THE Kelantan government is proposing to remove all classifications for environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) in the state, which would effectively allow rampant development in reserve forests, environmental watchdog Rimba Watch said.

Its director Adam Farhan said a proposal to remove all ESA classifications is found in the state’s proposed development plans – Kelantan State Structure Plan, Local Plan and Special Area Plan – which are on public display from October 11 to November 11.

“This is an unprecedented move which exposes most of the remaining forests in Kelantan to development with few conditions, and puts communities at risk from disasters,” he said in a statement. 

Adam said previously the state would spatially identify three ranks of ESAs in such plans, and in theory restrictions are placed on developments within those areas, usually forest reserves, due to their importance in ecosystem services and reducing disaster risk. 

He added that under the Fourth National Physical Plan, “no land conversion or development” is allowed in ESA Rank 1 areas and developments must follow strict conditions in ESA Rank 2 areas. 

As such, he said, the classification of an ESA as Rank 1 or 2 protected certain areas, usually hilly, mountainous and intact forest reserves from development, and communities around such areas from the risk of disasters.

Adam also said the state claimed that the removal of ESA classifications from forest reserves in its development plans had already been agreed upon by the Kelantan government on October 21, 2020. 

“We express our deepest concern over the secrecy of this decision and complete disregard for public voice or participation in making such a decision,” he said.

He said under the state’s proposal, the ESA Rank 1 classification for Taman Negara has been removed while the ESA Rank 1 and 2 classifications for the forests west of Gua Musang have also been removed.

“This eliminates the little protection that the ESA afforded to the traditional territories of Wias, Pasik, Gob, Simpor, Tohoi, Depa, Bihai, Angkek, Tapai, Balar, Enching, Hau and Kelaik, all Temiar Orang Asli territory, from development,” he said.

He also pointed out that a new water retention zone had been added in the proposal and labelled “Empangan Lebir”, indicating Kelantan’s intention to proceed with the dam project in future.

“In summary, in Gua Musang and Jeli districts alone, of the 467,440ha of mostly forested land which was in ESA Rank 1 or 2 areas, only 56,143ha have been retained as water retention forests, which is a reduction in protection status of 88%. This leaves the remaining 411,297ha now vulnerable to development with few or no restrictions.

“We see this as a serious and unprecedented affront to biodiversity, human rights and Malaysia’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. 

“Given that these areas are now procedurally easier to deforest and convert to plantations without the ESA classification, we question the motive of the Kelantan authorities in doing this,” said Adam.

He said that the state government must be transparent on their reasons for proposing these changes.

“We call on the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry to intervene and protect the remaining forests of Kelantan,” he said. – October 21, 2023.