Take action re threatened Malaysian forest

This just in:

Support Petition to Save Malaysia's Belum-Temengor Rainforests

By Rainforest Portal, a project of Ecological Internet, Inc.
http://www.RainforestPortal.org/
May 17, 2006

TAKE ACTION
Proposed National Park "Richest of the Rich" in Terms of
Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Threatened by Logging
http://www.rainforestportal.org/alerts/send.asp?id=malaysia

Malaysia's magnificent Belum-Temengor rainforests are 130
million year old, making them some of the richest and most
ancient rainforests in the world. Located in Perak state along
the Thailand border of Peninsular Malaysia, Belum Temengor
rainforests are a world-class wilderness with tremendous
ecological, aesthetic and economic values including immense
tourism potential.

Sadly, this large and intact life-sustaining
ancient rainforest marvel is now under threat from both legal
and illegal industrial logging. Belum-Temengor's rainforests
provide the last refuge for at least 14 globally threatened
mammals including the Sumatran rhino, the Malayan tiger, the
Asian elephant, tapirs and leopards. This is the only place in
Malaysia where all 10 of Malaysia’s hornbills are found, flying
in flocks of more than 2,000, something not found anywhere else
in the world. Despite rising wealth and environmental
sensibilities, Malaysia still continues the low value and
unsustainable practice of industrially logging their and others'
ancient rainforests.

This type of poorly conceived industrial
development is highly damaging to Belum-Temengor and its ability
to continue providing critical local, regional and global
ecosystem services such as carbon storage, water cachment, and
maintaining wildlife and biodiversity while continuing local
sustainable uses and business opportunities.

Please respectfully
support local initiatives to have Belum-Temengor declared a
National Park - and an end to logging in order to pursue eco-
tourism and other ecologically based and sustainable economic
development opportunities. Your email will be sent to local
conservationists in order to sign their petition to protect the
area. Take Action now at:
http://www.rainforestportal.org/alerts/send.asp?id=malaysia