| Summary: | TODAY is World Environment Day, with this year’s theme being “biodiversity”. Malaysia is one of the 17 mega-biodiverse countries in the world, and Terengganu is a state known for its natural beauty and mesmerising wildlife. However, the Terengganu branch of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) would like to express its disappointment over recent episodes in the state and its alarming loss of forests. The Belara Forest Reserve is one of the state’s iconic lowland tropical rainforests. Little research has been done on this area, even though it is strategically located next to the state’s largest urban centre, Kuala Terengganu. This green lung sits in the district of Kuala Nerus, and covers 4,588ha. The forest is surrounded by plantations and old-growth orchards tended to by villagers. These orchards provide a strong economic foundation upon which the locals rely. The orchards and plantations depend on the forest to provide valuable ecosystem services, such as clean water for agricultural activities. In addition, the forest provides major agricultural pollinators, among them birds, bats, bees and butterflies, to name a few. Without these naturally occurring pollinators, agricultural practices will collapse. If the forest disappears, the economic foundation of the surrounding areas will also crumble. During a drive along the edge of the Belara Forest Reserve late last month, MNS members were thrilled to see a variety of forest birds, including great hornbills (Buceros bicornis), which are classified as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Families of dusky langurs (Trachypithecus obscurus), classified as near threatened, swung from tree to tree. Their presence indicates that the forest is healthy and rich in biodiversity. But, the MNS members also saw poachers exiting the forest reserve with trapped animals, and came upon a newly built logging camp. Further investigation revealed even more distressing news. The... |