NGO: Bukit Cerakah degazettement driving away migratory birds

 

Thousands of migratory bird species have stopped flocking to the Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve due to the deforestation of the area, an environmental NGO said.

Malaysia Partners of Environment Organisation (SAS) president Abdul Malek Yusof pointed out that deforestation has also driven out wild animals which once called the forest home.

"Bukit Cerakah used to be a 'forest within a city' where thousands of migratory birds, including flamingoes, flocked to, attracting tourists.

"Leopards also once called the forest home, until they were driven out by deforestation," Abdul Malek told Utusan.

This also explains why other wild animals, such as monkeys, have been spotted at housing areas in Sections 7 and 8 in Shah Alam, he added.

He urged the Selangor government to retain Bukit Cerakah as a forest reserve, as it is the sole water catchment area in Shah Alam.

Bukit Cerakah has reportedly been degazetted 22 times since 1924 and is currently being cleared for development, following a degazettement approved in 2000.

The state government and Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari have come under fire over the matter.

Amirudin, however, defended the degazettement, saying it was done to avoid legal action.

Commenting further, Abdul Malek said the state government should review the agencies and departments tasked to manage the Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve as most of them are allegedly more concerned about filling their pockets than preserving nature. - Mkini