Lambir National Park suffering from human exploitation

MIRI: The blatant extraction of rare timber wood and the hunting of endangered animals are threatening to inflict permanent damage to the Lambir National Park, which is listed as the “most diverse dipterocarp forest in the world.” 

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Peter Chin said the human exploitation, which has been going on for years, had reached a stage which could jeopardise the park’s eco-system and biological set-up. 

“From Malaysia’s standpoint, we are privileged to have a national park which has the richest forest in the world, with over 1,100 different trees, 45 types of wild ginger and more than 400 species of mammals, birds and reptiles. 

“However, over the years, the wildlife population in the park has declined due to hunting and illegal extraction of timber resources. 

“The stealing of trees and plants and hunting in Lambir must stop immediately as it is jeopardising government initiatives to conserve nature and promote tourism,” said Chin at a dialogue session with longhouse chiefs and community leaders here. 

Chin, who is Miri MP, said uncontrolled human activities in Lambir, located about 30 minutes from here, would not only permanently damage the park but also jeopardise raw water resources for about 300,000 people in the Miri Division. 

Lambir, he said, was a water catchment area that supplies water to hundreds of villages and settlements surrounding the 7,000ha national park. 

“The type of forest found in Lambir is already fast disappearing in Sarawak. We must do all we can to prevent further damage. 

“The Forestry Department has formed a special committee to get community leaders to liaise with government agencies to protect the park more effectively,” he said. 

Chin noted that many foreign research institutes such as Harvard University, Osaka University, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Kyoto University Centre for Ecological Research have conducted pioneer projects in Lambir due to its rich diversity. 

Lambir is one of six national parks in northern Sarawak.

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