PRECARIOUS BALANCE BETWEEN LIVELIHOOD AND CLEAN RIVERS IN PERAK

Trail guide, Long "Rambo" Kamaruddin, 64 at Kayuh d'Tonggang at Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tonggang. He told Bernama the nearby Semat River is becoming discolored from agricultural activity. --fotoBERNAMA (2024) COPYRIGHT RESERVED

Seno'oi River, the main river serving the Tonggang River Indigenous Village (Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tonggang). The river is part of the nature reserve and attraction Kayuh d'Tonggang. Nearby forest clearing for agricultural activities worries some villagers, who fear it will pollute the Semat River which may then affect Seno'oi River. --NINA MUSLIM/BERNAMA

In several of the smallholdings along Kinta River, oil palm trees were growing right on the riverbank. In a few instances, oil palm trees had fallen into the river due to erosion. Some are barely hanging on, teetering towards the river on one side like a frondy Tower of Pisa. --NINA MUSLIM/BERNAMA

Friends of Nature Activists Society (KUASA) Ahmad Nizar Kamaruddin explains to Bernama the importance of river buffer zones to prevent polluted runoff and soil erosion in a boat on the Kinta River near Kampung Permatang Pelandok in Kampung Gajah. --fotoBERNAMA (2024)

Adzmi Hassan, president of the National Association of Smallholders Malaysia (NASH) during an interview with Bernama recently to discuss palm oil certification process in accordance to EU guidelines on sustainability. He said other countries will likely follow suit so as not to be shut out of the EU market. --NINA MUSLIM/BERNAMA

A nursery run by Friends of Nature Activists Society (KUASA). Members grow native trees and shrubs to fortify river banks and cover areas affected by deforestation. --NINA MUSLIM/BERNAMA