Deforestation: Data reveals 3.2m hectares of natural forest under threat

 

Over 3.2 million hectares of the country's natural forest are under the threat of deforestation, warned environmental watchdog RimbaWatch.

In a statement today, the group said its analysis of last year's concession data revealed that the land areas were within concession boundaries.

"These 3.2 million hectares represent 16 percent of our remaining forest cover. If this deforestation occurs, Malaysia’s forest cover will drop below 50 percent of our landmass, thereby constituting a failure of Malaysia’s commitment to maintaining 50 percent forest cover.

"The overall 3.2 million hectares of deforestation is almost equivalent to an area the size of Pahang, which is Peninsular Malaysia’s largest state, or 1,316 times the size of Kuala Lumpur," RimbaWatch said.

The group released its annual report titled “State of the Malaysian Rainforest 2024” today which collated and analysed all available concession data to estimate future deforestation.

According to RimbaWatch, its data analysis also revealed that 2.4 million hectares of the said area are under the threat of deforestation to make way for timber plantations.

"Threats from timber plantations represent 76 percent of the overall total threats to Malaysia’s forests, with other threats including hydropower projects, degazettement of forest reserves and palm oil."

Thus, RimbaWatch urged the country to immediately end all conversions of forest reserves to make timber plantations.

Malaysia should also expand on its 50 percent forest cover commitment, it added. - Mkini