Sand mining has damaged Terengganu estuary forest, says group

 

Sand mining activities have affected the coastal areas and marine life at the estuary at Kuala Baru Setiu in Terengganu.

PETALING JAYA: Sand mining has caused damage to coastal forest and marine life at an estuary in Kuala Baru Setiu, Terengganu, according to an environmental group.

Ecoswed Initiative said the casuarina coastal forest and the beach, which are the habitat of endangered species such as green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and painted terrapin (Batagur borneonsis), had been adversely affected, believed to have been caused by the licensed sand mining activities at the estuary.

“A survey by our crew members in April found that rows of casuarina trees stretching 700m to 1,000m on the beach had been cut down and destroyed,” its president, Muhamad Allim Jamalludin, told FMT.

“What is more worrying is that the beach is also a reserve for green sea turtle landings and a habitat for painted terrapins.”

Allim said the mining activities had destroyed more than 4ha, equivalent to seven football fields, so far.

He said the mining activities had not only affected the beach area but also the Setiu Wetlands State Park, located next to the coastal forest.

He questioned the approval for the project, saying that the mining area had been recognised as a conservation area under the Setiu Wetlands special local plan.

The area had also been classified by the authorities as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), he said.

ESAs are identified and recognised to ensure sustainable management of resources and maintain the sustainability of natural surroundings. Areas classified as ESAs include the existing and proposed protected areas and important habitats such as turtle landing sites.

“Development activities or projects are not supposed to be carried out in this area,” he said.

Allim said Ecoswed had voiced concerns over the mining project to the authorities such as the Setiu district officer, state forestry department, state fisheries department, and the Setiu local council.

“The project is still ongoing and the authorities remain silent despite complaints being lodged,” he said.

“We hope they will provide an explanation about the project soon. We are not against the project, we just want it to be done in a better way.” - FMT