Deforestation Now and the Future
With the ongoing logging/mining/monoculture (oil palm) operations in Panti reserve, together with the cumulative effects of exploitation over the last 20 years, almost half of the reserve is already destroyed or disturbed to a certain extend. Whatever primary forest formations that remain are largely confined to the foothills and slopes of Gunung Panti and neighbouring Gunung Muntahak and a tiny patch at Hutan Lipur Panti. Both these are untouched because they form an important catchment area for Kota Tinggi town and also contain sources of the Sungei Johore ; its disturbance will ipso facto disrupt clean water supplies downstream.The Sungei Johore is one of the largest rivers in Johore state and provides the main freshwater supplies for a large proportion of the populace, whether directly or indirectly.
Operation of logging concessions at track 270, (milestone 270 on the trunk road) has cause extensive damages to the forests and also wrecked havoc on the ecology and local hydrology of the region. Streams are muddied and gully and rill erosion can be seen on many of the exposed barren surfaces. As removal of the vegetation exposes the soil surface to the effects of rain, interception of rain is minimised and allows the erosive powers of rain to act directly on the topsoils. Meanwhile, washed away soil and other material causes extensive siltation of the streams with debris, rendering it less favourable for aquatic organisms, thus ultimately disrupting local ecology. Many of the shyer mammals are disturbed and are forced deeper and deeper into the hills, as can be seen in less encounters with large mammals nowadays as compared to before. (Pers obs)
As one drives along in the direction of Bunker trail approaching milestone 270 on the Mersing trunk road, looking on the left , one would notice a huge barren unused piece of land, a scene of utter environmental devastation.. One really wonders why these forests were destroyed when there is no use intended for the land...definitely an prime example of poor land use , management and non-sustainable development....A half-built house proudly declaring 'Yatama Nature City' stands as a grim reminder of this...a tombstone for the forests that was cleared for building nothing......
Recently , a large extend of forest clearance has found its way up into the hilly forests (2005 info)...a trail of destruction...mangled broken trees...bulldozers are all over the place while at the same time, depressions of the exposed ground started to form large muddy puddles. One can see trees with diameters as wide a man' is tall, being extracted (on the track 270 side especially) by huge timber lorries...... Many a times it takes a massive landslide taking lots of life before the authorities ever realise the dangers of hill deforestation. Apparently, the authorities have yet to learn from the incidents in Genting Highlands, Gunung Pulai and of course in neighbouring Thailand and Philippines, where massive catastrophes like mudslides from deforested land caused the death of hundreds.
Summing up, the hitherto destruction of Panti is actually a preventable tragedy and certainly there is still hope. However, with logging and plantation companies keen to reap quick short term profits, and an ignorant management at the helm (plus a lack of governmental will probably), at play, it looks like more destruction is imminent before anything is really done to halt it. It will definitely take protracted coordinated effort by both the government, the forestries and wildlife bodies as well as the general public, inclusive of NGOs to initiate actions so as to stop the current trends and perhaps preserve Panti Forest as a reserve long term. What the authorities need to realise soon, is that the ecological benefits provided by the forest to the people is actually more than priceless and cannot be valued merely in terms of dollars and cents, but rather in the long term cultural, aesthetic and resource benefits it brings about. Of course, it will also help to know that preservation of the forest also churns out economic returns in terms of ecotourism earnings and such.
In conclusion, we must act fast to prevent this veritable paradise, from being lost because it will be posterity that would suffer and not able to benefit from its riches (resource and education wise). Enough destruction has been inflicted and its now or never, to act.
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