Invest in ecotourism as alternative to logging, 4 state govts told

Environmentalists argue that investing in ecotourism offers greater benefits than logging forests. Pahang, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak should focus on long-term investments like ecotourism instead of short-term gains from logging and mining, according to Andrew Sebastian, president of the Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia.

These states boast numerous attractions for nature-based tourism and should develop business plans to capitalize on their natural resources. Forest loss poses environmental and economic risks, such as landslides, water disruptions, flooding, droughts, human-wildlife conflict, and biodiversity threats, as pointed out by Sebastian.

In 2024, Taman Negara in Pahang welcomed an all-time high of 135,435 visitors, a 3% increase from 2023. Singaporean tourists comprised more than 60% of Pahang's international visitors and have shown a strong interest in the state's nature-based and ecotourism offerings. The four states collectively account for 69.3% of Peninsular Malaysia's gazetted permanent forest reserves.

However, Pahang, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak have collectively rejected Sections 11 and 12 of the National Forestry (Amendment) Act 2022, which require public inquiries and equal or larger replacement land before excising forest reserves. These provisions aim to protect the forest reserves from being degraded without adequate transparency.

Environmental groups warn that the decision-making process lacks transparency and that the state procedures for degazetting forest reserves do not provide sufficient safeguards for the public. They urge for detailed studies involving multiple agencies before any degazettement to weigh the environmental, economic, and human consequences of losing forests.