Tasik Meromiktik: Keunikan Yang Harus Dipelihara

Oleh: Azlan Abdul Rahman

Terpesona dan mengagumkan! Dua perkataan paling sesuai menggambarkan fenomena peralihan pasang surut air di Tasik Meromiktik, Pantai Kerachut, Taman Negara Pulau Pinang. Tasik unik yang dikelilingi ratusan pohon-pohon teduh memayung persekitarannya mempunyai kisah yang tersendiri.

Tasik Meromiktik adalah tasik unik yang hanya terdapat di Taman Negara Pulau Pinang dan 19 tempat lain di seluruh dunia. Keunikan tasik ini bukan terletak pada lokasi mahupun saiznya, tetapi unik dari segi kandungan serta cara peralihan pasang surut airnya.

Meromiktik bermaksud dua lapisan air iaitu air laut dan air sungai yang tidak bercampur antara satu sama lain. Lapisan air yang tidak bercampur ini akan menjadikan suhu air tersebut berlainan dan menjadi habitat dua jenis hidupan berlainan. Struktur lapisan air di Tasik Meromiktik kebiasaannya dilatari oleh air laut pada dasar tasik dan air sungai pada bahagian atas dan permukaan kerana ketumpatan air laut adalah lebih tinggi berbanding dengan air sungai. Menyentuh mengenai kehidupan di dalam tasik seumpama ini, keistimewaannya masih dapat dilihat apabila hidupan air seperti ikan-ikan kecil dan udang juga datangnya dari berlainan jenis iaitu ikan-ikan laut dan sungai.



Tasik ini mempunyai keluasan 2.77 kilometer persegi dengan kedalaman maksima 9 kaki. Proses semulajadinya akan bersilih ganti membentuk dan mengeringkan tasik unik ini. Kebiasaanya pada waktu peralihan angin monsun iaitu antara pada bulan April hingga Mei dan Oktober hingga November, fenomena unik pembentukan dan pengeringan tasik ini dapat dilihat serta diamati. Musim monsun yang membawa ombak besar dan angin kencang akan membantu proses pemecahan benteng pasir pantai dan membentuk aliran air laut masuk ke dalam tasik. Lama-kelamaan tasik ini akan dipenuhi dengan air laut dan air sungai dari enam batang sungai yang mengelilingi tasik ini. Seterusnya, selepas satu tempoh waktu dan peralihan musim monsun, ombak besar dan angin kencang sekali lagi membantu proes merobohkan empangan pasir dan menarik air laut serta sungai keluar ke laut. Fenomena ini boleh berlaku berulang kali dalam tempoh peralihan angin monsun.



Pengunjung dan pelawat yang bertuah sahaja dapat melihat proses pembentukan dan pengeringan Tasik Meromiktik ini. Pengunjung yang berminat melihat tasik ini dipenuhi air bolehlah melawatnya antara akhir bulan Mei sehingga Disember dan tasik ini akan berubah wajah menjadi kering antara bulan Januari hingga Mei. Sekadar berkongsi informasi, jika tasik ini pasang dan dipenuhi air, ia mampu membekalkan air untuk kegunaan 2500 buah rumah selama setahun. Anda boleh bayangkan keluasan tasik ini.

Langkah pemeliharaan dan pemuliharaan tasik ini wajar dipratikkan secara konsisten dan berterusan. Semua pihak termasuklah pengunjung dan pelawat hendaklah menyedari keunikan tasik ini dan menghargainya sebagai salah satu warisan alam untuk kita pelihara. Apa yang kita miliki pada hari ini bukanlah hak kita sahaja tetapi keperluan untuk generasi mendatang. Jadi bersamalah kita memelihara keindahan dan keunikan warisan alam untuk kesejahteraan bersama.

Home Sweet Home

by Tan Poh Ling



Mangroves Tree

“I have a special home which grows between land and sea where other plants can't grow - Mangroves. Lately, I need to move away because my home is being destroyed. Besides, some of my friends died because they are not used to the environment around after our housing area being destroyed…” Mangroves is killed bue to the crude oil clogging on the lenticels of the tree contnually flooding from the artificail dikes and sea walls. Today, mangroves forests are one of the most treated natural habitats in the world.

Mangroves contribute to us in many ways. The authority should enforce law in order to gaze the other remaining mangroves forest within the forest reserves area and managing mangrove forests as fishery reserves to encourage environmentally-sensitive commercial aquaculture activities. Their outlook may not be attractive but they are able to protect us in many ways. Hence, we should value them and not hurt them.

In Malaysia, mangrove forests covered 564,971ha with 97,882ha in Peninsular Malaysia, 340,689ha in Sabah and 126,400ha in Sarawak (Ministry of the Natural Resources and Environment). Mangrove forests are a unique ecosystem that is usually found along sheltered coasts where they grow abundantly in saline soil and brackish water subject to periodic fresh- and salt-water inundation. Mangroves have a unique specialisation in adaptations to the environment that enable them to live in salty waters.

Acting as the interface between land and sea, mangrove forests act as an important breading ground to many fishes, crabs, prawns and other marine animals. About 50% of fish landings on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia are associated with mangroves. Besides, it also acts as a protection to the coastline and serves as natural barrier to disaster such as tsunamis and torrential storms. Given the enormous advantages of mangrove forests, proper management and conservation is crucial to ensure the continued existence of mangrove forests.

Hillside Development: Exclusive or Destructive?

By: Azlan Abdul Rahman

Bukit Antarabangsa and Taman Melawati in Selangor, Bukit Tinggi in Pahang, Batu Feringgi as well as Penang Hill in Penang and Lojing Highlands in Kelantan are examples of places which undergo the process of rapid development. Bukit Antarabangsa, Taman Melawati and Batu Feringgi rapidly been developed with terrace of bungalows, condominiums and apartments; while in Bukit Tinggi and Lojing Highlands, the implementation of agricultural and logging sectors are high. Kindly to mention, all these places are hillside places.

Hillside is a good, favorable and demanded site to build and develop terrace of houses as well as for the tourism sector. Every developer tends to choose hillsides as their site to build luxurious houses because it represents good fortune and exclusiveness of the owner. However, we need to know that by developing the hillsides, we are actually “inviting” natural disasters rather than to maintain the good exclusive way of life. Why is it so? The answer is because hillside development is just another kind of destruction to the environment. Any action which deals with destruction is leading us to disaster and catastrophe.

Hillside development is just a crime to the environment. We need to realize that by developing the hillside, we are actually being cruel to the environment, to its inhabitants as well as to ourselves. Rapid hillside developments can cause many problems especially in the circle of lives. Considering the ecology of the forest at the hillside, as an example, we need to understand that many flora and fauna depend on the forest. Forest is not just a habitat for floras and faunas but also as one of the important element in the circulation of human lives. The forest serves as water supply, food and home as well. If we ignorantly develop the hillside, we will notice that lots of destruction and problems will affect not only to human but also to the flora and fauna. To mention a few, landslides, floods, water shortage, destruction of animals’ habitat and extinction of several species of flora and fauna are the consequences and impacts of hillside developments. And even if we consider these problems as not serious and not harmful to us, we need to take notice that hillside development can lead to bigger problem with relation to our Earth – global warming and climate change.



Even though Malaysia has planned to come out with a new legislation on hillside development, which seems more on protecting the hillside, but the legislation cannot do anything to conserve it. The implementation of Hong Kong’s Dangerous Hillside Order, which is to reduce the risk posed to the public from known dangerous or potentially dangerous private slopes or retaining walls, seems appropriate but to what extent it will help us in conserving the hillsides? The right method of conservation is for us to treat the hillside as an exclusive, no development zone. As we know, prevention is better than cure.

(Photos courtesy of: http://www.thestar.com.my & http://www.jasons.com)

Kesedaran Pelihara Sungai Perlu

OLEH: AFRA'FARDILLAH ZAIMUSTAPAR

Isu pencemaran sungai bukanlah merupakan satu perkara baru malah sudah acapkali dibincangkan dan sering dibangkitkan oleh pelbagai pihak. Namun keberkesanan mengatasi masalah ini masih lagi menjadi persoalan. Peka dengan masalah pencemaran sungai, kerajaan pernah melancarkan ‘Kempen Cintai Sungai’ dan memperuntukkan sejumlah wang yang banyak bagi membersihkan sungai-sungai yang tercemar dan kotor. Persoalannya, mengapakah setelah begitu banyak wang ringgit dilaburkan namun pencemaran masih begitu berleluasa? Malah, tahap pencemaran sungai semakin hari semakin membimbangkan. Jika diimbau zaman nenek moyang kita dahulu, sungai adalah merupakan punca utama sumber air untuk diminum, memasak, mandi dan sebagainya. Selain dariada itu, sungai turut dijadikan punca mencari rezeki seperti menangkap ikan. Namun, pada masa kini semua itu hanyalah satu memori semata-mata dan kini kita berhadapan dengan keadaan di mana air sungai yang telah tercemar dan warnanya hampir sama dengan warna ‘teh susu’ malah ada yang lebih dahsyat daripada itu.

Sebagai contoh, jika dilihat di Selangor dan Pulau Pinang, sungai-sungai yang terdapat di kedua-dua buah negeri ini telah mengalami tahap pencemaran yang teramat kritikal. Pencemaran ini berlaku dipercayai kesan daripada pembangunan yang tidak terbatas dan pertambahan populasi penduduk. Selain itu, sikap sesetengah manusia yang seolah-olah tidak bertamadun mengambil jalan pintas dengan membuang sampah sarap ke dalam sungai adalah menjadi punca berlakunya pencemaran. Apa yang dapat dilihat, di Pulau Pinang, realitinya, Sungai Pinang yang mengairi ibu negeri, Georgetown terus kekal sebagai sungai paling kotor di Malaysia dan airnya tidak boleh dijadikan air minuman walaupun sudah banyak usaha pemulihan sungai itu dijalankan. Di Selangor pula, dianggarkan sejumlah 1.2 juta tan kelodak terpaksa dipunggah dari Sungai Klang dalam masa setahun. Ini jelas sekali menunjukkkan tahap pencemaran sungai di negara kita berada ditahap kritikal. Jika sungai tidak dipelihara dan punca air semakin berkurangan kejadian yang menimpa rakyat di Selangor pada 26 Mac 2004 bakal berulang di mana mereka dikejutkan dengan masalah ketiadaan bekalan air paip.

Sungai-sungai yang teruk tercemar, bukan sahaja menyebabkan airnya berbau busuk, berkeladak dan kadang-kadang berwarna hitam, malahan pelbagai jenis sisa-sisa domestik turut terkandung di dalamnya. Sungai seolah-olah dijadikan tempat pelupusan sampah. Malah, sikap segelintir pengusaha kilang yang melepaskan kumbahan terus ke dalam sungai tanpa sebarang rawatan juga menjadi punca berlakunya pencemaran. Antara musibah lain yang bakal terjadi kesan daripada pembuangan sampah ke dalam sungai ialah banjir kilat seperti yang sering terjadi di Kuala Lumpur. Seharusnya perkara seperti ini dijadikan peringatan supaya ianya tidak berulang pada masa akan datang. Hakikatnya, walau begitu banyak sekali kempen dan peringatan yang disogokkan, kalau tidak wujud kesedaran dalam diri sendiri adalah mustahil untuk segalanya direalisasikan.

Oleh yang demikian, pemuliharaan sungai seharusnya dilaksanakan secara berterusan dan dikawal secara bersepadu. Pemeliharaan dan pemulihan sungai tidak boleh dipertanggungjawabkan kepada pihak tertentu sahaja. Semua pihak seharusnya bertanggungjawab dalam melaksanakan usaha ini kerana memelihara sungai adalah tanggungjawab bersama. Seharusnya, polisi perundangan dan penguatkuasaan dimantapkan lagi bagi memupuk kesedaran yang berterusan. Sebenarnya, tidak mudah untuk mengubah sikap manusia tambah-tambah lagi di negara kita yang terdiri dariapda lapisan masyarakat dan sosio-ekonomi. Namun, usaha seperti ini diharap dapat mengubah sedikit sebanyak dapat mengubah mentaliti masyarakat di Malaysia tentang pemuliharaan sungai. Apa yang diharapkan pada satu hari sungai yang bakal diwariskan kepada anak cucu kita akan besih dan kualiti airnya menyamai kebersihan Sungai Hudson di Boston, Sungai Seine di Paris dan Sungai Thames di London.

kredit kepada:http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/kedah/sgsedim/00.jpg

Palestine as Ideal Place for Migratory Birds

By: Khalid Abu Fayyad

Palestine is located at a junction of three continents. It is not only a land bridge linking Asia, Africa and Europe but also deemed as a bottleneck and good route for the migrating birds from Africa to Europe and vice versa.

The total land area of Palestine is very small and does not exceed 27027 km2. Nevertheless, it contains various and numerous species of birds compared to those of big countries. Palestinian Wildlife Society (PWLS) has documented the existence of 520 species of birds in Palestine. Four hundred of such species are migratory birds while 120 are residential and breeding birds. The PWLS also estimated the number of migratory birds at 500 million birds coming to Palestine from Europe to stay in Palestine for some times before continuing their trip to Africa.

Migratory birds stay in Palestine for several days or weeks and sometimes for several months. For instance, the prey birds such as White Stork and European Honey-buzzard stay for some days or weeks while other prey birds such as Lesser Kestrel, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Egyptian Vulture remain for several months.

Birds migrate from their permanent residence area in Europe to Africa owing to the European cold weather. They depart Europe to African warm weather. On their way to Africa, birds land in Palestine, which has a nicely moderate weather, to stay for some time. After that, some birds do not prefer to leave Palestine while others continue the trip towards Africa making it twice a year where they start returning back to their permanent residence in Europe when the weather gets warmer.

Palestine is a perfect route for migratory birds and most of migratory birds exist at three major areas: Jordan Valley (El Aghwar), Costal Area (Mediterranean Sea Coast and Gaza Valley) and Mountainous areas (Nablus, Jerusalem and Hebron mountains).

Al Aghwar is an unprecedented area in the world. It is such an adorable area to birds. It is the lowest area in world and it is considered as the most suitable environment for endangered birds locally, nationally and internationally. As a result of the presence of Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, springs and artificial ponds, a lot of Plants that grow on salinity are available in this area. In addition, different types of insects grow permanently due to availability of some soil components in which the insects need to live. Moreover, this special place makes many birds such as White Stork, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, and Black-winged Stilt compete with each other to migrate to El Aghwar area.



However, the coastal area that consists basically of Gaza Valley is not less important than El Aghwar area. Gaza Valley is the first nature reserve in Palestine, supported internationally, and the only natural wetlands area in Gaza. The length of the valley is about 160km and its width is 200 m making it the largest and longest Valley in Palestine.

The sandy dunes and salt water which resulted in connecting the valley with the Mediterranean Sea created an ideal condition for growing plants and wildlife in general and reptiles in particular. In addition, the valley is a home to dozens species of fish, alga, crustaceans, and mollusks which is a varied and vital food source for many kinds of residential and migratory birds such as ducks, Glaucous Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap and Greater Sandplover.

Besides, mountainous areas are also vital areas for birds. They are characterized by raising 900 m above sea level and having dense natural jungles as well as a varied wildlife. Moreover, birds benefit from characteristics of those areas in their migration which, occurs during the night or the day.

Thanks to Allah, the God of the worlds, for granting us such a unique and vital location with various and numerous birds. This requires from us protecting and conserving these birds from some greedy people. Those people want to take advantage of such birds only for themselves and deprive other people of enjoying them. The excessive and unregulated hunting activities by people endangered some species of birds such as Ostrich and Brown Fish Owl. Thus, those wrong behaviors necessitate raising public awareness towards the importance and the aesthetic values of birds in order to enable all people to live in a beautiful environment with the impressive colors, sounds and movements of birds.

Air Mata Penyu

Oleh: Tan Poh Ling

Mengimbau kembali saat-saat bercuti di Rantau Abang tahun lepas, hati saya begitu pilu dan sedih. Hati saya terpukul apabila melihat sebilangan manusia kejam “merampas” nyawa dan kehidupan makhluk kerdil yang tiada daya melawan iaitu penyu.

Bayangkan, dalam keadaan sarat mengandung zuriat untuk dilahirkan, penyu mengembara beribu batu semata-mata untuk kembali bertelur di kawasan kelahiran mereka. Namun, sedih terpalit di hati kita apabila telur-telur yang baru dikeluarkan “dirampas” tangan-tangan manusia. Telur–telur itu kemudiannya dijual kepada para pelancong untuk dijamah. Lebih buruk lagi apabila terdapat penyu-penyu yang ditangkap dan dibunuh tanpa belas kasihan semata-mata untuk mendapatkan cengkerangnya untuk dijadikan perhiasan. Adakah nyawa penyu-penyu ini langsung tidak berharga pada kita? Tidakkah kita sayu melihat linangan air mata penyu setiap kali mereka naik ke darat untuk bertelur? Persoalan yang hanya boleh dijawab oleh manusia yang dikurniakan akal dan kudrat untuk membantu makhluk kerdil ini.


Penyu Lipas (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Kita seharusnya bersyukur dengan kurniaan tuhan di mana bumi kita kaya dengan pelbagai sumber semulajadi serta keunikannya. Malaysia antara negara yang menjadi pilihan kumpulan beberapa spesis penyu untuk bertelur. Terdapat empat jenis penyu yang singgah bertelur di sini antaranya spesies Penyu Belimbing (Dermochelys coriacea), Penyu Agar (Chelonia mydas),Penyu Karah (Eretmochelys imbricata) dan ). Kesesuaian keadaan laut, pantai serta fizikal penyu-penyu tersebut menjadikan kawasan perairan Malaysia sesuai untuk mereka bertelur.

Penyu Agar merupakan spesis yang paling banyak mendarat di pantai negara kita terutamanya Terengganu. Kebiasaannya, Penyu Agar akan singgah di pantai-pantai Malaysia dari bulan Mac sehingga September. Dalam tempoh ini, bulan Julai menjadi waktu puncak pendaratan spesis penyu ini. Namun begitu, kehadiran mereka ke sini semakin berkurangan akibat sifat kerakusan manusia sendiri apabila kerap kali mencuri telur-telur penyu ini. Malahan habitat atau tempat mereka bertelur juga tercemar dan dimusnahkan. Pembangunan pesat untuk pelancongan di kawasan perairan dan pantai menjadi punca kemusnahan habibat serta kawasan bertelur penyu-penyu ini.

Mengikut statistik dari Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia - Penyu dan Ekosistem Marin (Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre), pendaratan Penyu Agar ke Malaysia semakin berkurangan iaitu hanya lebih kurang seribu ekor penyu sahaja yang singgah di pantai Terengganu pada 2006 berbanding dua ribu ekor seperti yang direkodkan pada tahun 1997. Statistik ini sudah cukup menggambarkan pada kita yang penyu semakin terancam dan berkemungkinan boleh pupus sekirannya tidak diberikan perlindungan sewajarnya.


Anak Penyu

Kebimbangan ini seharusnya menyedarkan semua pihak untuk sama-sama membantu memelihara kehidupan spesis ini. Kita pastinya tidak mahu generasi akan datang hanya tahu mengenai penyu melalui buku atau ensiklopedia, sebaliknya mereka berbangga kerana lahir di negara yang mempunyai haiwan unik ini. Semua pihak haruslah berganding bahu untuk memperjuangkan kehidupan spesis yang semakin terancam ini. Aktiviti konservasi harus dilakukan untuk memastikan generasi masa hadapan dapat melihat serta mengamati keunikan haiwan ini dengan mata mereka sendiri.

Illegal Trade of Turtle Eggs

by Gowri Sritharan



Throughout the month of May last year, 4000 Hawksbill turtle eggs were stolen from over 30 nests along the Kuala Sungai Baru and Linggi coastlines in Malacca.

The Fisheries Act 1985 clearly defines that offenders found guilty of “illegally” collecting turtle eggs without a permit from the State Fisheries Department are liable to fines of up to RM1000 per egg.

Although laws exist to prosecute offenders of illegal collection, possession, sale, poaching and smuggling of turtles and their eggs, questions arise on whether these laws are being implemented and thoroughly enforced. The profitable trade of turtle eggs is still rampantly occurring and very few cases are recorded where offenders are prosecuted and fined.

The increasing demand for turtle eggs on the Malaysian market and the subsequent price rise from RM1 to RM2.50 per egg has not only driven insensitive individuals to nesting shores, but also fueled the smuggling in of turtle eggs from neighbouring countries where such sales are prohibited by the law. Traders find lucrative, convenient and unrisky markets in Peninsula Malaysia.

In Malaysia, turtle conservation efforts are a far cry from the currently existing enforcement. Rantau Abang in Terengganu was home to 10,000 turtle landings 50 years ago, but fewer than 20 remain today (source: The National Recovery Strategy for the Leatherback Turtle in Pacific Canadian Waters). The mistreatment of turtles by locals and tourists as well as the development for tourism has left adverse effects on turtle populations.

The same consequence is to be experienced in Kuala Sungai Baru should the state government decide to go ahead with the planned marine tin mining activities. With Malacca having the highest number of Hawksbill turtle landings in Peninsula Malaysia, mining could leave devastating effects on turtle habitats and breeding shores.

Sabah and Sarawak’s efforts in a bid to halt turtle exploitation have proven fruitful, with an increased number of turtles and landing sites observed over the past few years. Acts and laws to prohibit the sale of turtle eggs as well as proper enforcement have helped the conservation of endangered turtles in East Malaysia. In islands like Pulau Selingan, Bakungan Kechil and Gulisan, a high number of turtle landings are recorded each year.

The Sarawak Forestry Corporation has also played a major role by initiating the turtle adoption program for the purpose of creating awareness about turtle habitats, activities and conservation. Such programs have exposed the general public to wildlife behaviour, thus forming respect for such creatures.

Immediate efforts are necessary in Malacca and Terengganu, and Peninsula Malaysia as a whole, to conserve the endangered turtles. Prosecution and harsher penalties should be imposed upon all offenders caught stealing, selling, buying or in any way possessing turtle eggs, meat and products.

The Malaysian Fisheries Department, the Ministry of Tourism and animal conservation organizations should work hand in hand, to provide education and initiate programs to create awareness among the general public, especially the younger generation. Protests against the sale and consumption of turtle eggs by every individual is the main step in addressing this issue, as the exploitation will eventually stop when the buying does.

Turtle landings and nesting shores are not just part of the Malaysian environment, but a unique testament of the nation’s beauty. As Malaysians, we should be proud that the turtles chose to walk our shores, and do all in our effort to welcome and care for them.