Now less than 5 percent of sarawaks forests remain in an intact state. Deforestation drivers and human rights in malaysia closing the gap. By the end of that decade, sarawak was at the center of an intense international debate about the role of logging in runaway tropical deforestation, and its destructive impacts on both biodiversity and the rights and livelihoods of forestdependent indigenous peoples. Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world. Long itam, middle baram, sarawak 58 subregional case study 2. According to wwf, the island is estimated have at least 222 species of mammals 44 of which are endemic, 420 resident birds 37 endemic, 100 amphibians, 394 fish 19 endemic, and 15,000 plants 6,000 endemic more than 400 of which have been discovered since 1994. Deforestation is the act of forest clearing for agricultural, logging or urban development. Climate change deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 20 per cent of global manmade co2 emissions. Introduction the state of sarawak is situated on borneo island in east malaysia. Deforestation in borneo has taken place on an industrial scale since the 1960s. The sarawak rainforest is fully infested with logging trails due to ongoing logging activity, while the rainforest at the kalimantan side remains intact.
Amazon rainforest past 15 years while present figures are much better than before, deforestation continues to threaten the worlds ecosystem the razing of forests continues to be a major contributor to the emissions that drive climate change 17. There were increases of oil palm and rubber areas but degraded forest, the. Its most prominent features are its deserted coves and rugged rocky cliffs that are artistically shaped from erosion and the. Borneo, the third largest island in the world, divided between indonesia, malaysia and brunei, was once covered by dense tropical and subtropical rainforests in the 1980s and 1990s the forests of borneo were leveled at a rate unprecedented in human history, burned, logged and cleared, and commonly replaced with. Deforestation is a reality which has been around ever since the invention of tools. Map of sarawak comparison of maps of forest area in sarawak from 1960 and 2010, shows a clear and major reduction in forest area. Multitemporal satellite images of landsat and spot.
Reducing deforestation in malaysias bornean states of. Borneo in sabah to southern borneo through sarawak and brunei. Less than 46,636 ha were lost in brunei darussalam during this 42 year period. Media release by the bruno manser fund 25 november 2014 for immediate release urgent action needed to save sarawaks last intact forests international body names malaysian state ground zero of deforestation kuching, malaysia last week, adenan satem, the new chief minister of the malaysian state of sarawak in. Sarvision 2011 a report by wetlands international in february reported on the borneo orangutan survival website reports two thirds of sarawaks peatlands were until recently covered by thick, biodiversityrich. Watch from a helicopter the damaging deforestation effects in sarawak. Known as bumi kenyalang, land of the hornbills, sarawak is situated on the northwest of the island. Comparison of absolute forest area and deforestation rate trends for peat swamp forest top and all forest in sarawak including peat swamp forest bottom during 20052010. Japan is the largest buyer of timber products from sarawak, accounting for around one third of its exports of all timber. Deforestation and forest degradation drivers 10 general recommendations 15 part 1. Feb 02, 2011 malaysia, the worlds secondlargest palm oil producer, is destroying large areas of carbonrich peat swamp forests to expand plantations, according to a report released late yesterday. Pdf sarawak is the largest state in malaysia that covers 37. Monitoring of deforestation and fragmentation in sarawak, malaysia between 1990 and 2009 using landsat and spot images article pdf available august 2012 with 688 reads how we measure reads. Wonder what is happening during logging and what effects does it have on environment.
This deforestation threatens a number of endangered species, such as the orangutan, which lives only on the islands of borneo and sumatra. Sarawak is one of two malaysian states on the island of borneo. Deforestation and forest degradation are the second leading causes of anthropogenic greenhouse emissions following fossil fuel combustion, accounting for over 17% of global carbon dioxide emissions ipcc 2007. Logging path is very important aspect of logging as they will be the life line of logging, responsible for transportation of loggers, equipment. Bako is sarawaks oldest national park, established in 1957 and located 37 km away from kuching. Feasibility study on options to step up eu action against.
Malaysia destroying its forests three times faster than. It consists of a complex of social, political, economic. Its most prominent features are its deserted coves and rugged rocky cliffs that are artistically shaped from erosion and the elements over time. Malaysia, the worlds secondlargest palm oil producer, is destroying large areas of carbonrich peat swamp forests to expand plantations, according to a report released late yesterday. Jul 22, 2012 watch from a helicopter the damaging deforestation effects in sarawak. Evidence from government statistics, satellite and cartographic data, together with the responses of interviewees in rural areas, indicate that forest degradation is due not only to the activities of commercial timber companies, but also to those of rural communities.
Multitemporal satellite images of landsat and spot were used to examine deforestation and forest fragmentation in sarawak between 1990 and 2009. These initiatives include enhancing protected areas, conservation spatial planning, responsible forestry and forest certification which could reduce deforestation rate and create a balance. Malaysias indigenous hit hard by deforestation asia. Monitoring deforestation in sarawak, malaysia using landsat data. But they can get out of control, destroying large areas of land. However, the deforestation taking place in sumatra and borneo is unique in the fact that it is happening not to use the resources provided by the trees, but instead to use the land that is taken up by the trees.
Malaysian palm oil destroying forests, report warns. Logging trails and the art of deforestation in sarawak. This article looks at the rates of current deforestation in malaysia and to what extent this is having an environmental effect on the region. Pdf monitoring of deforestation and fragmentation in sarawak. Deforestation and hunting killed nearly 150,000 bornean orangutans from 1999 to 2015. Sarawak has lost more than 90% of its primary forests to logging and has the fastest rate of deforestation in asia. The paper focuses on rainforest degradation in sarawak during the rapid economic development of the state since the late 1970s. The drivers of tropical deforestation can be summed up as complex socioeconomic processes that are impossible to isolate a single cause. Sarawak, one of two malaysian states on the island of borneo, has long suffered from excessive deforestation, and its once abundant forests have been significantly depleted. Its deforestation rate is accelerating faster than in any other tropical country, and between 1990 and 2010, it lost 8. Plantation owners receive tax incentives, so increasing amounts of land have.
Japans timber imports fuelling rainforest destruction in. Malaysian companies from sarawak are allegedly trespassing while carrying out logging activities in papua new guinea png and contributing towards deforestation in the island nation, sarawak report sr wrote today. Deforestation in sarawak and climate change climate citizen. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. That changed with the advent of largescale industrial logging in the 1980s. The burning creates nutrients that help plants to grow. Malaysian logging firms party to png deforestation. Pdf deforestation, forest degradation and readiness of. Azril annuar malay mail 8th january 2020 malaysian companies from sarawak are allegedly trespassing while carrying out logging activities in papua new guinea png and contributing towards deforestation in the island nation, sarawak report sr wrote today. Forest cover loss is defined as a standreplacement disturbance, or a change from a forest to nonforest state, during the period 20002018. Illegalities in forest clearance for largescale commercial plantations status and history of industrial plantations in malaysia overview malaysia is a federation of states and three federal territories divided between the malay peninsula on the southernmost tip of mainland asia and part of the island of borneo. Facing legacy of deforestation and corruption, sarawak may cease granting new logging concessions by on 18 january 2015 logging road in neighboring sabah.
In the 1980s and 1990s the forests of borneo were leveled at a rate unprecedented in human history, burned. Deforestation in sarawak log tale finance and economics. Results from timeseries analysis of landsat images characterizing forest extent and change. It is no surprise then that under the new 10th malaysian plan revealed today, malaysia aims to increase the annual export earnings from palm oil by rm21. The online investigative portal accused sibubased rimbunan hijau group rhg and wtk group as well as amanab 56 timber. Pdf monitoring deforestation in sarawak, malaysia using.
Monitoring of deforestation and fragmentation in sarawak. Palm oil is malaysias largest agriculture commodity and has recently become malaysias second largest income from exports. Sarawak is the largest state in malaysia that covers 37. Deforestation in malaysia by christopher teh boon sung. Have indomalaysian forests reached the end of the road.
The clearcutting of forests is thought to have played a role in malaysias worst flooding in decades. Dec 07, 2018 widespread problems remain, particularly in the state of sarawak. As well as unsustainable logging practices, malaysias forests are under threat from rapid deforestation, illegal removal of forest products and encroachment. However logging doesnt just means cutting down trees. Gordon brown called the deforestation of sarawak one of historys worst environmental crimes. A recent study by the food and agriculture organization fao reported that during the decade from 1980 to 1990, the worlds tropical forests were reduced by an average of 15. This is supplemented with relevant case study examples. Sarawak is one of the hotspots of global deforestation. Deforestation is responsible for 15% of the worlds carbon footprint, but indonesia can make a difference if they prohibit the burning of forests to clear land. Illegal logging in sarawak, malaysia forest trends.
The largest among the states, with an area almost equal to that of peninsular malaysia, sarawak is located in northwest borneo island, and is bordered by the malaysian state of sabah to the northeast, kalimantan the indonesian portion of borneo to the south, and brunei in the north. The physical and mental health consequences of logging on the native peoples of eastern malaysia have, to date, not been fully realized in the west. Widespread problems remain, particularly in the state of sarawak. Borneo, the third largest island in the world, divided between indonesia, malaysia and brunei, was once covered by dense tropical and subtropical rainforests. Malaysia a worker harvests palm fruit on a plantation in sarawak, one of two malaysian states on the. Consequently, deforestation and forest degradation have become an important issue concerning climate change mitigation, highlighted in the intergovernmental panel on climate.
There are high levels of deforestation throughout the country. Billions of revenue in sight, billions of resources at stake. Using 30 m resolution optical imagery acquired since 1990, forest cover and logging roads were mapped throughout malaysian borneo and brunei. Deforestation, forest degradation and readiness of local. The malaysian states of sabah and sarawak are global hotspots of forest loss and degradation due to timber and oil palm industries. Deforestation alters climate, vegetation and animal ecology.
The degradation of rainforests in sarawak, east malaysia. Nov 19, 2015 that changed with the advent of largescale industrial logging in the 1980s. Malaysia has the distinction of having the highest rate of forest loss of the main countries that are reducing their forest cover. Wwf projections indicate that if the island of borneo continues at its current rate of deforestation, it will be severely affected by climate change through the increased risk of floods and forest fires, human health impacts, changes in agricultural yields and damage to. If indonesian government officials are able to create these laws, this could make an immense difference in the rate of deforestation in sumatra and borneo, but only if they are enforced. Trees are defined as vegetation taller than 5m in height and are expressed as a percentage per output grid cell as 2000 percent tree cover. Major reasons for deforestation in malaysia home guides. Wwfmalaysia works closely with sarawak and sabah governments to address the deforestation rate in both states through various conservation initiatives.
Forest cover in sabah, sarawak and peninsular malaysia, 2009. Jan 09, 2015 sarawak is one of the hotspots of global deforestation. Ownership of these areas by local forest communities and indigenous peoples is largely unrecognised. The causes attributed to deforestation are multivariate in nature, interrelated and differ at local, national as well as regional scale. Deforestation statistics for malaysia, including tree cover loss, primary forest cover, and biodiversity data. Bako is known for its amazing variety of natural surroundings, plants and wildlife. Malaysian palm oil destroying forests, report warns trees.
Effects of tropical deforestation in sarawak youtube. As timber stocks have become depleted, the loggers have moved into. Instead, local, malaysian, and international efforts to adequately protect the native forests of the malaysian states of sarawak and sabah have primarily focused on the ecological and cultural damages incurred through logging. Pdf tropical deforestation and the associated economic, ecological, and equity issues have become a matter of general interest and concern. May 12, 2015 wwfmalaysia works closely with sarawak and sabah governments to address the deforestation rate in both states through various conservation initiatives. Borneos forests are some of the most biodiverse on the planet. Overview of national situation 19 historical deforestation 19 present deforestation 25 part 2. The human consequences of logging cultural survival. The results showed significant loss of intact forest at 0. What are the environmental impacts of deforestation in malaysia. The degradation of rainforests in sarawak, east malaysia, and. The administrative capital is kuching, which has a population of 579,900.
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