RimbaWatch questions peat swamp forests clearing in Pahang

Environmentalist group RimbaWatch has highlighted an ongoing clearing of peat swamp forests near Kampung Orang Asli Air Hitam and Tanjung Keruing in Pekan, Pahang, allegedly involving a private company.

Citing Global Forest Watch satellite data, the group said the project involves around 310ha of clearance so far, and it includes the loss of peat swamp forests.

RimbaWatch highlighted calls from affected Orang Asli villagers for the Department of Environment (DOE) to revoke an environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval issued to Pertubuhan Peladang Negeri Pahang on May 27, 2021.

It said the EIA covered 402.33ha of oil palm plantation development on Lot PT5783 H.S.(D) 5356 in Kampung Air Hitam, Leper, Pahang.

"According to satellite imagery, this clearance is less than 100m from the houses of Kampung Orang Asli Air Hitam.

"RimbaWatch has been informed that the Orang Asli have submitted reports to Suhakam, the police, and the plantation operator," the group said in a statement.

RimbaWatch also quoted the Kampung Orang Asli Air Hitam and Tanjung Keruing communities as saying in their complaints to Suhakam that the project is invading their customary land; they have not been consulted; their crops and graves have been destroyed by the deforestation; and the project involves the loss of peatlands.

The group noted that the Orang Asli villagers have called for the project to be halted immediately.

In questioning the approval, the group said the EIA report is not made publicly available despite it being a requirement under DOE guidelines to do so for projects involving the clearance of peat swamp forest for an area of 50ha or more.

"This EIA is not publicly available anywhere on the internet," RimbaWatch said.

The group also pointed out that the clearance of peatland for palm oil has contradicted Malaysia's commitments under the National Action Plan on Peatland, and National Policy on Biological Diversity 2016-2025.

RimbaWatch also said Malaysia has also communicated its intention to achieve 100 percent Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification.

"(But), palm oil plantation cannot be MSPO-certified as it involves deforestation after the MSPO’s cut-off date, and therefore there is no justification to develop an uncertified palm oil plantation," they said. - Mkini