Deforestation in Malaysia

1. background
the Malaysian region, are believed to be the oldest and some of the most biologically
diverse forests in the world. Malaysian rainforests support a vast diversity of plant and
animal life, including approximately 200 mammal species (such as the rare Malayan tiger,
Asian elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros, Malayan tapir, gaur, and clouded leopard), over 600
species of birds, and 15,000 plants. Thirty-five percent of these plant species are found
nowhere else in the world. However, they are now in danger of disappearing due to a
number of human activities that threaten the ecosystem. One of it are deforestation.
Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land. Throughout history and into
modern times, forests have been razed to make space for agriculture and animal grazing,
and to obtain wood for fuel, manufacturing, and construction.
In Malaysia deforestation is a major environmental issue in the country. Between
1990 and 2010, Malaysia lost an estimated 8.6% of its forest cover, or around 1,920,000
hectares (4,700,000 acres). Logging and land clearing, particularly for the palm oil sector,
have been significant contributors to Malaysia's economy.

2. Problem formulation
a. what is the condition of the tropical rainforest in Malaysia region before and after the
deforestation.
b. what are the impacts of logging in the Malaysia region.

3. purpose
a. to determine the condition of of the tropical rainforest in Malaysia region before and after
the deforestation.
b. to find out the impacts of logging in the Malaysia region.

4. Discussion
A. Geographical conditions of Malaysia before deforestation
1.1 Malaysia map
Singapore and the Indonesian Archipelago. Sabah and Sarawak, the States of East
Malaysia lie 600 kilometers to the east across the South China Sea. These two States,
former British colonies on the northeast coast of Borneo, stretch for 1,000 kilometers to the
southern islands of the Philippines.
A central mountain range with peaks rising to 2,100 meters divides Peninsular
Malaysia. Scenic coastal plains lie on either side of the mountains. most of the population
lives in the plains and foothills of the western coast along the Straits of Malacca. The eastern
coast, along the South China Sea, has beautiful white, sandy beaches, but fewer people.
Between the two coasts lie the mountains and an often-impenetrable jungle. Primary forest
covers 60% of Malaysia and contains a variety of flowering plants and immense, but now
diminishing, timber reserves. Vegetation, even in the cities, is lush and tropical. Forest
wildlife includes gibbons,tigers,elephants,mouse deer, countless species of birds, monkeys
and insects and, in Sabah and Sarawak, the orangutan.
As one of Malaysia region Borneo contains one of the oldest rainforests and is a
biodiversity hotspot in the world. The Heart of Borneo is a transboundary cooperation
between the countries of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, and covers a 22-million hectare
landscape of conservation and sustainable use areas.

B. Condition of Malaysia forest before deforestation.

Malaysia’s land surface was once almost entirely covered with forest. there is almost
70% land is covered by tropical rainforest. One of Malaysia part is Borneo. Borneo is one of
the richest natural treasures in the world where the Heart of Borneo is home to 6% of the
world's biodiversity ranging from orangutans, clouded leopards, proboscis monkeys, various
types of gibbons and hornbills to 15,000 species of flowering plants.
Meanwhile nowadays Borneo’s forests have transitioned from being a net carbon
sink, absorbing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, to a source, with deforestation and
fires contributing to climate change. The region of Borneo rainforest shrinks cause of
deforestation in 2020 Borneo lost a half of its area.

C. the impacts of deforestation in animal.

Besides the lost off the surface area in Malaysia rainforest some animal is
also in threat in endangered. Species richness in Malaysia show that there is a 34.9%
reduction in species richness in oil palm compared to forest habitats, and 79.6% of the
species found in forest habitats were not found in oil palm habitats. Species at risk in the
Malaysian rainforest include Pygmy Elephants, Orangutans, Sumatran Rhino, and Malayan
Tigers all of which are endangered. As species are lost so are many possible cures for life-
threatening diseases.
 Orangutans is one of the examples that loss their habitat in Borneo.
They spend nearly their entire lives in trees—swinging in treetops and building nests for
sleep. They eat fruit from tree like lychees, mangosteens, mangoes, and figs. Sometimes
They also eat young leaves and shoots. Orangutans are distinguished by their long,
muscular arms and gripping hands and feet which allow the world’s largest tree-dwelling
mammal to sway branch to branch. Orangutans cannot survive without trees.
Since the deforestation went wild many orangutans’ loss their habitat and their source of
living. Orangutan no longer can find their food easily and lost their place to do activities. In
some cases, they even break through the village.

1.1 an orangutan that try to attack the bulldozer to defense their home

1.2 the orangutans get lost in the village after they lost their habitat
D. The impact of deforestation for the water.
Beside animal and surface deforestation also affect the water around that area even
the cycle of water in Malaysia. Forests have been termed the “air conditioners” of
the landscape because they keep things cool by evaporating water. The evaporated water
forms clouds, which also contribute to cooling. If evaporation is not happening then a lot of the
energy that’s coming from the sun goes into raising temperatures instead.
in Sabah and Sarawak, deforestation and logging activities are considered two major
elements that had led to the devastating effect of the contamination of water that had since
affected the communities as well as wildlife. As a result, obtaining potable water for
consumption and daily use is in high demand but yet costly for the locals
Excessive logging increases evaporation from streams, lakes and other water sources.
In addition, deforestation does not include in all cases the transfer of roots in trees found on
the banks of the river, which causes the presence of residues and microscopic organisms
underground and consequently the pollution.

E. the impact of deforestation for indigenous people

The indigenous people or well known as “orang asli” is the oldest etnicity that lived in
malaysia. They are the original people in malaysia. in peninsular Malaysia there are 18
officially recognized indigenous tribes. The ancestors of these indigenous tribes were the first
people to populate the peninsula more than 4,000 years ago.
 The indigenous people lived as often nomadic hunter-gatherers for centuries. It was
their unparalleled knowledge of the jungle. They always search all their needs in the forest.
Such as food, water, and home for living.
during the last few decades Malaysia rapidly developed intensive logging, expansion
of palm oil plantations and other large scale agricultural crops have left indigenous tribes
increasingly in a grey area, rendering them as one of the most vulnerable communities in
Malaysia
Their home was ravaged as thousands of acres of jungle were flattened and replanted
with palms. And they must find a new place for living. Some of them were being facilitate by
land to make their house. But they didn’t get electronic and water. It was hard for them to
survive outside the forest. Many indigenous people were killed Caused of the environmental
pollution.

5. conclusion
The condition of Malaysia rainforest region has decreased significant. After the government
start to increase the sources of palm oil rapidly many forests were taken down by the
government and replaced by the palm oil tree. Many creatures lost their habbits such as
orangutans, pigmy’s, Sumatran rhino’s, Malayan tigers, and other. In other case some of them
even break through the village.
Beside the creature deforestation also affect the water cycle. The cycle become
imperfect cause they lost the energy for evaporation. the forest and around them become drier
than before.
And the indigenous people in Malaysia have loss their home to live after deforestation
their life become really hard. No food, no home, no water. Some of them even died after
affected with chemical pollution that was polluted the water.
 Looking back to the chaos that already ruin Malaysia forest we all know that
deforestation is a big issue for Malaysia forest and if we won’t stop it the lung of our earth,
Borneo, will be destroyed. therefore we must preserve the forests of Malaysia.