Our giants are crying out, but who will save them?

 

The Malaysiakini report ' 'Suspicious load' of timber found to be from Terengganu - Pahang Forestry Department' strikes at the heart and soul of Malaysia's existence as a rainforest nation.

The nation has been focusing on the plunder of its finances by Umno politicians but nothing concrete has been done to stop the wanton plunder of the country's fauna and flora. Stolen monies can be replaced but how do you replace a 500-year-old chengal tree? Another 25 generations, presuming the trees have not gone extinct, may not even be enough.

Looking at the gigantic girth of the fallen tree in the Malaysiakini report is heart-wrenching. I cry for the fallen giant. The still-standing giants are crying out, but who will save them?

Such giants of the rainforest are irreplaceable. Protecting endangered wildlife, especially the near-extinct Malayan tiger, evokes international concern. But how many people know about the magnificent giant trees? How many have seen a giant tualang tree? How many have stood between the mammoth flanges of a giant rainforest tree buttress?

I encourage developers to source and plant rainforest giants at appropriate sites in their developments. It is the least they can do. I have planted several species, including the awesome tualang tree, in two locations. Most of us will not live long enough to see them full grown. The joy is in allowing future generations of Malaysians to see these trees.

Every Malaysian ought to visit a virgin rainforest at least once in their lifetime and every secondary school student ought to be taken on an outing to appreciate their natural heritage now being destroyed by greedy merchants, enemies of the rainforests and traitors to the country's heirloom.

Malaysia is a rainforest country but sadly most Malaysians are ignorant of the precious assets in their backyard. Much of what jungles they have seen is secondary forest, devoid of the biodiversity of virgin rainforest. Development without conservation is economic vandalism.

Tree loggers are not tree huggers

Today as I fly over the country, I spy only endless swathes of palm oil trees below where once tall rainforest trees stood, their canopies creating a mosaic of natural beauty now lost forever in those places.

It does not make business sense to sell a 500-year-old tree for even several hundreds of thousands of ringgit when these trees are worth countless millions as eco-tourism assets, not adding their immense value to the native ecosystem.

But tree loggers are not tree huggers, and they and their cronies are only concerned about money without a thought for the natural heritage of their country. The lost trees from Sabah to Kedah is a national lamentation.

The bio-diversity created by a giant of the rainforest cannot be measured in economic terms. As the tiger plays a vital role in maintaining the vital balance in the natural food chain, so too the giant canopy trees of the disappearing rainforests. What survives, even thrives, under a giant tree is an incredible nature story that makes the rainforest such a wonder.

Without the giant rainforest giants there is no true virgin rainforest, only a ghost of what it was and needing another 500 years to replace itself, but don't count on it. You cannot simply replace the bio-diversity of a destroyed rainforest simply by replanting some trees. Soil life and its microcosm are adversely affected along with the community of plants that thrive under its shadow.

Many Malaysians are disheartened in their efforts to do something about the wanton exploitation of the giant trees. They face strong forces of opposition. But what about the equally important mid-size trees that never got the chance to grow into mature giants?

How does it feel to drive behind a lorry overloaded with rainforest trees? And to spot lorry after lorry parked in a row, resting by the side of an arterial road, heavily laden with most likely illegally logged timber. It is a dread I have felt whenever I encountered those lorries and their cargo of death.

Some years ago, while doing research for my 'Tiger' novel, I discovered that barges were used inside the Temenggor Lake and Royal Belum rainforests areas to carry logged rainforest timber to waiting lorries. Who approved the logging from one of the country's most treasured reserves? Incidentally, raw sewerage from lakeside settlements (most likely illegal) flow into Temenggor Lake. Where are the enforcement and public angst?

Roads were carved out of the Belum rainforests to enable the lorries to cart the logs away along the North-South Highway. My regret is not doing anything beyond lamenting the tragedy of the logging.

Friends familiar with the problem discouraged me and said it was a futile effort because of the hidden agenda and involvement of powerful people in high places. Those people know who they are and I am sure the authorities know too and unless they are stopped, Malaysia can kiss goodbye to any future rainforest tourism.

I dreaded to count how many of the rainforest trees have perished then and can only shake my head in utter helplessness as I imagine tree after tree fell by the chainsaws of blind greed, foolishness and destruction.

We ought to be grateful to those individuals and groups over the years who have sounded the alarm and sacrificed much to save the trees. I salute them. And who can forget Bruno Manser, the Swiss activist, and Penan elder Kelanau Naan, the latter, murdered.

But the activists today too must have felt like they are facing a brick wall. When they sound the alarm, the least we can all do is lend our support to their cause that is ultimately of national benefit. It is a national service to save the country's endangered rainforests.

It is now or never and there must be a concerted effort to stop the rape of the rainforests. What are the government and the traditional custodians of the land doing about the theft of rainforest assets?

Three tiers of power

Reforms, innovation, challenge, courage, public outrage, resistance and sacrifice, powerful laws and strict enforcement are needed to save the natural assets of the country from the greed and folly of those whose only motivation is money.

Have the sultan of each state prevent the further destruction of the giant trees and other trees in the rainforests. They are the custodians of the land and can make a difference.

Make the politicians, the chief ministers and menteri besar of their states equally responsible for the natural assets of the states under their administration.

Hold the federal government accountable for further destruction of the rainforests, in particular, the giant trees and dwindling trees like the endangered wildlife species.

If these three tiers of power and their respective control agents are not able to safeguard the nation's natural assets, who can? The public can make loud noises but only the three tiers can stop the destruction within their spheres of power.

Jail anyone convicted of a crime against nature. Confiscate the assets of those who log down protected trees and trade in endangered species of native animals. Make the fines hefty and jail time mandatory. Create a registry of heritage and precious trees now and identify each tree and its location.

Mark my words, in future, rainforest tourism, not just sightseeing but with related enterprises, may yet be the country's major money-spinner. Stop the wanton, mindless and foolish destruction of the remaining rainforests now or be left with nothing worthwhile to show, only a national lamentation.

Pockets of green lungs of rainforest trees in cities ought to be preserved. In my novel, I wrote of the creation of Rainforest Cities. It can be done. Innovate and create new enterprises that do not destroy the rainforests.

The government cannot be passive when it comes to the environment. Why react when the damage is done? Look at the rainforest not simply as a temporary plantation to extract trees but a permanent valuable asset. Create the rainforest as a living natural museum. After all, who destroys the old relics in a museum? Why destroy living relic trees?

Would one chop down a prolific durian tree that earns its owners a small fortune? The rainforest is more valuable than a million durian trees and offers an industry that has yet to be fully exploited besides its destruction for logging and plantations.

The pharmacological treasures in the rainforests are priceless. And who knows if all the cures for the world's killer diseases lie to be discovered in the old rainforests that ought to be regarded as one of the wonders of the world. Why spend billions on submarines that have no practical use when the money can be better spent on research on an array of potential rainforest industries?

There is no such thing as sustainable logging whatever people say. You cannot replace the same tree and the immediate micro-environment once you log it. The only sustainable logging is in managed tree plantations.

I urge people to establish trusts to buy up as many virgin rainforests as possible. Landowners may want to start turning their secondary forest lands into primary rainforests. Leave a rainforest legacy to future generations. Ban rainforest logging and deter the rainforest thieves with hefty fines and jail. Stop the crimes against nature. Don't just get angry, get organised. - Mkini

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STEVE OH believes life is most fulfilling when we live to love God, love people and love nature. He is author and composer of the novel and musical ‘Tiger King of the Golden Jungle’.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.