A new report utilising the latest satellite imagery claims that Malaysian forests are being cleared at record rates.

The report by Wetlands International says between 2005-2010 almost 353,000ha of the one million hectare peatswamp forests in Sarawak were opened up at high speed; largely for palm oil production.

In just five years time, almost 10% of all Sarawak’s forests and 33% of the peat swamp forests have been cleared. Of this, 65% was for conversion to palm oil production.

“This is the first time that detailed and verified figures on deforestation and peatswamp conversion has become available for Sarawak,” said Niels Wielaard of Sarvision, a satellite mapping company which carried out the study for Wetlands International.

“Free availability of satellite imagery and tools such as Google Earth are revolutionising forest monitoring.”

Wetlands International is calling for a complete ban of palm oil production on peatlands and for a halt on further conversion of natural areas for this crop.

In addition, Wetlands International wants an end to incentives for biofuels in the EU that “result in direct and indirect land use change like we now see in Malaysia”.

Source: internet

Posted and edited by Riona, Hanbao News Department

Contact: rionach@cltimber.com