20% of forest plantation projects in operation
GUA MUSANG: Only about one-fifth of all forest plantation projects approved by the Department of Environment (DOE) since 2020 has begun operations, says the body's Kelantan director Wan Aminordin Wan Kamarudin.
These projects have received approval for their Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), he said, adding that the remaining 80% have yet to begin operations.
'Any development activity carried out in Kelantan forest reserves exceeding 100ha must submit an EIA report,' he said, Bernama reported.
An EIA involves studying the socio-economic impact of a project on the surrounding area and is a legal requirement before operations start, Wan Aminordin added.
When it comes to forest plantations, the department is concerned about their impact on the Orang Asli community because they bear the direct brunt of these projects, he said.
'The EIA report is important to identify the affected areas, including the impact on water tables, the safety of residents, orchards and other community-related matters following development, whether it is forest plantations or mining,' he said.
Wan Aminordin was speaking to reporters at the 4Xplore Explore Nature: Our Legacy on Earth with Environmental Friends programme in conjunction with the state-level World Environment Day 2025 celebration at Pos Pulat here.
EIAs, he added, also involved getting comments and views from various agencies, including the Forestry Department, Land and Mines Office and the state Health Department.
'We set conditions that must be adhered to, including that developers must provide control measures such as sediment trap ponds and install infrastructure that can prevent erosion in the project area,' he said.
Last year, the DOE issued a prohibition order on a mining company in Gua Musang and ordered it to cease operations immediately.
On Dec 18 last year, the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry issued a stop-work order to two companies suspected of polluting Sungai Kelaik, Pos Blau, based on DOE's investigation into the two companies' compliance with the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127).
A news portal revealed how Sungai Kelaik's water had turned red after contamination from an upstream iron ore mine.
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