Case Study EIA: Deforestation
1) Background of TWO (2) major activities that drive to deforestation in
Malaysia.
2) Select ONE (1) of prescribed activities from the three Orders that is relevant to your answer in (1).
3) The minimum size of the activity for each order that require EIA.
4) THREE (3) potential mitigation measures to minimize the impact of the
selected prescribed activity.
5) The similarities and differences of the selected prescribed activity
among the three Orders.
GROUP 4 :
Lukman Hakim bin Hairuddin (78116)
Yeap Mandy (81535)
Macarena Douglas (81849)
Zulhilmi bin Mohamad Ismail (81569)
Muhammad Sufi Mui'nuddin bin Mohd Supian (80292)
Timber plantation
41.6% of deforestation
(2017-2021)
transformation of forest reserve land into commercial monoculture crops
Rubber
Background of timber plantation
The establishment of expansive commercial forest plantations is being supported by the government.
to lessen the demand for raw materials from native forests
to guarantee its ongoing accessibility for the domestic timber sector
The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) was tasked with the significant responsibility of pursuing an ambitious agenda for the development of Malaysian forest plantations.
The Ministry intends to establish 130,000 hectares of forest plantation under this scheme.
Type of timber plant
Neolamarckia cadamba (Kelempayan/Laran)
Acacia spp.
(mangium /hybrid)
1st schedule
Forestry
Logging to convert land use covering an area of 100 ha up to 500 ha
100 ha
Similarities between Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015 and Environment Protection (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2005.
Development of forest plantation or reforestation covering an area of 100 hectares or more but less than 500 hectares. (Federal law: Section 5 subsection e while Sabah law: Section 2 subsection 2)
Differences between Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015, The Natural Resources And Environmental (Prescribed Activities) Order, 1997, and Environment Protection (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2005.
Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015
The Natural Resources And Environmental (Prescribed Activities) Order, 1997
Environment Protection (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2005
There is no difference between this order and the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015.
Logging, or cutting or taking of timber for the purpose of conversion from forest to other
land use covering an area of 100 hectares or more but less than 500 hectares. (Federal law: Section 5 subsection b while Sabah law: Section 2 subsection 1)
It is mentioned logging instead of forestry in this order.
Conversion of forest at 300 meters or more above mean sea level to other land use
covering an area of 20 hectares or more but less than 100 hectares
Logging, or cutting or taking of timber from forest at less than 300 meters above mean
sea level covering an area of 100 hectares or more, outside permanent reserved forest
Conversion of an area of mangrove forest, peat swamp forest or fresh water swamp forest for industrial, housing or agricultural use covering an area of 20 hectares or more but
less than 50 hectares.
Logging
Background of logging
Early Logging: Malaysia started logging during the colonial period to harvest hardwoods like teak and meranti for construction and furniture.
Logging Boom: After World War II, logging took off, becoming a big part of Malaysia's economy, providing jobs and income.
Environmental Impact: Logging grew fast but caused problems like deforestation, loss of wildlife, and soil erosion, especially in places like Sabah and Sarawak.
Government Action: Malaysia introduced rules to manage logging and promote sustainable practices, like selective logging and replanting trees.
Sustainability Efforts: Malaysia now focuses more on sustainable logging, with certifications like MTCS to ensure wood meets global standards.
Illegal Logging: Despite rules, illegal logging stayed a problem due to high demand for valuable wood and weak enforcement.
SELECTIVE LOGGING PRACTICES
PRACTICE COMMUNITY-BASED FORESTRY
ENFORCEMENT OF LOGGING REGULATIONS
Selective logging is a forestry practice where only a selected number of trees are cut annually in a forest compartment based on criteria such as diameter, height, or species instead of the whole forest at once. The remaining trees are left on the stand instead of clearcutting, where all trees are felled by encouraging selective logging practices that target specific trees for harvesting while preserving the overall structure and biodiversity of forests. This approach helps to minimise habitat destruction and ecosystem disruption.
Enforcement of logging regulations is crucial for ensuring that logging activities adhere to legal requirements, environmental standards, and sustainable forestry practices. Enforcement agencies responsible for overseeing logging activities should regularly monitor forest areas to detect and deter illegal logging, unauthorised harvesting, and other violations of forestry laws. This may involve aerial surveillance, ground patrols, satellite imagery analysis, and GPS tracking and remote sensing technology.
Community-based forestry (CBF) is an approach to forest management that involves the active participation of local communities, including indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent groups, in the stewardship and decision-making processes related to forest resources. Community-based forestry would be able to promote sustainable forest management practices that balance the social, economic, and ecological needs of local communities with long-term forest conservation goals. This may involve agroforestry, rotational harvesting, and other techniques that maintain forest health and biodiversity.
Rubberwood (
Timber Latex Clone)
Paraserianthes falcataria (Batai)
Azadirachta excelsa (Sentang)
Tectona grandis (Teak)
Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) Official Portal - Development of Forest Plantation. (n.d.). Www.mtib.gov.my. https://www.mtib.gov.my/en/services/forest-plantation/development-of-forest-plantation
Acacia
Khaya spp. (Khaya ivorensis/Khaya senegalensis)