PETALING JAYA: Jet skis through mangroves, eagle-feeding and bad waste management are some of the issues that could threaten Langkawi’s natural beauty, says an environmental group in the wake of a recent claim that the island may lose its Unesco Global Geopark status.
Andrew Sebastian of the Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Malaysia said the organisation was ready to cooperate with the Kedah state government, and welcomed the idea to set up a “geopark department”.
“But what is needed is strong political will,” he told FMT.
He said deforestation at the foothills of Bukit Sawak and Gunung Raya was a primary concern as it was leading to loss of habitat for plants and animals, as well as soil erosion.
A landfill constructed in 2012 to deal with 100 tonnes of wastes from the island, is also worrying, said Andrew.
“The incinerator which was built to deal with Langkawi’s rubbish isn’t operating,” he said.
“So we find that leachate is running into the rivers which ultimately flow into the Kilim Geoforest Park,” he added, referring to the protected nature reserve on the island’s north-east.
State Religious, Tourism and Heritage, and Public Works Committee chairman Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid told FMT that a new department would be established to preserve the world renowned holiday island’s natural environment.
This comes as anti-graft group Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) claimed in its report that Langkawi was on the verge of losing its Unesco status due to the prevalence of “ill-advised” activities.
The report, “Langkawi: Good Governance, the Pillar to a Successful Tourism Industry”, accused the Kedah government of not doing enough to raise awareness among locals about the Unesco listing and the island’s heritage.
Andrew said the steady rise in commercial development also raised questions about how many people the island could accommodate at any one time.
He said the authorities needed to study this, as having more people than the island and its facilities could handle would have a negative impact on the environment.
He said business operators, such as boat operators who raced against each another in the geopark area, are not helping in efforts to preserve the island.
“To make matters worse, jet skis and other motorised vehicles are being used around the precious Klim mangroves. This shouldn’t be allowed,” he said.
Andrew said tourists must also not be allowed to feed eagles at Pulau Singa Besar using chicken entrails.
“Chicken entrails are not the natural food of eagles. So tossing them for the eagles to eat will change their natural dietary habits. This isn’t what eco-tourism should be,” he said.