90% of the letter has been published in The Star, 21 November 2007
Save Mangroves in Sungai Pulai
We are writing to express our shock and disappointment of a report on 13 November 2007 on “PTP gets green light for terminal project”. This means that 2,255 acres of pristine mangrove forest in Sungai Pulai, which can be approximated to 913 soccer fields - this will disappear permanently from the global map.
Clearly, no action was taken after the Johor Menteri Besar had ordered for a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) to be carried out in August 2007. It thus seems that the developer and the government officials are taking environmental cause less seriously, despite the area’s unique biodiversity by having the largest seagrass bed and the densest seahorse population in the country, as well as dugong population.
Save Our Seahorses (SOS) has expressed strong disagreement with the project taking over extensive tracts of mangroves, which serve as a first buffer, will cause run-off and in turn smother seagrass communities and cloud out the water. Surely, there will be more adverse impacts to the environment when the proposed petrochemical and maritime industries start operating.
The Sungai Pulai mangrove area is crucial in preventing coastal erosion and providing protection from strong winds and waves to 11,000 people living in 38 villages. If the mangrove forest is gone, all these villages will be destroyed by strong winds or a tsunami.
For their livelihood, it used to be the home to at least 111 fish species and other inhabitants like prawns. For every 0.4ha of mangrove area destroyed, sea products will be reduced by 304kg. Destroying the mangrove area is equal to take away the livelihood of the fishermen.
Although the project proponent had recently declared that they will help to gazette Pulau Merambong and adopt seahorse and dugong, and made some donations to the local NGOs, we feel that if they are really concerned about the environment, they should first do the DEIA, and not pay lip service to boost their image in the sudden wake of the need to attract investors.
By the time Pulau Merambong Park is ready, most living things had probably perished amid the pollutants discharged by the petrochemical and heavy industries located upper stream.
Therefore, there is a need for decision makers to halt any green light for developers to destroy our mangroves. Our decision makers must make a strong stand and transcend above political influence. Just as a reminder, the environment is what we borrow from our future generations.
Thing Siew Shuen,
Secretary,
Save Our Seahorses (SOS) Action Committee
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