KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 ― The Kedah Forestry Department must prove that there has been no environmental impact from logging in Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, PBA Holdings Bhd (PBAHB) said today.
PBAHB chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said that the Kedah Forestry Department’s findings, which was presented to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry should be made public.
“A spokesman from the department was quoted as saying a study on the impact of logging in UMFR has been completed and alleged there was no environmental impact from logging.
“If this is true, the Kedah report is extraordinary and unusual. The negative impact of logging on the environment has been well documented all over the world,” he said in a statement today.
Jaseni said logging caused habitat loss for animals and plants, affected soil and hydrological cycles and may contribute to climate change.
He said the UMFR is the most important water catchment area in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) for three states ― Perlis, Kedah and Penang that would directly impact raw water availability for at least 4.09 million people including tens of thousands of businesses.
“Non-governmental organisations, state government and the media have been publicly expressed concerns of logging in UMFR for the past several years.
“As such the department should present scientific evidence to support its claim,” he added.
Jaseni said there were videos, photos and satellite images posted on the Internet for public viewing which showed the extent of logging.
Some of the evidence included critical raw water levels recorded at nearby dams, murkiness of water, 1,200 hectare of forests declared new logging areas, a 15km logging trail along the perimeter of the Muda Dam and suspected reduction of Muda Dam's water catchment area by 87.3 per cent since 2017.
“We are calling for a complete and immediate ban on all logging activities in the area for the sake of people depending on its water catchment resources,” he said.
