Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTRE
Tarikh/Date : 30/03/96
Tajuk/Title : THE LAUNCHING OF THE CRYSTAL
RAINFOREST AWARENESS WEEK
I wish to thank the Organisers for inviting me
to officially launch the Crystal Rainforest
Awareness Week here today.
2. Not since man's rape and plunder of nature
worldwide have environmental issues become more a
universal point of concern. In Malaysia, our
concern for the environment is just as serious and
caring especially on the need to ensure that the
rich, resource-laden tropical rainforests that
carpet our land with such evergreen abundance are
preserved.
3. The tropical rainforest is by far the richest
natural habitat on earth, home to an incredibly
diverse array of flora and fauna. The rainforest is
also an integral part of the planet's self-
regulating support-system, controlling climatic and
hydrological cycles, and of course acting as a
carbon sink to replenish the atmosphere with life
sustaining oxygen.
4. Yet, given its importance in the life of this
planet and those who populate it, and the fact that
it has taken millions of years to transform into the
wondrous complexity we know today, the rainforest is
unimaginably fragile.
5. Not merely because modern machinery can
deforest vast tracts of land at an unprecedented
pace, but because the environmental consequences of
such devastations are potentially catastrophic;
uncontrolled exploitation of rainforest resources is
a precursor to the extinction of plant and animal
species, the degradation of natural resources,
desertification, ecosystem destruction and climatic
chaos - in short, a biological holocaust of global
proportions.
6. And, in the event of such a tragedy occurring,
man would certainly be the loser.
7. Therefore wanton destruction of the rainforest
signifies so much more than the disappearance of a
few flora and fauna in some secluded corner of the
world. Rather, it is a matter that concerns the
very future of the planet earth, the only home we
have in this universe.
8. It is for this reason that the more we
understand the nature of nature's fragile
interdependence, the greater the need to protect and
preserve this natural heritage.
9. That is why we are here today. We are here to
articulate this need. And we are here to ensure we
do whatever is necessary to protect and preserve our
natural heritage.
10. However do not be mistaken and misled into
thinking that the need to safeguard the bounties
with which we have been blessed can only be achieved
through a halt in the progress towards development.
11. Far from it. Conservation of our environment
does not mean we must retreat to the Dark Ages. Our
destiny lies not only in the protection of our
natural environment but also in ensuring continued
development too. For without development we have no
future either.
12. The question then arises as to how we should
resolve this need for nature's renewable resources
to contribute towards national advancement while at
the same time preserving our natural heritage.
13. The solution is simplicity itself. It lies in
an environmentally sound and sustainable
development.
14. This translates into the intelligent
implementation of thoughtfully conceived policies
that reconcile the fulfilment of human needs with a
responsible, caring attitude towards the natural
world.
15. Indeed, sustainable socio-economic development
has been the policy of the Malaysian Government.
And consistent with this policy, some 20 million
hectares or two-thirds of the nation's total land
area, remains under natural forest and tree cover.
The Government has emphatically undertaken the
responsibility to ensure at least 50 percent of
Malaysia's total land area remain under permanent
forest cover.
16. The fragile complexity of the rainforest must
be analysed and understood holistically before
decisions about development are made. Only then can
the necessary balance between the protection we
aspire to and the skilful, sustainable use of the
rainforest's resources be achieved. And only then
can we harvest the seeds of our destiny.
17. We must study the trees and the forests so that
we will be able to maximise the usage of everything
that we extract. It is distressing to learn that
only 20 percent of the trees cut down is utilised.
Eighty percent is burnt, producing carbon-dioxide,
soot and haze. But today we have the skills and
the knowledge to utilise 80 percent of the trees
while the balance can be disposed of with minimal
pollution.
18. We must manage our forests from a biological
perspective. We must learn the dynamics of forest
regeneration and record the reservoir of knowledge
contained within. From these we can reduce waste
and reduce the need to exploit the resources of the
forests. We will find alternative sources of
wealth.
19. Exceptionally rich and larger areas of the
rainforest could then be preserved as national parks
and reserves to ensure minimal disturbance of the
ecosystem. To Taman Negara, Belum and the Endau-
Rompin National Park which already illustrate our
commitment to this principle, other parks can be
added.
20. This is the true meaning and the benefit of
sustainable management of the rainforest. We will
not only be preserving the forests, but we will be
adding to the body of knowledge which can contribute
to a cleaner and healthier life while reaping the
commercial value of the inherent wealth of nature's
endowment.
21. There is a viable economic argument for saving
rainforests not normally propounded by
conservationists. For contrary to what certain
shortsighted quarters would have us believe, forests
can provide a continuous sustainable source of
resources despite working within prescribed
ecological limitations.
22. Timber accounts for only ten percent of
renewable forest resources. Great economic
potential lies in fibre, fruits, natural latex and
medicinal plants which can also be harvested. In
fact one in every four modern medicines contains
compounds derived from rainforest species. And
there should be more if we only scientifically
investigate all the herbal cures prescribed by
people who live in or near our forests.
23. Furthermore, science informs us that as our
supply of fossil fuels dwindles, we will surely find
ourselves looking towards the plant kingdom for
alternative energy sources. The tree plantations
which have enriched Malaysia, the rubber, oil palms,
cocoa , spices and flowers, have all come from
natural forests. It is for us to identify new
plants or trees to cultivate to meet all our needs.
This is a field which we have hardly explored
despite the richness of the plant life in our
tropical rain- forests.
24. This fact of nature's potential emphasises
further the necessity to conserve our valuable
forest and to manage carefully and even lovingly the
species-rich sites.
25. To further maintain the integrity of our
forests, all our management programmes should be
monitored. We should work towards attaining a
sustainable logging industry, improve ways in which
tropical timbers are used, encourage and support
active reafforestation, devise less damaging methods
of harvesting, reduce waste production and develop
more equitable and stable markets to meet domestic
and international needs.
26. In sustaining the delicate ecosystem of our
rainforest we will be helping to maintain its
natural biodiversity whilst stabilising local
climatic and hydrological conditions.
27. Furthermore, I see no reason why we should not
actively promote training and education programmes
which will equip our people not only with the skills
of forest management but also the loving and caring
attitude towards our forests. In the future only
such trained and qualified people should be allowed
to be involved in the extraction of our forest
resources.
28. It is hoped that the launch of the Crystal
Rainforest Awareness Week will provide a thought-
provoking insight into the challenge that lies
before us. We no longer have the luxury of time.
Nor can we feign ignorance of the issues at hand.
29. We must rekindle our respect for the
environment. And we must do it now. Effectively.
Selectively. And Unilaterally if necessary.
30. There is so much to be done. But we can
achieve so much more once we set our minds to the
task at hand. After all, immediate action is
ultimately superior to the counterproductivity of
complex and emotive debates on the virtues of
environmental conservation.
31. The earth is a precious place. Let us preserve
it with all our strength, all our might and all our
heart for ourselves, for our children and for the
future.
32. And should we succeed, there will come again a
day when we will enjoy a world where the warmth of
the land, the freshness of the air, the sparkle of
the water and the sweetness of the perfumes of the
flowers and trees are still there.
33. On that note, I have great pleasure in
launching the Crystal Rainforest Awareness Week.
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