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| Satellite Images Effective Tool To Check On Land Use |
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| Monday, 08 February 1999 00:00 | ||||||||
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Source: New Straits Times (page 11) The timely decision by the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES) to monitor all environmentally sensitive and protected areas, is welcomed by almost all quarters.The up-to-date information on land use and atmospheric changes can enhance conservation efforts through the monitoring and identifying of areas. Examples of land changes are forest fires, illegal land clearing, logging and encroachment. By knowing their location, area size, and terrain altitude, natural resources can be managed more sustainably. The effective application of this technique was proven from the two satellite images recently presented to the Cabinet. The satellite images taken last March show that land clearing was taking place along the borders (the buffer zones) of Taman Negara in Kelantan and Pahang. The Malaysian Nature Society supports the co-operation between the Pahang Government and the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry and other relevant departments (on the Cabinet's directive), to further investigate this reported land clearing. The integrity of the buffer zone is important to Taman Negara's ecological health. So, the decision to further use land which is not under the Forest Reserve status must be reconsidered. The society feels such land should be placed under Forest Reserve status with restricted use. MNS supports Pahang Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Khalil Yaakob's decision to create a buffer zone around the park. Such a buffer zone would provide corridors for natural migration of animals to other forest reserves. It would also prevent pests from venturing from both sides. In February last year, satellite images showed major threats to the Air Hitam, South Kuala Langat and North Kuala Langat forest reserves. Encroachments were identified in these areas. The Selangor Government should seriously look into the matter as the State has less than 30 percent of forested areas left. Rainfall pattern over Selangor has changed due to massive developments in and around forested areas. The rainfall remains more or less the same, but it has not been falling in the catchments areas. Further development would only cause more of the rain to fall outside catchment areas. Further development would only cause more of the rain to fall outside catchment areas. With the promotion of the Multimedia Super Corridor and Putrajaya, the forested areas surrounding these projects should be maintained to ensure a pleasant environment. Development balanced with conservation should be promoted. MNS supports the call by Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Law Hieng Ding to safeguard the forests against further ecological deterioration caused by development activities. MNS would also recommend that all State Governments reconsider all developments around or which encroach into forested areas. While the use of a satellite images is a welcome development, the task of interpreting the data is large one. MNS, therefore, supports the idea of Associate Professor Dr Richard Dorall of Universiti Malaya Remote Sensing Unit, that MACRES should collaborate with other appropriate agencies like the Department of Environment, Agricultural and Forestry Departments, as well as universities and non-governmental organizations. The raw data could be provided at a low cost or even for free to agencies, universities and NGOs. This way, the usefulness of the data could be optimized. Dr Sharifah Mastura Syed Abdullah, co-ordinator of Earth Observation Centre at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, also said a multi-displinary group of reseachers was needed to monitor the resources. This is important for effective interpretation of the raw data. The application of satellite images is wide, depending on the type of images procured. Computer-based programs like Geographical Information System or spatial analysis will generate detailed analysis of vegetation types or land use of the area and even track the distribution of animal territory. The data can be important for proper park management like fixing the boundary of the buffer zones as, for example, in Taman Negara. The service of MACRES would hopefully compel all State Governments to realize visually, plan and manage the natural resources and be more conservation-conscious before degazetting land for development. The data should be used at local planning stage, which is the most important stage of land use for proper use of the land. Datuk Dr Salleh Mohd Nor President Malaysia Nature Society
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