In the region of Terengganu, Malaysia, a stretch of forest filled with endangered wildlife is disappearing. In preparation for a new hydroelectric project, the Terengganu state government is logging and then flooding the forest. But here's the twist: They are logging three times more land than is needed.
As this valuable forest disappears, so will many species that inhabit the area, such as the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros and the Malayan tiger. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has deemed 94 plant and animal species in the region threatened by extinction. In the face of reckless logging, these species have little hope of survival.
Urge the Malaysian prime minister to protect the wildlife and stop the unnecessary logging of the high-value forest in the Terengganu region.
Dear Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib,
I am alarmed by the proceedings of the hydroelectric project in Terengganu, which involve logging three times more forest than is needed. This project will dam the Sungai Terengganu Mati and Sungai Tembat rivers, creating two reservoirs, which will flood 6130ha of forest reserves. However, the state government plans to log an additional 12,620ha surrounding this area.
This logging is completely unnecessary and as the valuable forest disappears, so will many species that inhabit the area, such as the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros and the Malayan tiger. There are also 94 species of plants and animals in the forest that the International Union for Conservation of Nature has deemed Red Listed as threatened by extinction.
Although a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) on the project predicts that logging will have a high impact on the wildlife, logging has begun illegally, prior to the approval of the DEIA. I urge you to protect the wildlife and stop the unnecessary and unlawful logging of this high-value forest in the Terengganu region.
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Thank you for helping to save these forests.
