur and Selangor increasing their share in the national road network from 9 percent in 1985 to 15 percent in 1990. Even though annual growth rates in road construction were 20 percent in Selangor and 25 percent in Kuala Lumpur, this did not significantly alleviate urban congestion problems. It is projected that the road network in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur will expand from 1,003 km in 1990 to 1,375 km by the year 2000. Each registered vehicle in Peninsular Malaysia has about 12 meters of road space. This was reduced to 9 meters in Selangor and 2 meters in Kuala Lumpur in 1990. Roads through sensitive areas such as the inner city, historic enclave and traditional communities can open them up for unwanted, unintended and unplanned development, while roads in hilly areas can have an environmental impact if poorly planned. [ back ] Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) or Friends of the Earth Malaysia, the oldest independent national environmental organization in the country, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The NGO was set-up in 1977. An important public interest, activist and lobbying NGO, SAM campaigns against the deterioration of the environment and the destruction of the country's valuable natural resources. The organization is also the coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Environmental Network (APPEN). In 1988 SAM's Marudi office was awarded the Right Livelihood Award by the Swedish Parliament. [ back ] Scheduled Wastes - There is a lack of precise definitions of hazardous wastes. Industrial hazardous wastes can be classified in three large groups: by-products generated in the production processes, sludge resulting from waste water treatment, and toxic items whose expiry date has passed. No one knows how much untreated hazardous waste factories in Malaysia discharge or how much hazardous waste goes into municipal dumps. The Schedule Wastes Regulation 1989 does not clearly distinguish hazardous (scheduled) waste from non-hazardous waste by concentration of toxic substances. In the 1989 Scheduled Wastes Regulations, the DOE has defined 107 categories of hazardous waste, most of which are stored in drums and containers on premises awaiting disposal in a toxic waste facility. Even though the Regulations cover scheduled waste, current definitions do not cover hazardous domestic waste such as batteries, fluorescent lamps, paints, pesticides, oil and grease. Hazardous waste may be mixed with non-hazardous municipal or domestic waste. [ back ] Sewage Disposal - Two million urban dwellers were affected by a backlog in sewage infrastructure in 1972, and this number was expected to grow from six to ten million by the year 2000. The National Sewage Master Plan was launched with the aims at constructing sewerage systems in the major urban centres. A total of 19 Sewage Master Plans have been completed for Malaysia, but only seven have been partially implemented in major towns. As local authorities gave a low priority to sewage maintenance operations affecting health and environmental standards, the government decided to privatize the management of all sewage facilities. The Sewerage Services Bill paved the way for federal involvement and privatization of sewage facilities in the country. In 1993, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) was awarded a RM6.2 billion privatization monopoly program for managing 2,000 sewage treatment plants from 145 local authorities for over 20 years. 48 urban areas involving all 13 states have been identified for the project. Improved sanitation will not only reduce environmental pollution but will also reduce water-borne diseases. It was estimated in 1993 that there might be between 25,000 and 50,000 cases of water-borne illness in Malaysia annually. Improved and expanded sewage facilities could bring about a significant improvement in water quality is to improve and expand the sewage facilities. [ back ] Sea Turtles - Four species of sea turtle: Penyu Agar (Green Turtle/Chelonia mydas), Penyu Karah/Sisik (Hawksbill), Penyu Lipas (Olive/Pacific Ridley) and Penyu Belimbing (Leatherback) are nesting in decreasing numbers in Malaysia. A fifth species, Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), a predominantly temperate and subtropical turtle, has also been reported to nest in small numbers in Sarawak. All five species are listed in The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red Data Book as endangered. In Malaysia, they are considered critically endangered. The largest numbers of turtle nesting are recorded in Terengganu, followed by Sabah and Sarawak. The decimation of nesting populations is attributed to decades of over-exploitation of the eggs, incidental captures in fishing gear, loss of nesting habitat through beach-front development and ineffectively managed turtle-based tourism, turtle hunting in neighbouring countries, marine pollution and non-degradable marine debris. The conservation of sea turtles has been actively pursued since the 1950's in Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak, mainly through the operation of beach hatcheries. However, the continuing decline in turtle numbers has shown that past action has failed to sustain our sea turtle populations. Concerned authorities have taken more dramatic action ,such as a total ban on the sale and consumption of Leatherback Turtle eggs in Terengganu, and a nationwide ban on the use of large-meshed gill nets. The ban on the sale and consumption of eggs must be extended to cover all turtle species on a nationwide basis. Nesting beaches, offshore inter-nesting habitats and feeding grounds must be identified and designated as critical areas for the protection of sea turtles in Malaysia. Since sea turtles migrate across national boundaries, their protection must extend beyond Malaysian waters. International cooperation is essential and must be initiated. [ back ] Seladang - Known by its Malay name of Seladang, although sometimes called Gaur, the magnificent wild ox is a very handsome beast, tremendously powerful, standing six feet at the shoulder, it has massive curved horns, pale greenish in colour with black tips. Its hide is glossy black with white markings from the knee down. The population of the endangered Seladang is estimated at between 350 to 600 animals. A sizable population has been known to exist in Ulu Lepas and Taman Negara in Pahang, Sungai Siput and Grik in Perak, and Gua Musang in Kelantan. Recently there were also discovered in Hulu Perak. In the Belum area, their number is estimated at about 90 animals. The Seladang population here is believed to be quite safe as the area is still under security surveillance and the movements of people are restricted. In Ulu Lebar, the Seladang is not secure as the surrounding areas have been developed for FELDA agricultural settlement schemes. In the 1980s the population of the Seladang in a game reserve in Pahang was estimated at about 90, but now has dropped to about 20. Cooperation between the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the armed forces is essential to protect the Seladang. [ back ] Serow - The Serow or Wild Goat, known as Kambing Gurun in Malay, inhabits limestone hills in Malaysia. The status of the serow is not yet known as no survey of this species has been completed. Serows inhabit steep limestone hills, quartz ridges and hill dipterocarp forest. Quarrying, logging and poaching jointly has caused a decline in their population. Oil is extracted from the animal for arthritis. [ back ] Shellfish - Agrochemical run-off into rivers and seas in the form of organochlorines contaminates the habitats of aquatic organisms. Faecal contamination from raw sewage harms shellfish beds and recreational activities. In the Straits of Malacca and off the coast of Sabah, organic loads from sewage disposal contaminate shellfish. Untreated sewage contains micro-organisms that cause disease directly through the consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish, and indirectly through contact in contaminated waters. In the 1970s, cockles were found to contain several pesticides below acceptable levels including PCBs, HCH, DDT and DDE. Even though data has been collected on the presence of chemicals in our coastal waters, information is still lacking on the distribution of pesticides in aquatic environments. Studies in the Perai Industrial Area, Penang, where industrial effluents are discharged into the sea, revealed the presence of lead and zinc. Cockles reared in the Perai mudflats nearest to the discharge point died subsequently. Data collected by the Fisheries Research Institute in Penang in 1983 and 1989 indicated that the levels of heavy metals in fish and shellfish samples did not pose a major threat to public health. [ back ] Slipper Orchids - The highly valued slipper orchids in Peninsular Malaysia produce very large, beautiful, showy flowers that make them very popular amongst orchid collectors and enthusiasts. They have been so extensively collected that the wild populations of these orchids have almost, if not completely, disappeared. Such has been the fate with Paphiopedilum niveum on some of the islands in Langkawi and Paphiopedilum barbatum on Penang Hill and Kedah Peak. [ back ] Solid Waste - Solid waste can be organic, plastic, glass or metals. Waste characteristics differ depending on the degree of affluence and urbanization. Consumption-oriented urban lifestyles impose a heavy load on urban solid waste and thus on the urban environment's natural capacity to cleanse and rejuvenate itself. Consumerism is reflected in the generation of higher amounts of plastic and paper package material. Conversely, rural areas have a higher amount of organic waste than plastic and paper. Urban populations were estimated to generate at least 7,500 tons of rubber per day and 9 million tons per annum nationwide. In the 1980s, studies found that the proportion of garbage and paper accounted for 70 percent of Malaysian waste. In the 1990s, plastic waste increased twofold, and garbage and paper dropped to 15 percent. A field survey of 30 municipalities in 1994 revealed that households generated the most solid waste, up to 40 percent, followed by industrial and construction waste and shops and markets. Where there is heavy industry, such as at Shah Alam and Johore Bahru, the percentage of industrial waste was higher than for households. In 1995, Malaysians generated 5.5 million tons of domestic and commercial waste, exclusive of toxic material - this comes to 13,500 tons per day. With a growing population and a rising standard of living, waste is projected to rise to 7 million tons per day and an average of 0.95 kg person per day by the year 2000. The accumulation of solid waste has outstripped the available safe landfills. The environmental problems associated with solid waste stem mainly from its improper disposal. At present, none of the 230 official dump sites are environmentally safe. Although operators are discouraged from burning the waste, open burning is common. The sites are not formally monitored, thus leachate from the dump flows into rivers and ground water. [ back ] Standards - In practice, policy makers work with emission standards measured as pollution load. For air pollution, emissions standards are measured in tons of pollution load while water pollution standards are given as concentration ratios of effluents. Standards have to be monitored. Effluent standards specified as concentration ratios require considerable resources for monitoring and can be prohibitively expensive. [ back ] Storm's Stork - Storm's Stork (Ciconia stormi) is extremely rare today, with a mere 200 or so surviving. The bird's nesting sites by the banks of forested lowland rivers have been encroached upon by the burgeoning population. [ back ] Stump-Tailed Macaque - The Stump-tailed Macaque or Berok Kantoi has, as its name indicates, a very short tail and is possibly extinct in Peninsular Malaysia. Due to a reddish colouring of the face it is sometimes called the Red-faced Macaque. Reports in 1969 and 1981 indicated that the species still survives in the Peninsula. [ back ] Sumatran Rhinoceros - Heading the list of the 10 most endangered animals in Malaysia is the Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). The Sumatran Rhinoceros and Javan Rhinoceros Rhinoceros sondaicus share seven names - Badak Raya, Badak Gajah, Badak Sumbu, Badak Hempek, Badak Hempit, Badak Kerbau and Badak Berendam. The last survey of the endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros in Peninsular Malaysia estimated their population to be below 100. The rhinos, like elephants, have no natural predators. One of the main reasons why these animals are rapidly facing extinction is the value the Chinese place on their horn as an aphrodisiac - an entirely erroneous value as the horn is composed of compressed hair, and has no stimulatory properties whatsoever. Tests showed that rhino horns contained polypeptides, sugars, phosphorus, ethanolamine and a large range of amino acids, a chemical composition similar to finger nails. Endau-Rompin is home to the largest population of Sumatran Rhinoceros. Rhino horns fetch high prices in the black market. Poaching and development would be mitigated by assistance from the armed forces and the conservation of the rhino's habitat. [ back ] Sungai Juru - More than two decades ago, Sungai Juru in the State of Penang was condemned as a polluted river but the alarm bells were ignored. In 1976, a Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) study found the pH level of some water samples taken at Sungai Juru too acidic. Test samples from the river stations showed very low, 2.25-3 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved oxygen, indicating that the river is deprived of oxygen as a result of industrial pollution dumped into it. The level of dissolved solids in the river was found to be as high as 36,966 ppm, 24 times above the safety level set in the Guidelines of the Ministry of Health. Water samples collected at three points contained 1,800 ppm of petroleum ether soluble compounds, 60 times above the allowable maximum level as indicated in the Malaysian Guideline Standards. The heaviest concentration of mercury was found in the canal outside Nan Sing Textile factory where the water contained 2.30 ppm of the metal, 460 times the safety level recommended in the US. Mercury poisoning in human beings can give rise to several disorders including impairment of the nervous system, abnormal reflexes and mental disturbances. The 1.4 ppm of chromium found in the canal outside the Malayan Electro-chemical factory was 28 times above the Malaysian safety levels. An overdose of chromium causes nausea, vomiting and ulcers and disturbs the central nervous system. The 1.5 ppm of lead found at Sungai Juru was 30 times above the Malaysian safety levels. An overdose of lead causes gastroenteritis, vomiting, diarrhoea, chronic delirium and mania, and can be fatal. The 0.3 ppm of cadmium found outside the Nan Sing factory was 30 times above the Malaysian safety levels. An overdose of cadmium causes high blood pressure, kidney damage, destruction of testicular tissues and red blood cells as well as bone fractures. In 1991, the DOE reported that Sungai Juru was the most polluted river in Malaysia in terms of levels of ammonia, suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and mercury and lead pollution. The Perai Industrial Estate has been identified as the main source of pollution. A 1995 University of Science Malaysia (USM) study reported that the rehabilitation of the river would be costly and would take many years. Covering a wide area from Kuala Juru to the backwaters of Bukit Mertajam, the study funded by the Penang State Government, is the first of its kind in Malaysia. [ back ] Suspended Solids - Suspended solids are an indicator of silt erosion and river siltation and are a major environmental problem in Malaysian waters. The high levels of suspended solids in the river systems are associated with continuous and intensive land clearing, uncontrolled development, mining and logging activities in the catchment areas. In Peninsular Malaysia, of the 53 rivers monitored between 1986-1990, 27 rivers (51 percent) were classified as very polluted, six (11 percent) were considered slightly polluted and 20 (38 percent) were considered clean. River estuaries found to have substantially high levels of suspended solids include Kuala Sungai, Kedah; Kuala Sungai Juru, Penang; Kuala Sungai Kurau and Sungai Sepetang, Perak; Kuala Sungai Melaka, Melaka and Kuala Sungai Lumut, Johor. [ back ] Sustainable Penang - Sustainable development has been defined as "development which meets the needs of the present without endangering the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (United Nation's World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future, 1987). This implies that environmental and social considerations have to constitute an integral part of the development process. The Sustainable Penang Initiative is a long-term project of the Socio-Economic & Environmental Research Institute (SERI), the state's think tank. Its objective is to establish viable partnerships with citizens' groups, government agencies, industries, business community as well as individuals for sustainable development. Starting from September 1997, five roundtables of consultations and discussions covering Penang's economic progress, ecological sustainability, social justice, cultural vibrancy and popular participation, would take place. The roundtables would try to reach a consensus on what are the most important issues affecting Penang's sustainability and what indicators could be used to monitor these issues. Towards the end of 1998, the findings would be compiled into the first "People's Report on Penang". This report would be updated each year and a popular forum will be convened annually to discuss and debate the report. [ back ] Taiping Lake Gardens - The Taiping Lake Gardens, one of the most loved gardens in the country, was landscaped by convict labour from rehabilitated tin-mining land. It is being threatened by a commercial-recreation project consisting of 54 units of serviced apartments, 150 units of condotel (a condominium and hotel combined), a shopping mall, a medical center and rows of three-storey shop-cum-office lots and a historical heritage centre. The project's site on 12 hectares of land is in the center of what has been called in the Taiping local plan as a "Historical Zone". At present the Lake Gardens provide an open space, safe and green lungs for the public, and an ideal environment for schools, which will be affected by the development. Altogether about nine schools will be affected by the project. The Koperasi Guru-Guru Melayu Malaysia Barat (West Malaysia Malay Teachers' Cooperative), the developer of the project, also wants to put up a 200-room hotel, chalets, a floral garden, a restaurant, a suspended bridge, an observatory platform, lookout tower, highland farming, a cable car as well as upgrading bungalows from the 1880s on Bukit Larut, formerly Maxwell Hill. All in all it will cost RM360 million to develop the devastating project. The Taiping local plan implemented last year allowed for nature tourism and development of public utilities. Some 250 bird species have been sighted at the hills, including migratory birds from Indochina and East Asia. The hills are also among the last sanctuaries for large mammals, with some 14 having been spotted to date, including sun bear, the rare panther and even the elusive clouded leopard. Botanical studies have revealed the existence of 1,980 flowering plant species from 123 families. At 1,250 meters, on a clear day, visitors have a view of the historic Taiping town, the peninsular coastline and the Straits of Malacca. The Perak State Government has shelved the project amidst mounting public pressure. [ back ] Taman Negara - Formerly known as the King George VI National Park, it was designated a national park in 1939 to be "reserved in perpetuity for the protection and preservation of the indigenous flora and fauna." Taman Negara is the only National Park in Malaysia, and one of the finest in Asia. Straddling the States of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, the park covers an area of 434,340 hectares (1,677 sq. miles) of the central mountain range. The park can claim to have one of the most diverse rain forests in the world. All the typical forest bird species are found here, alongside the endangered Sumatran rhino, tiger and barking deer. Taman Negara is one of their last refuges. One study within the park boundaries found more than 200 species of flowering plants in a single hectare. Despite the park's obvious scientific and cultural value, two development projects have been proposed for the area - the Tembeling Dam and the construction of a road to the peak of Gunung Tahan, the Peninsula's highest peak. The Tembeling hydroelectric project was initially proposed in 1972, scrapped in 1978, revived in 1982 and abandoned in 1983. Plans for the 80km road to Gunung Tahan from Kuala Tembeling outside the park via the park headquarters of Kuala Tahan, was announced in 1986. In the name of eco-tourism, the road, costing an estimated RM2.9 million, would shorten the time taken to ascend Gunung Tahan from ten days to five days. [ back ] Templer Park - Named after Sir Gerald Templer, the last British High Commissioner in the former Federation of Malaya, Templer Park, covering an areas of 1,215 hectares (3,000 acres), was opened in 1953. The Selangor State Government gazetted the Park in 1955. By the late 1970s, the Park had already suffered intrusions from tin mining, the construction of roads and logging. In 1979 it faced the threat of losing at least 100 hectares to a planned centre for national defence studies which was subsequently cancelled. The Friends of Templer Park Society, a voluntary organization, has been indefatigable in its concern for the preservation of the Park. The Malayan Nature Society was a founder member of the Society. [ back ] Tasek Bera - Tasek Bera - dubbed 'The Lake of Changing Colours' - Malaysia's largest freshwater swamp and lake system, spans 6,150 hectares and its catchment area covers over 61,000 ha. The Pahang state government declared the lake a Ramsar site in 1995. Tasek Bera plays a crucial role in flood control, water flow regulation and purification. Water from Tasek Bera flows out of the lake via Sungai Bera into Sungai Pahang, and during the northeast monsoon, the flow is reversed. In the absence of Tasek Bera to absorb the excess waters during the monsoons, riverine communities downstream would be in danger of destructive flooding. The lake has been the traditional home for the 1200 Semelai people, from where they hunt for food, gather rattan, resins, medical plants and the leaves of the pandanus or mengkuang, as it is locally known. Forest clearing around Tasek Bera for rubber and oil palm plantations has not only put at risk the Semelai's traditional means of livelihood but also endangered species such as the tiger, elephant and the tapir. Since 1996, Wetlands International has been collecting baseline data in a three-year project costing RM4.4 million funded by the Danish Cooperation for Environment and Development (DANCED) for a master plan for nature-based tourism at Tasek Bera. [ back ] Tasik Chini - Tasik Chini has many names from the many fables and legends that shroud it: the Lake of the Lost City, the Sacred Lake, the Lotus Lake and Malaysia's Loch Ness. In 1993, the Government built a multi-million-ringgit dam at the river draining Tasik Chini so that eco-tourists "don't have to get their feet wet." The dam has turned the lake into a vast stagnant impounding structure, or what engineers call a weir. As a result thousands of trees have drowned, and fishes are dying too as the oxygen level has dropped and acidity increased. The damming of Tasik Chini in Pahang for eco-tourism has destroyed the lake's eco-system. [ back ] Thorium - In the Kinta Valley of Perak, naturally occurring radioactive materials like thorium and uranium are mined alongside tin ore deposits. Although a potential source of nuclear fuel, thorium cannot be used directly but must first be converted in a lengthy (20-60 years) and costly process to uranium 232. The technology for a thorium reactor is still underdeveloped and it would cost tens of millions of US dollars to develop a reactor using thorium as fuel. In February 1987, the Tun Ismail Atomic Research Center (Puspati), later known as Nuclear Energy Unit in the Prime Minister's Department, licensed ARE to extract rare earth from monazite with the view of keeping the thorium waste as a potential nuclear fuel in place of uranium. Thorium waste, extremely hazardous with a radioactive half-life of 14 billion years, became the property of Perak, and is stored at the foothills of the Kledang Range near Lahat. [ back ] Tiger - In Malay it is called Harimau Belang, 'harimau' being the name for animals of the cat family and 'belang' meaning stripes. The Malaysian tiger (Panthera tigris), a prominent feature of the National Emblem, is somewhat smaller than his Indian cousin. No one knows how many tigers there are left but it have been estimated that about 500 remain. A tiger needs approximately 12,950 hectares (50 sq. miles) of jungle in which to roam. Forest loss, depleting wild boar and other prey population, have forced the tiger to feed on domesticated animals. Although law protects the species, it is legal to kill a tiger in defense of persons or properties. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks reported that wide scale poaching for tiger organs for medicinal purposes has not taken place in Peninsular Malaysia. The department has formed Specialized Tiger Management Units in some states to prevent such poaching. [ back ] Tobacco Smoking - The World Health Organization (WHO) found that smoking tobacco induces nicotine dependence, and as such nicotine is considered an addictive drug. Nicotine produces chemical reactions in the body similar to those produced by heroin and cocaine. A recent study revealed that nicotine is the "gateway drug" associated with the use of illicit substances. In Malaysia, tobacco continues to enjoy widespread publicity sometimes in the guise of promoting leisure and tourism. Peddling cigarettes is still permitted under the law. Attempts to limit the use of tobacco have been disgracefully inadequate. Off and on, we hear decision- makers and policy-planners saying that tobacco sponsored advertisements are generous sources of income without any mention of the long-term health and social consequences of smoking. It is estimated that by the year 2020, of the 10 million global annual tobacco death toll, 7 million will be from developing countries including Malaysia. The National Poison Center advocates that the new strategy to fight dadah abuse should include tobacco and alcohol abuse as well. [ back ] Tongkat Ali - The use of plants as aphrodisiacs is based on the belief that if a plant resembled the human genitalia, it possessed, so it was reasoned, sexual characteristics and powers. Plants like Ginseng, Arjuna, Gow Kee, Mandrake, Hashish and tongkat ali are among the most famous plant-type aphrodisiacs. Tongkat ali (Eurycoma logifolia Jack) is from the Simaroubaeceace family of which there are 200 species, commonly found in the tropical regions. Eight types are found in Malaysia. Its root is sold fresh or mixed into medicines, soups and most popularly - teh tarik tongkat ali. A University of Sciences Malaysia (USM) study shows that the plant does in fact have aphrodisiac properties. Fans of teh tarik tongkat ali can no longer hide behind the excuse that they are having the cup of tea just for the novelty or fun of it. [ back ] Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) - Malaysia accepts a recommended guideline of 75 ug/m3 total suspended particulates (TSP). The Department of Environment monitors TSP at over 30 locations throughout Malaysia. The sites are chosen to represent industrial, traffic, commercial and residential zones. TSP standards are high in areas of heavy traffic and industrial concentration such as Petaling Jaya, Pasir Gudang, Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam, where TSP concentration level were nearly five times above the WHO standards. These are also the areas with high concentrations of PM10 that are particularly harmful to human health. Air quality levels measured at a number of residential and industrial sites in Malaysia indicated that the air quality in urban and industrial areas is fast deteriorating. The most frequent violations of TSP standards are areas with heavy traffic, followed by industrial, commercial and residential centres. In 1995, for the fourth consecutive year, Johor Bahru and Georgetown's TSP exceeded the levels set by the Malaysian Guidelines, and this has been attributed to uncontrolled development activities and increases in traffic volume. This monitoring programme has been taken over by Alam Sekitar Malaysia (ASMA), a private firm, since 1996. [ back ] Toxic Release Inventory - A Toxic Release Inventory should be created to provide annually updated information on the toxic chemicals released by factories operating in Malaysia. The inventories should quantify releases into the air, water and soil as well as transfers of wastes to other factories or other countries. [ back ] Traffic Air-Pollution - In contrast to other big cities, high-use commercial vehicles do not seem to be the main culprits in traffic-caused air pollution in the Klang Valley. Taxis, buses and trucks are responsible for only 33 percent. Vehicular air pollution is serious in the Klang Valley; private vehicles - cars and motorcycles - have a very high share not only in terms of registration but also in vehicle-kilometres. Public transport is not heavily used in Malaysia. Motorcycle emission is generated by two-stroke engines, which are only about half as fuel efficient as four-stroke engines and emit about 10-15 times as much hydrocarbon. It is estimated that 50 percent of the motorcycles in Malaysia have two-stroke engines. Vehicle sources are basically uncontrolled in terms of emissions except for black smoke emissions of diesel vehicles. In 1990, diesel vehicles consumed 44 percent of total fuel even though they comprise only 8.5 percent of all registered vehicles as most of the high-use vehicles like taxis, buses and lorries are diesel vehicles. Transport's share in the final energy consumption was 41 percent in 1990. The DOE estimates that in 1991, vehicles accounted for 94 percent of carbon monoxide emissions, 44 percent of hydrocarbons, 40 percent of nitrogen oxides, 6 percent of particulate matter, and 6 percent of sulphur dioxide. [ back ] Transportation in the Klang Valley - The Klang Valley is one of the most private-vehicle oriented Asian cities, even when compared to the high-income Asian cities. In 1990, the rate of vehicle ownership in the Klang Valley was already very high by Asian standards. In fact, if motorcycles are included, then the vehicle ownership is high by any standards, coming close to European levels and far exceeding the levels in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. The Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area is the most automobile-dependent of all the Asian cities. It has the highest rate per capita of all type of motor vehicle use and the highest car use per capita. The Klang Valley seems to rapidly approaching European levels of car use and may soon overtake them. The Klang Valley is close to having the highest energy use of any Asian cities. The land-use patterns in the Klang Valley appears more than any other Asian city, to run the risk of being car oriented. The enormous environmental and social impacts of urban transportation include local air pollution damaging the health of residents, noise pollution, severance of communities, consumption of non-renewable resources both fuel and materials, high rates of deaths and injuries in road accidents. A third of Kuala Lumpur's road deaths in 1990 were pedestrians. According to a 1992 study, carbon monoxide (CO), most of which comes from motor vehicles, consistently exceeded guidelines. Health damaging pollutants associated with motor vehicles are a serious problem. [ back ] Trees - Trees are defined as woody plants that tend to produce one dominant stem or trunk. In 1989, an inventory of tree flora in Malaysia was completed after 24 years of surveys. Peninsular Malaysia has 2,830 tree species in 532 genera. The World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia reported that 66 tree species in the country have become extinct since the turn of the century with the increase loss of natural forests. Most of the lost plants were from the dipterocarp species found in the lowland forests. Since these plants are not to be found outside Malaysia, they have been classified as totally extinct. One report estimated that 511 species of trees are endangered. Wetland species are endangered because many of our wetlands are being drained. There is no recent listing of trees in East Malaysia. As such an inventory of tree flora of Sabah and Sarawak is necessary. The type of soil, pH (degree of acidity and alkalinity), water quality and retention, determine the species of trees in a forest. When the natural habitat of a forest is destroyed, the species found therein are also destroyed. In the past two decades, Malaysia has lost 20 per cent of its forest, the storehouse of biodiversity. This means a loss of genetic resources and environmental degradation. Consequently, the destruction of the environment has resulted in more flooding, deterioration in quantity and quality of water supply, loss in productive soils and loss in potentially useful biological resources. [ back ] Tropical Hardwood - Malaysia has been the world's leading exporter of tropical hardwood. Timber has been Malaysia's second largest export earner, after petroleum, since the early eighties. By 1983, Malaysia accounted for 58 per cent of world's tropical log exports and 81 per cent of Asian exports, exporting 18.7 million cubic meters in that year alone. [ back ] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)'s Global 500 Roll of Honour - Two Malaysians and a local company have received this award. They are Anwar Fazal, who is currently the Regional Coordinator Asia Pacific 2000, an initiative of UNDP, and Dr. Martin Abrahim, who is now with Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). [ back ] Unleaded Petrol - Unleaded petrol was introduced in 1991 and about 50 percent of it was imported. The following year, unleaded petrol reached a market share of only about 30 percent despite the government bearing the cost of subsidizing it by foregoing part of the duty. [ back ] Urban Environment - The number of areas defined as urban in Malaysia by the Town and Country Planing Department have more than doubled since 1980 while the population in towns and cities with over 100,000 people accounts for two-thirds of the country's urban population. During the period the number of urban areas increased from 67 to 150. According to figures provided by the United Nations, urban population in Malaysia has increased from only 27 percent of the total population in 1960 to around 54 percent in 1995, which means that slightly more than one half of Malaysians live in urban areas. In 1996, the highest rural-urban migration (in-migration) at 25 percent of the total was to Kuala Lumpur, the federal capital. By 2020 it is projected that 24 million of the country's population of 33 million then would be living in urban areas. The growth of urban areas has led to many problems, amongst others, such as congestion, rising property prices, high cost of living, environmental pollution (waste, water and air), inadequate housing, crime, youth delinquencies, urban poor and squatters. Any attempt to plan and manage the urban environment will ultimately have to be concerned with the entire city system and its interdependence with its rural hinterland, other city systems and the outside world as a whole. [ back ] Urban Greenery - Studies have shown that trees can operate as nature's air conditioners (evaporative coolers) and shade trees can moderate city temperatures considerably. In addition to their function as moderators of temperatures, trees in cities are of considerable value both aesthetically and environmentally. By controlling wind and water erosion, they help stabilize the soil. Screened by trees, noise is reduce to more tolerable levels. Trees also cleanse the atmosphere by filtering out impurities and by adding oxygen to the air. Aesthetically, trees and other plants play an important role by enhancing buildings and other structures, by defining or creating functional areas or other spaces, and by reinforcing structural designs. They can also screen objectionable views, provide privacy, and add on aesthetic elements to an engineering environment. Further, trees in the city serve as habitat for many species of wildlife, which increases urban diversity and ultimately improves the quality of urban life. Trees may add monetary value to property. [ back ] Urban Parks - The long-standing complaint among parents is that there are simply not enough urban parks and recreation area for them to take their children to. The Town and Country Planning Department has stipulated various areas for urban parks for each state in Malaysia. Most states have set 10 percent as a standard of development area as city parks. The Selangor State Economic Development Corporation (PKNS) has the highest percentage requirement of 21 percent, the reason probably being that Shah Alam, the new capital of Selangor, was conceived as a garden city. There is a wide range of requirements set for neighbourhood parks. They can be as high as 20 percent for development areas exceeding 4.5ha in Negeri Sembilan, and as little as 0.2 to 2.5 percent for Johor, a state which is larger than Negeri Sembilan and currently developing at a more rapid rate. [ back ] Vehicles - At four people per vehicle, ownership in Malaysia in 1988 was higher than Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore. Between 1980 and 1991, the operational fleet in Peninsular Malaysia has more than doubled from 1.6 to 3.5 million vehicles, substantially raising the emission of pollutants. The average annual growth rate of the vehicle fleet in the 1980s was around 7 percent and thus higher than the 5.9 percent growth rate of the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Between 1985-1991, the annual growth rate of the vehicle fleet in Kuala Lumpur, at 10.5 percent, was almost twice the national average. 95 percent of passenger traffic and 91 percent freight traffic in 1990 was on roads. 92.5 percent of all registered vehicles are passenger vehicles, the overwhelming majority of these are private transportation - private cars and motorcyles. Malaysia has a huge motorcycle fleet - about 55 percent of all vehicles. If current trends continue, the size of the total vehicle fleet would increase two and half times in the next two decades. In the period 1990 to 2020, passenger traffic is forecast to increase 275 percent and freight traffic 287 percent, leading to a cumulative growth of 215 percent in fuel consumption (at 3.9 percent a year). In the absence of a major policy shift, this will result in an increase of total emissions of 3.6 percent and 3.9 percent per year respectively. Especially in urban areas, this would result in a rise in atmospheric concentrations of these pollutants, in many cases probably surpassing the current standards and guidelines. Industrial location policy has resulted in corridors of concentrated vehicular traffic, where the pollution and congestion problems are serious. Overall the most polluting sector in Malaysia is the transport sector with a substantial share of the total pollutant load including lead. In the long term, increasing the attractiveness of public transport, walking and bicycling is the best way to reduce the environmental problems associated with vehicles. [ back ] Virgin Jungle Reserve - The Forest Department of Peninsular Malaysia maintains 81 Virgin Jungle Reserves covering 19,000 ha. The Department of Forestry also maintains the Virgin Jungle Reserve (VJR) networks. There are 81 such VJRs covering some 19,000 ha. However, most of these are small and many have been isolated as islands with considerable degradation to surrounding areas. This has resulted in lowered biodiversity and loss of species. [ back ] Waste Disposal Sites - Presently most local authorities in Malaysia dispose solid wastes in landfills. It was estimated that local authorities spend RM182 million per year on waste disposal services. Federal studies estimated that states derived 20 percent of their total revenue from solid waste services. A 1992 technical evaluation study found that landfills would remain the major waste disposal system for the nation in the near future. The study estimated the costs of landfills at RM35 per ton for incineration in contrast to RM500 per ton and RM216 per ton for composting. Incineration has always been viewed as a risk in terms of costs and effectiveness. The existing Town and Planning Act does not allow the use of incinerators in urban areas. Landfills cover 60 to 90 percent of the served areas, and are projected to cover up to 70 to 95 percent in the near future. 80 percent of the waste disposal sites had less than 2 years of operating life remaining in 1990, emphasizing the urgency for municipalities to secure new landfills before the existing ones are exhausted. Of the 230 landfills operated in Peninsular Malaysia, only 10 percent were provided with leachate treatment ponds and gas ventilation. The remainder are without control mechanisms and proper supervision. Waste collected and dumped in municipal landfills is not monitored for toxic and hazardous contents. Improper management of dump sites resulted in contamination of surface and underground water, foul smell from exposed garbage, scavenger activity by locals to recover paper, plastic, metals, air pollution from open burning and unhealthy work environment. Although landfill management operations largely remain in the hands of municipalities, they are being gradually taken over by the private sector. The lucrative contracts provide for a 29-year concession period and stipulate that companies are responsible for collection, transportation, storage, processing, treatment, and recycling of domestic, commercial and industrial solid wastes. Profits are expected to range between RM300 to RM400 million per privatization plan. [ back ] Water - Water demand in Malaysia is always rising because of population growth, industrial expansion and urbanization. The increase in water demand is also due to the increase in the percentage of households with piped water. Many cities and towns in West Malaysia have 100 percent piped water. It was estimated in 1982 that in urban centres with more than 1 million people, the per capita domestic water use are 270 litres. The current water supply stands at 7.3 billion litres per day while the total water demand is 5.5 billion litres. The current state of physical development in Malaysia places an enormous stress on water resources and is likely to continue into the near future. With the environmental deterioration that is being allowed to happen in Malaysia currently, it will have adverse effects on water quality and quantity. In terms of water pollution, there has been a general lack of commitment to waste treatment and pollution control projects due to high investment and low return. These financial constraints have hindered the development of sewerage in urban centres as local authorities cannot generate large amounts of capital and depend on state or federal government funding. As such, infrastructure are a low priority. In the early 1980s, a holistic approach to water resource management was recommended based on river basin management and a national water policy and council as the non-integrated approach of multiple agencies were found ineffective. Land use and conversion should have water use and protection of river catchments as an integral part of their objectives. [ back ] Water Enactment - The earliest example of a management response to environmental problems was the introduction of the Waters Enactment in 1920, which prohibits the diversion or abstraction of water, the modification of channels, and construction in proximity to river banks unless with prior permission. [ back ] Water Pipes - Depressed intelligence in children has been attributed to high levels of lead in water. The main source of poison has been frequently a result of lead absorbed from water running through lead pipes. Other types of piping - iron, plastic, copper, lead, zinc and cement containing asbestos - are also known to cause health related problems. Delinquency, inattention, aggression and antisocial behaviour may be caused by lead poisoning. [ back ] Water Pollution - Of all natural resources, water is the most severely threatened by pollution. The DOE reports the most serious water polluting industry in terms of the number of point sources. In this context, food processing is the most polluting industry for water. The deterioration of water quality follows a five-year trend (1986-1991). The trend indicates that the number of rivers in the slightly polluted and very polluted categories is tending to increase while the number of rivers in the clean category is tending to decrease. Water pollution in Malaysia is measured in terms of BOD caused by organic pollution, ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) emitted in the form of sewage and animal waste or fecal coliforms), suspended solids for soil erosion and sedimentation. Heavy metals and nutrients are also measured. The DOE no longer gives information on the most important polluters of water by pollution load. Instead, information is presented according to the number of polluters. Malaysian rivers are heavily polluted with mean BOD levels nearly six times the international standard. Residential sewage accounts for nearly 80 percent of BOD-related water pollution, followed by agriculture and industry. Inadequate sewerage system is the main cause of water pollution. The principal source of fecal coliforms is human waste, while concentrated industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off of fertilizer and chemicals into surface water affect levels of dissolved oxygen in water. The reduction of dissolved oxygen effects mainly plant life and fish resulting in destruction of aquatic life and the natural ecology of the rivers. Forest harvesting and agricultural and urban development have resulted in the pollution of most river systems, affected ecological dynamics and disrupted natural food chains. In 1991, 40.5 percent of the 2,292 industries in Malaysia, identified as major sources of water pollutants, were food and beverage industries. 14.1 percent were rubber producing and 11.8 percent were chemical producing industries. In terms of organic water pollution, human and animal wastes largely from piggeries and agro-based industries are the primary sources. The heavily industrialized Peninsular states that are most affected by these pollution sources are Selangor, Johor, Penang and Perak. Although the supply of clean water is high, inadequate sewerage and drainage systems now threaten water quality. Further clearing of forested land, tin mining and effluent discharges from industries, tin mining, logging, use of weedicides, insecticides, latex processing plants and manufacturing industries are polluting surface water sources. Treatment of raw water from surface water sources for human consumption and for industrial use has become more complex because of water pollution. [ back ] Water Resources Legislation - The most important legislation in Malaysia governing water quality management is the Environmental Quality Act 1974. The purpose of EQA is twofold: pollution prevention, abatement and control as well as environment enhancement. Water pollution control strategy adopted by Department of Environment encompasses both statutory control and non-statutory approaches. To date, there are six sets of Regulations under EQA 1974 for statutory control of water pollution as follows:
Under these Regulations, standards and procedures for handling the various types of wastewater and other type of industrial wastes have been set. EQA 1974 and the Regulations made thereunder are designed towards the control of industrial pollution and domestic sewage discharges that affect the quality of land, air and water. In areas where legal control cannot be carried out, guidelines are provided to assist the relevant sectors. [ back ] Water Quality Index - Water quality is assessed for its physical, chemical and biological characteristics, and is measured for turbidity, salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity. Laboratory analysis covers 30 other chemical and biological parameters including bacteriological indicators, pesticides and detergents. The appraisal of water quality using DOE's Water Quality Index measures six of water quality parameters, i.e. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3N), Suspended Solid (SS), pH and dissolved oxygen. BOD measures material or organisms in water that reduce dissolved oxygen as they decay or degraded. COD is the amount of oxygen required for the chemical oxidation of organic material in a liquid. Raw or untreated sewage and animal waste or fecal coliforms are the cause for ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N content in water), suspended solids for soil erosion and sedimentation. Heavy metals and nutrients are also measured. Levels of suspended and dissolved solids indicate the amount of particulate material and industrial matter present in the water. In normal or natural waters, amounts of dissolved solids are in the region of 60-77 ppm and usually below 200 ppm. The pH level is the measure of concentration of hydrogen ion in water showing the extent of acidity or alkalinity. Its scale runs from 0 to 14; 0 is strongly acidic, 14 strongly alkaline, and 7 neutral. If water it too acidic or too alkaline, organisms such as fish cannot survive. [ back ] Wetlands - Water is the heart of a wetland. Literally a wet land is a place where water and land meet. In Malaysia wetlands include 100 river systems, lakes and ponds or marshes, peat and fresh water swamps, and mangrove forests. Even man-made habitats such as ricefields, canals and reservoirs can be classified as wetlands. Wetlands cover about 10 percent of Malaysia's surface area. In the past, our wetlands were destroyed chiefly because of agricultural activities including coconut, rubber and oil palm plantations. Increasingly the greatest threats are pollution from industrial effluents and conversion of wetlands into housing and industrial estates and, more recently, large-scale aquaculture. The Drainage and Irrigation Department has identified sixteen river systems that are incapable of regulating rainwater and where, as a consequence, frequent flash floods occur. Today, only two million hectares of peat swamp forests remain in the country. Only about 0.46 million hectares of peat swamp remain in Peninsular Malaysia. [ back ] Wetlands International - Wetlands International is an inter-governmental organization with 49 government members. Malaysia is home to its regional headquarters in the Asia Pacific, based at the University of Malaya. The regional headquarters coordinates programs in North Asia (with offices in China and Japan), South Asia (India), Indonesia, the Mekong sub-region (Cambodia), Oceania (Australia) and Southern Thailand. Its current Malaysia program includes the Tasek Bera project, which works with the Pahang State Government. [ back ] Wildlife - Tropical forests are home to thousands of wildlife species. The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 protects only listed species - 293 animals and 610 birds - but not their habitats. Nevertheless it offers some degree of protection in the form of Wildlife Reserves (WR), but these make up only 6 percent of the Peninsular land area. While the Forestry Act 1984 deals only with the management and use of forests, not other habitats. A great portion of wildlife habitats is in Permanent Forest Estates (PFEs) managed by state Forestry Deparment, but the emphasis of PFEs has always been on timber production. Wildlife management has always been given a minor role. It has been estimated by the World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia that there are: 14,500 species of flowering plants, trees, etc. and innumerable species of other life-forms including 600 species of birds 140 species of snakes 210 species of mammals 150 species of frogs Another source records: 1000 species of butterflies 800 species of moths 250 species of termites 366 species of mosquitoes 250 species of freshwater fish The animal fauna is very diverse with around 1,000 species of vertebrates and an estimated 20 to 80 thousand invertebrate species. Many of these are indigenous and can be found only in Peninsular Malaysia. Destruction of their natural habitats will lead to species extinction. [ back ] Zoos - There are close to 20 animal viewing facilities in Malaysia including zoos, mini-zoos, aviaries, snake parks, deer parks, crocodile farms, butterfly farms and museums. The size of these facilities varies from two acres to 63 acres, and they are owned by private individuals, municipal councils or government agencies. Many of these are not animal sanctuaries or conservatories, but sterile environments where animals are put for show in inhumane conditions. Generally birds are kept in overcrowded, undersized wire mesh cages which restrict their flight space. Some birds are chained and others have their wings clipped. Cemented ponds with tiles, water infested with algae and decomposed vegetable matter are a common sight in fish and tortoise tanks. Reptile exhibits are usually glass entrapments. Cases of cruelty against animals such as throwing stones at them and giving them lighted cigarettes have been reported. Visitors frequently ignore warning signs not to feed the animals, and this results in the animals consuming empty plastic bags and tin cans. Many zoos do not have a resident veterinarian to treat their captive inmates. [ back ] |
