Website to prevent illegal logging

In a bid to reduce illegal logging cases, Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) has come up with a user-friendly website for Malaysians to monitor rain forests and alert the authorities over suspicious activities. Its executive director Alan Kirupakaran said that the website would provide a platform for stakeholders to become efficient monitors and hoped it would become an effective measure to conserve forests in Malaysia.

“I believe with the co-operation of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), using simple tools like the Google Earth Geospatial Technology (satellite, imagery, aerial photography and GIS 3D globe) will allow the public to become active participants in protecting our forests,” he said at the workshop on forest adoption yesterday. He said since the website's creation in February, TI-M had received many public tip-offs regarding illegal logging activities and authorities had managed to investigate and expose six cases of illegal logging nationwide.

It was reported that Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup told the Dewan Rakyat that the country had lost some RM10.7mil in revenue to such activities. Alan said TI-M would help monitor the website with relevant authorities as well as with ForestWatch's expert monitors from the Malaysia Forestry Department. The public can assess and report irregularities through its website.