Malaysian Nature Society: Don’t destroy forest reserve to grow oil palm

     THE Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Selangor Branch is dismayed to learn of the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) proposal to convert the remaining peat forest in the Kuala Langat South (KLS) forest reserve to oil palm.
Although PKPS reported that the forest reserve does not have valuable hardwood and consists mostly of trees from the macaranga genus, independent scientific reports note that the forest reserve retains a rich diversity of native species, including important commercial trees and notable timber species such as Kempas (Koompasia malaccensis), Meranti Bakau (Shorea rugosa) and Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus).
MNS notes that scientists from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia doing research in Kuala Langat South found that the forest was extremely rich in species, with a high potential for finding insect and animal species that have never before been recorded in Malaysia and some which were entirely new to science.
Scientific expeditions in recent weeks further produced evidence of the presence of sunbears and panthers in the Kuala Langat South Forest Reserve.

      In addition, peat forests such as Kuala Langat South provide valuable ecological services, such as maintaining freshwater quality, hydrological integrity, and carbon storage and sequestration.
The National Conservation Strategy also notes that the KLS forest reserve plays an important role in flood mitigation.
Local and indigenous communities also depend on peatlands for their livelihood. Any human influence on the Kuala Langat South Forest Reserve, therefore, can affect its form and function.

global warming

What is global warming?  Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises).  It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature.  This hurts many people, animals, and plants. Most of the observed temperature increase since the middle of the 20th century has been caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, which result from human activity such as the burning of fossil fuel and deforestation. Global dimming, a result of increasing concentrations of atmospheric aerosols that block sunlight from reaching the surface, has partially countered the effects of warming induced by greenhouse gases. Cause of global warming The primary cause of global warming is Carbon Dioxide emissions. CO2 is being pumped into our atmosphere at an insane pace; 8 billion tons of CO2 entered the air last year. Of course some of this is due to natural activity such as volcanic eruptions and people breathing. But the Earth is equipped to easily absorb those into the normal regenerative process. No, the beginning of global warming was caused by fossil fuels being burned and emitting plenty of CO2. Currently in the world 40% of all CO2 emissions are caused by power plants. These are burning coal, natural gas and diesel fuel. Some power plants burn garbage. Some burn methane made from garbage. And discounting those super green electrical generating plants designed to issue negligible pollutants, all of our power plants let loose into the atmosphere CO2. 33% of all the CO2 sent forth is the product of cars and trucks. Internal combustion engines burning fossil fuels…gasoline and diesel spew forth a retching amount of CO2. 3.5% of all CO2 emissions are released from aircraft traveling our friendly skies. Unfortunately, jets and other aircraft deliver their payload of pollutants directly into the troposphere. \ the posibility cousing global warming.

waste management

Waste management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal, and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics. Waste management is also carried out to recover resources from it. Waste management can involve solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive substances, with different methods and fields of expertise for each.

LANDFILL

Disposing of waste in a landfill involves burying the waste, and this remains a common practice in most countries. Landfills were often established in abandoned or unused quarries, mining voids or borrow pits. A properly designed and well-managed landfill can be a hygienic and relatively inexpensive method of disposing of waste materials.

Design characteristics of a modern landfill include methods to contain leachate such as clay or plastic lining material. Deposited waste is normally compacted to increase its density and stability, and covered to prevent attracting vermin (such as mice or rats). Many landfills also have landfill gas extraction systems installed to extract the landfill gas. Gas is pumped out of the landfill using perforated pipes and flared off or burnt in a gas engine to generate electricity.


RECYCLING

recycling refers to the collection and reuse of waste materials such news paper, steels, plastic bag, and glass bottle.the items will be made into new products to reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy.

ENERGY RECOVERY

The energy content of waste products can be harnessed directly by using them as a direct combustion fuel, or indirectly by processing them into another type of fuel. Recycling through thermal treatment ranges from using waste as a fuel source for cooking or heating, to anaerobic digestion and the use of the gas fuel (see above), to fuel for boilers to generate steam and electricity in a turbine. Pyrolysis and gasification are two related forms of thermal treatment where waste materials are heated to high temperatures with limited oxygen availability. The process usually occurs in a sealed vessel under high pressure. Pyrolysis of solid waste converts the material into solid, liquid and gas products. The liquid and gas can be burnt to produce energy or refined into other chenmical products (chemical refinery). The solid residue (char) can be further refined into products such as activated carbon. Gasification and advanced Plasma arc gasification are used to convert organic materials directly into a synthetic gas composed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas is then burnt to produce electricity and steam. An alternative to pyrolisis is high temperature and pressure supercritical water decomposition (hydrothermal monophasic oxidation).

renewable energy the best way to conserve mother nature

Renewable energy is energy which is comes from natural resources. Renewable energy also derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources. Climate change concerns, high oil prices, and increasing government supports are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commericialization.

SOLAR ENERGY

solar energy are energy derived from the sun through the form of solar radiation. solar powered electrical generation relies on photovoltaics and heat engine. solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they captured. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panals and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the sun, selecting material with favorable thermal mass or light dispering properties and designing spaces thar naturally circulate air.

A partial list of solar application:

use for generating electric for household application

solar camping lantern

 solar cars

BIOFUEL

biodiesel  is made from vegetable and animal fats or recycled greases. Biodiesel can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles. Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using transesterification and is the most common biofuel in Europe.

HYDROPOWER

Hydropower, hydraulic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of moving water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Prior to the widespread availability of commercial electric power, hydropower was used for irrigation, and operation of various machines.
Another method used a trompe to produce compressed air from falling water, which could then be used to power other machinery at a distance from the water.
In hydrology, hydropower is manifested in the force of the water on the riverbed and banks of a river. It is particularly powerful when the river is in flood. The force of the water results in the removal of sediment and other materials from the riverbed and banks of the river, causing erosion and other alterations.

sarawak Bakun Hydroelectric Dam has reached a height of 207 metres it the second tallest Concrete Faced Rockfill Dam in the world.

green vehicle

A green vehicle or known as environmental vehicle is a road motor vehicle that produces less harmful impacts to the environment  than comparable conventional internal combustion engine  vehicles running on gasoline or diesel.
By using green vechicle,its can lessen environmental impact and reduce oil dependence.

reduce carbon emmissions in transport sector.

reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions

contribute to energy independence by reducing oil imports.

HYBRIDS

Hybrids use two or more power systems, such as a gasoline engine and an electric drive motor, to provide more efficient propulsion.Hybrids combine two or more different propulsion systems, typically a gasoline engine and one or more electric drive motors. Most hybrids on the road today compliment their gas engines by charging a battery when breaking. Engines running on diesel or other alternative fuels can also be used in hybrids. A hybrid drive is fully scalable, which means the drive can be used to power everything from small commuter cars to large buses and even locomotives. Hybrids get more MPG or miles per gallon than most non-hybrids, and usually have very low tailpipe emissions.

ELECTRIC CARS

Electric cars produce zero localized emissions since they’re propelled by electric motors that run on batteries charged at home, or special electric vehicle charging stations. Car manufacturers are actively developing a new generation of electric cars using technologies and lessons learned from electric vehicles developed in the 1990s. Electric cars are extremely efficient and run for pennies per mile, much cheaper than any other alternative fuel.

BIODIESEL

Biodiesel is a renewable alternative fuel made from various sources ranging from waste vegetable oil to soybeans. It can often be used seamlessly in diesel engines of all kinds. Biodiesel is a cleaner fuel than standard petroleum diesel. Since it can be produced locally, biodiesel has the potential to decrease our dependence on foreign countries for oil, and enhance local economies where biodiesel production is taking place.

HYDROGEN CARS AND HYDOGEN FUEL CELLS

Hydrogen is perhaps the cleanest of all alternative fuels, burning with nearly zero emissions in an internal combustion engine and with emissions of only water vapor and heat in an electro-mechanical fuel cell. Hydrogen vehicles are being developed in many forms by most major car manufacturers. Some vehicles powered by hydrogen are in demonstration fleets, while others like the Honda FCX Clarity and Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell are being driven by consumers.

environmental organization in malaysia - WWF

WWF stands for World Wide Fund For Nature. it was formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund also known as Tabung Alam Malaysia.WWF- Malaysia is a national conservation trust that currently runs more than 75 projects covering a diverse range of environmental protection and nature conservation work in malaysia.

the projects including :- 

-scientific field research 

-policy work with the government

-environment education

-training and supporting other conservation organisations in malaysia

-public awareness programme 

-working with local communities to improve livelihoods and protect environment

WWF 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,by:

-ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable 

-promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

-conserving the world's biological diversit

WWF-Malaysia's early work was focused on scientific research of wildlife and important natural habitats. later expanded to the management of protected areas.Issues that WWF-malaysia's work on are:-

-SPECIES

    >WWF work towards the protection and management of six different species;-

 1. The tiger

2.Borneo Pygmy Elephant

3.Sumatran rhinoceros

4. Orang Utan

5. both the hawksbill and the green turtles in the sea and on the beaches

-FOREST

WWF-Malaysia's Forest for life programme aims to increase the coverage of forest protected areas, improve the management of production forests for the supply sustainable timber, and restore degraded areas especially where there is need to maintain critical forest linkages.

-MARINE

protect endangered sea turtles in melaka, terengganu and sabah. furthermore, wwf also collaborating with partners in malaysia,indinesia and the philippines to ensure the sustainbility of the apex of the Coral Triangle.

more activities with WWF- Malaysia:

green technology in malaysia

As "going green" becomes more and more trendy, developers are taking advantage of the movement and creating environmental electronic goods.


green technology objectives:
1. To reduce the energy usage rate at the same time increase economic growth.

2. ensure sustainability development and conserve the environment for future generation.

3. enhance public education and awareness in green technology and encourge its widespread use.

4. facilitate the growth of the green technology industry and enhance its contribution to the national                     economy.

in Malaysia, 4 keys green technlogy areas which is:-
1.energy
2.building 
3.water and waste management
4.transportation







for more info about green technology in malaysia,please visit http://www.greentechmalaysia.my/