Tuesday December 11, 2012
Cameron Highlands in terrible shape due to land clearing and water pollution
By ISABELLE LAI
isabellelai@thestar.com.my
Dying land: Land has been cleared at a horrifying rate in an area in Sg Menson, where gully erosion is already visible. Tonnes of soil have been washed down into the waiting river down the slope. CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Once famed for its cool temperatures and verdant growth, Cameron Highlands is now battling unsustainable land clearing and water pollution.
Rampant land clearing for agricultural cultivation riddles the hills, carried out by farmers who either do not have a permit or are flouting regulations.
Click on image to view bigger image Heavy machinery are also seen working during the weekends, when their use is prohibited.
Some of the land clearing is being done on hillslopes, which are clearly “class three” or “four”, meaning those above the 30-degree gradient. This poses high risks of landslides and soil erosion.
When it rains, especially during the current inter-monsoon season, muddy water gushes down the slopes into rivers which have turned a murky teh tarik colour.
> Full story in your copy of The Star today
Related Stories:
TOL freeze blamed for illegal clearing
Illegal land clearing fouls water source for 13 farms in Cameron Highlands
Uphill task to ensure farmers do what's right'
- Penangites throng Esplanade for thanksgiving rally
- Clean water supply decreasing, says Syabas
- EC reminds GE13 candidates of Sunday deadline to remove campaign materials
- Sabah RCI hearing resumes Monday
- Submit proof of price hike of essential goods, says Domestic Trade Minister
- Mukhriz denies permission for Pakatan rally
- Waythamoorthy says five years to solve Indian problems
- Kedah stops all logging pending environmental review
- Enforcement officer by day, robber by night
- Student activist arrested for sedition
- Umno probing reports of sabotage by party members during polls
- Guan Eng wants Zahid to retract statement
- Beckham is Star Online readers' pick for best English player
- More tourists to Sabah despite Sulu gunmen intrusion
- No comment on minister post until I’m a Senator, says Wahid
- Adrian Cheng: updating a Hong Kong family empire for a changing China
- Wall Street Week Ahead: Correction talk gets old as rally sails along
- China April housing inflation quickens to two year high
- EU cites Chinese telecoms Huawei and ZTE for trade violations
- Yahoo to vote on $1.1 billion Tumblr buy: AllThingsD
- Dow, S&P end at records, stocks mark fourth week of gains
- CEO: Catcha Media won’t be taken private - for now
- Sarawak politically-linked stocks rally
- Jala: GST could add up to RM27b to country’s income
- Analysts say UMW Holdings’ O&G offering was widely anticipated
- Matrix Concepts’ IPO oversubscribed by 11.3 times
- Instacom wins RM200m job?
- SFSS set to be largest shareholder of Bintulu Port
- Northport buys two new quay cranes
- Bursa Malaysia closes on Friday
- Germany's Merkel visits Pope, urges tougher market controls
- Strong 6.1 earthquake strikes off Japan coast
- Hong Kong launches first electric taxis
- 'Multiple' injuries in US train accident
- Ten killed in DR Congo mine collapse: officials
- NY auction houses toast staggering billion dollar week
- New US tax chief told to launch 'thorough review' after scandal
- Cycling: Leader Van Garderen wins California time trial
- Golf: Keegan Bradley maintains Byron Nelson lead
- Golf: Korda seizes lead at Mobile Bay LPGA
- Formula One: Increased venom as F1 tyre war erupts again
- Rugby: It's all I have to play for, says Wilkinson
- Doping battle at breaking point
- Cricket: Haq nets record and a duck in Scotland warm-up
- Cricket: Anderson bowls England back into first Test
- NFL: New York Jets rusher Goodson arrested
- Cricket: Heroes' praise too much for 300-up Anderson
- Tennis: Radwanska out of Brussels to aid French Open bid
- Table tennis: Leading Chinese quartet power into last 16 of world meet
- NBA: Kings sold to group led by India's Ranadive for more than US$535mil
- Golf: China's schoolboy Guan stumbles to 77 at US$6.7mil Byron Nelson
- Rugby: Leinster add to Stade agony with European Challenge Cup win
- DAP MP says sorry to voter
- Ahmad Zahid: My statement in Utusan not racist, just practical
- Penang Government and cops headed for showdown
- Global survey claims Malaysians among the least racially tolerant
- Thousands gather at Pakatan rally in Seremban
- No comment on minister post until I’m a Senator, says Wahid
- It was Ahmad Zahid’s personal view, says Khairy
- Guan Eng wants Zahid to retract statement
- Death of wife inspires man to apply for trip to Mars
- New measures to boost public safety and security
- DAP MP says sorry to voter
- Tips to consider when picking a business partner
- The China dream
- Ahmad Zahid: My statement in Utusan not racist, just practical
- China ups stakes in Australia power firms as Singapore retreats
- Well-planned land transport network can boost Greater KL area
- Will MRT Line 2 go on as planned?
- Marketers should focus more on unconscious mind, says consultant
- Paradigm shift – fundamental change in thinking
- Self-management begins with self-awareness
RSS
