Putrajaya Against Kelantan Decision On Forest Reserves, Says Nik Nazmi

On 11 Oct, the Kelantan Town and Country Planning Department drafted alterations to the Kelantan State Structure Plan, Local Plan and Special Area Plan. WWF-Malaysia is very concerned that the draft proposes to remove all Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in Kelantan from the plan, and retain parts of the areas as water catchment areas. ESAs are ranked as below and in theory, restrictions are placed on developments within those areas due to their importance in ecosystem services and reducing disaster risks.

ESA Rank 1 – Prohibits development, agriculture or logging except for low-impact nature tourism activities, research and education purposes.

ESA Rank 2 – No development or agriculture. Sustainable logging and low-impact nature tourism may be permitted subject to local constraints.

ESA Rank 3 – Minimal and strictly controlled development may be allowed in these areas, depending on the type and intensity of the projected impact and constraints.

ESAs identified in the National Physical Plan and the guideline are clear and justified. However, it falls on the state governments as the landowners to implement these measures.

Read more here: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/27/putrajaya-against-kelantan-decision-on-forest-reserves-says-nik-nazmi

WWF-Malaysia would like to invite the public to participate in the review process of the drafted alterations.The public review is from 11 October to 11 November. This is the time and opportunity to make your voice count if you would like the Kelantan State Government to reconsider development in environmentally-sensitive areas in the state.

We encourage you to examine the plan in detail and provide your feedback, suggestions, and concerns; download the documents here (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UsYqBPr6DxbotHBQ29VhASnrTYl5zWL_)

Please mail your completed forms to the address provided on the form or email Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa Negeri Kelantan at jpbd@kelantan.gov.my (Malaysians living outside Kelantan are also welcome to submit forms).

Your voice matters. Thank you for speaking up for nature.



PETALING JAYA: The Federal Government does not agree with Kelantan’s move to declassify parts of its permanent forest reserve as environmentally non-sensitive areas, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/27/putrajaya-..

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WWF-Malaysia is a national conservation trust that currently runs conversation projects covering a diverse range of environmental protection & nature conservation in Malaysia. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

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