(MY) national park choked to death

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Monday September 18, 2006 - The Star

 

Loagan Bunut choking

 

*BY STEPHEN THEN*

 

*MIRI:* One of the country's most unique national parks, near here, is

" choking to death. "

 

A United Nations report, compiled with the help of Sarawak Forestry and the

Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board, said this situation at the

Loagan Bunut National Park was due to sedimentation and erosion because of

logging operations.

 

UN Development Programme (UNDP) expert Dr Alexander Sayok said since 1985,

the sedimentation rate has been about 4cm a year – which is more than 100

times the rate in the earlier years.

 

The problem could also result in a massive flood, he said.

 

" We are also talking about the possibility of flooding of an enormous

proportion that would sweep through Marudi town, and even Miri, if the lake

continues drying up like this, " he added.

 

Dr Sayok met representatives of logging companies, oil palm plantations and

other private sector bodies and non-governmental organisations on Friday to

discuss efforts to save Loagan Bunut and the peat swamps there.

 

The latest UNDP Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF) report claimed that

logging operations, at the upstream sections of rivers feeding into a huge

lake there, were bringing in tonnes of silt and were choking the water

system in the park.

 

It said that the water level was dropping by at least 4cm every year and the

lake could disappear completely in 60 years.

 

The lake – the largest freshwater lake in Sarawak – is said to be unique as

its water level rises and ebbs according to a cycle that follows the water

levels of the rivers which feed it.

 

Located about 100km from here, the 10,736ha park – the size of 50,000

football fields – is home to 304 different species of animals, trees,

plants, flowers, birds, fishes and reptiles, many of which are endangered.

 

Loagan Bunut is among the few national parks in the world where the

ecosystem structure changes from freshwater lake to peat swamp to dry land

and back again every year due to natural factors.

 

UNDP/GEF communication specialist Liew Suet Fun said they are trying to get

the logging and oil-palm plantations to play a bigger role in saving the

park.

 

" We are not anti-development. We want them to be our active partners in

addressing issues of concern for the sake of the long-term future because

whatever happens to Loagan Bunut would affect their future business, " she

said.

 

Pujut state assemblyman Andy Chia, who represented the state government

during the discussions, said he was glad to see private stakeholders

responding positively to calls to save Loagan Bunut.