Cameron Highlands at risk of flash floods, landslides – Bernama
The country's tourism icon, Cameron Highlands, will see more landslides and flash floods, if forest and land encroachment in the area continues.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Science and Technology Faculty geological expert Prof Madya Dr Tajul Anuar Jamaluddin said encroachment could cause landslides and flash floods as Cameron Highlands, located 1,829 metres above sea level, was a hilly area that easily suffered from soil erosion.
"This area is hilly so the likely occurrence of soil erosion or landslides is very high in the event that illegal tree felling is ongoing.
"This is because there is no more undergrowth to act as a soil binder to strengthen the soil position in the area," he told Bernama today.
He was commenting on Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel's statement on the need to curb illegal land clearing and occupation in the highlands, which had increasingly become rampant, resulting in the affected areas facing risks like landslides and flash floods
According to Tajul, roots planted in a particular place acted to stabilize slopes by binding the soil particles.
The evapotranspiration process made by plants can reduce the pore pressure during a certain period by draining water in the soil.
So, the removal of plant growth due to forest encroachment activities will cause the stability of the environment to be disturbed and cause a natural disaster.
Tajul also said land encroachment would cause soil siltation, resulting in rivers becoming shallower and prone to flash floods.
He said the geography of such affected areas could also change due to encroachment as climatic micros there were controlled by the plant density, which would change the existing geographical position if the plants were disturbed.
Tajul said the topography of Cameron Highlands was hilly with undulating land and a cool climate that was suitable for the cultivation of vegetables and flowers.
He said there was a high incidence of land encroachment in the area.
"Those who encroach are aware that they can reap lucrative profits if they can farm the land," he said.
He said the opening of agriculture land in the highlands should be properly planned because it could affect the beauty and greenery of the surroundings.
Tajul, who viewed the issue of encroachment as serious as it could worsen if allowed to continue, said the tightening of the enforcement laws was among the best measures to curb it. – Bernama, July 10, 2014.
