GAZETTING mangrove forest areas in the state as the permanent forest reserve is among the state government’s environmental management plans.
State Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the latest area to be included under the permanent forest reserve is the aquaculture industrial zone (ZIA) which is about 400 acres.
“The ZIA was a project that always drew controversies during the state assembly. It was dropped and replaced with other plans.
“So, now we want to ensure that the area (ZIA), which is near Penaga (Pasar Gebu), to be part of the permanent forest reserve.
“The gazetting process of the ZIA is currently at the final stage,” Phee said during a press conference held at Cititel Hotel.
Phee was at the Cititel Hotel to attend the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve (PHBR) Management Plan Workshop.
Speaking on food security, Phee said the state government has appointed USM’s Marine and Coastal Studies (Cemacs) to work together with the Fishery Department on ‘marine sanctuary’.
“The reason why we want to have the marine sanctuary is to clean up the Penang seawaters by having ‘oyster islands’ as well as breeding mussels.
“This will also become part of eco-tourism for Penang,” he added.
Apart from that, Phee said that the gazetted Permanent Forest Reserves also include the forest area in Pulau Jerejak.
“Other than what was allocated to Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Urban Development Authority (UDA), the rest of the areas at Pulau Jerejak have been gazetted as the Permanent Forest Reserve.
“No more lands will be given out, this is our commitment to preserving the environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Penang Hill Corporation general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said PHBR Management Plan aims to balance the logistics, biodiversity and livelihoods of the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve.
“We want to support sustainable socio-economic development while conserving nature.
“PHC also welcomes various expertise to give their inputs in making Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve a success,” he said.
The workshop was attended by representatives from government agencies, private agencies, academicians, professionals and non-governmental organisations.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Alissala Thian