Chipping Away of Our Forests...

The chipping away of forest reserves is a serious problem.  About 15 ha of the Kanching forest reserve has been cleared for the Rawang Bypass,  the whole of Sungai Jelok Forest Reserve in Kajang had been replaced with rubber plantation, and now the Ampang Forest Reserve is under eminent threat of the East Klang Valley Expressway. 

This is piece-meal clearing of forests is precisely why TrEES and other NGOs lobbied for the government to establish the series of forest reserves along the eastern boundary of the state as one park - Taman Warisan.  As a single entity, the Park should be managed holistically, at the State level, and not as a small piece of forest here, and another small piece there, under one majlis here, and another department there.

Sadly, the Park Steering Committee has not met since 2009, and there doesn't seem to be much commitment by the State Government towards Taman Warisan Negeri Selangor.   We are working to change this.  We hope you can support this effort by spreading the word on the Park, and writing to the State Gov to voice your love of the Park.

Read more:

The Star Land clearing activities in Selangor stripping away precious greenery

Chillin' at Chiling Waterfalls

Special thanks to our guest contributor - Azlan Alladin

Introduction

Hailed by many as the state’s most scenic waterfall, Chiling (note the single L) waterfalls is located

approximately 20 kilometers from Kuala Kubu Baru and is a must-go for nature lovers or anyone seeking a time well spent. Visitors would find themselves at the heart of nature, in the vicinity of Malaysian tropical rainforest which is only less than 2-hour drive from KL. Between their cars and the towering signature 80-meter waterfall overlooking a nice calm pool is an enjoyable jungle trek which would take visitors crossing cold rivers and passing exotic plants such as wild orchids and bamboos. The site is maintained by Selangor State Fisheries Department both as a campsite and a sanctuary, and is open on Fridays to Sundays.

How to get there

The most convenient way to travel towards Kota Kubu Bahru (“KKB”) would be on PLUS highway.  From the KKB exit, head towards Fraser's Hills and you would pass the Selangor Dam and the bridge crossing Chiling River after which you park your car. An arch would be visible to the right side of the road. Walk in.

When you’re there

You would find an open area with a few surrounding wooden buildings including the registration booth where you write down personal details and pay an entrance fee of RM1 per person. There are 6 river crossings en route to the main waterfall. The suspension bridge you see to the right of the registration booth is the first crossing.

It is crucial to make a left turn at the 4-way junction you meet after coming down the bridge. Turning right would take you back to the river you just crossed. Going straight would mean hiking up away from the water.

All river crossings are marked with steel signs as well as red plastic bag tied around nearby trees. The

river bottom would be rocky and slippery hence the choice of footwear is as important as your ability to keep balance. You would notice the harmless Kelah fish swimming around as the water goes waist-deep. Note that fishing is strictly prohibited.

After trekking for about 40 minutes, before you’re done marveling at the nice cascades and green surroundings, you would meet the main waterfall which welcomes you with its mighty sound. On busy days, the area would appear too crowded but rest assured that the turnaround at the pool is rather fast, due to its chilliness.

For those looking for more, the adventure could be extended by climbing up steep slopes toward the 2^nd waterfall (not accessible) and finally the 3^rd and last waterfall which would offer a more quiet and private space ideal for picnics.

(Reminder:  Waterfalls can be dangerous!  Always be careful.  Always go in a group.  Tell someone outside the group where you are going and when you expect to return.  And please, keep nature CLEAN, take your rubbish home with you)




GPS Coordinates

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3°35'39.3"N 101°44'07.8"E

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A New Road Usually Marks the Beginning of Human Development

Building a new road or highway through a pristine ecosystem is only the beginning of human-related impacts on the ecosystem. In a short period of time, the new road or highway induces secondary development, in the form of additional branch roads, commercial development and human settlement that can have an even larger impact on ecosystems than the new road or highway alone.

This is a major concern. 

In page ES-12 of the Executive Summary of the DEIA (Detailed Environment Impact Assement) for the EKVE (East Klang Valley Expressway), it is stated:
“The proposed route ………..Based on the potential impact on current landuse and future, the areas involved will lose the status of the current landuse such as forest to highway development.”

There is a possibility that the current land use status of the area in and around the Park traversed by the expressway could change from ‘State Park’ to ‘development’ use with the construction of EKVE.  New townships could appear in and around the proposed route.  This will be a key selling point by developers…accessibility to highways, etc. That being the case, the gazetted TWNS area will eventually shrink with rapid urbanization. The prestigious housing development projects along Guthrie Corridor Expressway are testament to this. The potential long term negative spinoffs from this project are not addressed at all in the DEIA.

Page 2-16 of Chapter 2 of the DEIA increases concerns:

“It conforms to the intended KLORR concept (Outer Ring Road) of which the alignment is away from MRR2 and caters for future extension of KLORR (Northern Link)

According to the Public Works Department Malaysia:

“In setting out and discussing the potentially significant environmental impacts of the proposed project, consideration should be given to possible indirect, cumulative, synergistic or antagonistic environmental effects.”

Contrary to these guidelines, the DEIA for the EKVE contained no consideration whatsoever of the

cumulative, indirect or induced impacts of the new highway.  It is unreasonable to assume that a new highway through Selangor State Park and other critical wildlife areas would not be followed by further branch roads, commercial development and human settlement along and away from the new highway, if not soon but eventually.

You can read more on our concerns relating to the EKVE at TrEES website 

While the DEIA was approved, TrEES and many other groups remain very concerned that the EKVE would be only the beginning of human-induced impacts on what are now pristine ecological areas.