By Persatuan Alam Sekitar in partnership with Ipoh City Watch (ICW)
Seminar menambah-baik Peruntukan Perundangan Sedia - ada Berkaitan Perhutanan dan Kawasan Semula-jadi Darat di Malaysia, HELD AT OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA (OUM) ON THE 6TH AND 7TH jULY 2009.
Having made aware that forests in Malaysia are fast disappearing and that environmental concerns are taking a backstage, in the mainstream, the seminar participants have agreed with the following recommendations as a way forward:
1. The development model on (vis-à-vis) forests in Malaysia is not sustainable (meaning future generations should continue to enjoy the products and services which the current generation is enjoying). The areas of concern are:-
a. Legislations should be revised at appropriate interval with the participation of relevant and interested stakeholders to better protect and preserve forests and related natural resources e.g. provisions which do not favour forests relative to other land uses should be reviewed; EIA provisions should be made more stringent to protect natural resources from the impacts of development projects.
b. Apart from various groups currently engaged in forests management, Orang Asli be made substantial partners in all efforts and aspects of forest management.
c. Being mindful of the fact that Wild Life Act will be revised soon, we urge the government to increase allocation and manpower to beef up Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (PERHILITAN).
d. Local communities, especially Orang Asli Communities as users and guardians of forests and relevant NGOs must be consulted before any project is approved or implemented (e.g. Bukit Larut cable – car project).
2. Environmental groups to consciously push up environmental concerns to centre stage by linking it to voting behaviour. Campaign for voters to vote for MPs and ADUNs who are environment – friendly. Environmental groups should lobby the media to play a more meaningful role in raising public awareness of citizens role in protecting and preserving forests and its wild life. In pursuance of this objective, the seminar participants have made additional proposals:-
a. The government must immediately step - up public awareness by increasing concerted efforts to educate the public and to introduce environmental aspects in our schools.
b. The Persatuan Alam Sekitar (PAS) of Perak should form a monitoring mechanism to raise increased awareness on environment amongst ADUNs and MPs and to determine who amongst them are environment – friendly (from Hansard and their activities).