AS authorities focus on battling the coronavirus, environmental and indigenous groups are worried that loggers are taking the opportunity to plunder the country’s natural treasures.

They have already detected one case so far of illegal land clearing in a protected forest in Perak believed to have gone on during the first phase of the movement-control order (MCO) between March 18 and 31.

They are concerned that because local tribes and activists are barred from conducting their usual rounds in forests known to have been a target in the past, these places have been breached once again.

Protected forests in Sarawak are especially under threat as the state government has allowed loggers to continue working while activists and tribes have to follow the movement-control order (MCO).

“The Sarawak government has allowed palm oil and logging companies to continue operating even under the MCO and this includes Ulu Baram where Penan tribes have set up blockades,” said Sarawak environmental activist Peter Kallang.

“The Penan had put up the blockades to stop loggers from going in but with the MCO, the Penan cannot man them. So, we fear that the loggers are having a field day in these areas now,” said Kallang of SaveRivers Network.

In Perak, Sahabat Alam Malaysia received public complaints and proof that a patch of the Bukit Larut reserve is being cleared for small-scale plantations.

The reserve is part of the Central Forest Spine (CFS), an ecologically sensitive and protected swathe of jungle that carpets central Peninsular Malaysia and straddles eight states.

Yayasan Hasanah, which is under Khazanah Nasional, describes the CFS as “the water tower of the peninsula” as it supplies raw water for 80% of the population.

SAM activist Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman told The Malaysian Insight planters are entering the jungles through an old logging road that is far from population centres.

“The information we’ve received is that they have slashed and burned about 1.2ha to plant crops. They even erected electric fences around their plantations,” said Meor Razak.

“They’re doing this while everyone’s attention is diverted by the coronavirus pandemic.”

Known culprits

The MCO has been extended until April 14 to break the chain of coronavirus infections in the country by minimising contact between Malaysians.

To date, the virus has killed 53 people and infected 3,333 others.

In both Ulu Baram and Bukit Larut, the authorities know about past illegal logging and land clearing, the activists said.

But there has been no solution to stop permanently these activities.

“The Perak government has stepped in once again to deal with the land clearing in Bukit Larut when I reported it to them and sealed off the orchards,” said Meor Razak.

“But their actions don’t go far enough. Since 2016, about 37ha have been gradually lost because planters keep going in even after action is taken.”

Meor Razak questioned why the state authorities did not tear down the electric fences and destroy the crops since they are operating illegally on state land.

“Why have they not also blocked off the old logging road that leads into the forest?”

In Sarawak, Kallang said last year, loggers illegally breached the 280,000ha of the Baram Peace Park despite it being a protected forest.

SaveRivers is working with the Penan and Kenyah communities to develop eco-tourism programmes in parts of the park which contain virgin rainforests.

About 28% of the park is virgin forest, 15% cultivated land and the rest degraded forest which the community is attempting to replant and restore.

“Last year, loggers went in and the villagers lodged a police report. So, the area is already known to the loggers. Our fear is that now with the MCO, the loggers have returned as there is no one to stop them,” said Kallang. – April 4, 2020.