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16 LAND-USE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE MULTIMEDIA SUPER CORRIDOR, MALAYSIA Hassan Abdulaziz Department of Geography Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria [email protected] ABSTRACT Changes in land use and cover are the driving forces towards modification of the environment. These can be linked to economic and physical developments. The changes are taking place at faster rate, and most of the changes are irreversible and have both local and global impacts. Malaysia has experienced rapid economic and physical development in the past few decades, which allowed the provision of basic infrastructures and facilities. Most of the developments are concentrated within the state of Selangor, and is a state with vast environmental resources. The research was conducted at Paya Indah wetland sanctuary and its surrounding environs (10km radius)including Denkil town, situated in the Multimedia Super Corridor in the state of Selangor, including Denkil town. More focus on the area because of importance of the wetland, which faces various environment related problems as a result of development activities and land use changes in the area. A total number of 240 questionnaires were administered during the course of this study. Based on the research conducted at the study area, the findings indicated that the rate of development within the surrounding of the wetland (10km radius from the wetland) is significant. This can be attributed to rapid rate of economic growth, urbanization and physical development in the area and the state at general. Land degradation, water pollution and reduction in vegetation are among the major environmental problems affecting the wetland. Even with the application of planning tools such as land use zoning, environmental impact assessment, planning permission and approval in regulating development and land use activities in the area, environmental resources of the area are still threatened. Keywords: Land Use Change/Cover, Development, Planning, Environment and Paya Indah Wetland INTRODUCTION Economic development in Malaysia has triggered the demand of land for development and increased the rate of urbanization. It is associated with changes in land use and cover, alteration of natural setting of both urban and rural environments in order to support urban and related uses. Spatial and temporal changes in land use and cover are among the fundamental issues of the 21 st century. It is the driving force towards environmental modifications and conversion, which resulted to environmental deterioration and related social disruption. Land utilization type must be designed to ensure that the natural basis of living is sustained in the long-term run (Amler et al, 1999); this is due to the importance of the natural living. The land utilization is irrespective of rural or urban. According to Newman and Jennings (2008), urban land uses and activities are largely dependent on biodiversity, and wetlands are inclusive. Wetlands are valuable environmental resource and have Volume 3, March 2011 © 2011 Cenresin Publications www.cenresin.org Journal of Environmental Sciences and Resource Management

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    LAND-USE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE MULTIMEDIA SUPER CORRIDOR, MALAYSIA

    Hassan Abdulaziz

    Department of Geography Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

    [email protected] ABSTRACT Changes in land use and cover are the driving forces towards modification of the environment. These can be linked to economic and physical developments. The changes are

    taking place at faster rate, and most of the changes are irreversible and have both local and global impacts. Malaysia has experienced rapid economic and physical development in the past few decades, which allowed the provision of basic infrastructures and facilities. Most of

    the developments are concentrated within the state of Selangor, and is a state with vast environmental resources. The research was conducted at Paya Indah wetland sanctuary and its surrounding environs (10km radius)including Denkil town, situated in the Multimedia

    Super Corridor in the state of Selangor, including Denkil town. More focus on the area because of importance of the wetland, which faces various environment related problems as a result of development activities and land use changes in the area. A total number of 240

    questionnaires were administered during the course of this study. Based on the research conducted at the study area, the findings indicated that the rate of development within the surrounding of the wetland (10km radius from the wetland) is significant. This can be

    attributed to rapid rate of economic growth, urbanization and physical development in the area and the state at general. Land degradation, water pollution and reduction in vegetation are among the major environmental problems affecting the wetland. Even with the

    application of planning tools such as land use zoning, environmental impact assessment, planning permission and approval in regulating development and land use activities in the area, environmental resources of the area are still threatened. Keywords: Land Use Change/Cover, Development, Planning, Environment and Paya Indah Wetland

    INTRODUCTION Economic development in Malaysia has triggered the demand of land for development and

    increased the rate of urbanization. It is associated with changes in land use and cover, alteration of natural setting of both urban and rural environments in order to support urban and related uses. Spatial and temporal changes in land use and cover are among the

    fundamental issues of the 21st century. It is the driving force towards environmental modifications and conversion, which resulted to environmental deterioration and related social disruption. Land utilization type must be designed to ensure that the natural basis of

    living is sustained in the long-term run (Amler et al, 1999); this is due to the importance of the natural living. The land utilization is irrespective of rural or urban. According to Newman and Jennings (2008), urban land uses and activities are largely dependent on biodiversity,

    and wetlands are inclusive. Wetlands are valuable environmental resource and have

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    2011 Cenresin Publications www.cenresin.org

    Journal of Environmental Sciences and Resource Management

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    undergone serious modification by humans. Wang, Wang and Kubota (2006), states that, wetlands are fragile in nature, and represent valuable environmental resource with

    representation of some special ecosystem. However, urbanization has changed peoples lifestyle, land use, demand for energy and increased environmental pressure (Ascione et al, 2009). Similarly, land use change and cover have incredible consequences on wetlands

    status (Chinners, Brown and Lane, 2009); affect ecological landscape function and processes (Papastergiadou et al, 2007). Urbanization and land use change have resulted to disruption of natural environment within the Multimedia Super Corridor (region where Paya Indah

    Wetland is located). However, the Ninth Malaysias Plan (2006-2010) intensified incorporation of environmental components into planning process and development in order

    to further enhance integrated land use planning. It also developed some guidelines for protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive areas.

    Land use planning is vital in creating better urban form, protecting the environment and public health. It is a key element of an effective natural resource management, which tends to create a balance between ecological systems, economic and social requirements

    (Wehrmann, 2011); means of controlling land development through imposing some kind of legal limitations on the land owners (Abia and Jaria, 2006); secure consistency and continuity in the execution of national policy with respect to the use and development of land (Jones et

    al, 2005). This is to limit some of the negative impacts of land use activities and development on the environment and other existing infrastructure. Land use and environmental planning have some tools such as zoning, planning permission and approval, and also environmental

    impact assessment used to regulate the activities of land use and development.

    STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

    This research is focused towards identifying and assessing the impacts of urban land-uses within the Multimedia Super Corridor (surrounding Paya Indah wetland). There has been drastic changes in the land use of the area from mostly forest and agricultural to industries,

    commercial, residential, public and other related uses. These changes results to increased pollution of the wetlands water bodies, reduction of vegetation cover and degradation of the

    valuable environmental resource which is land. These are the major problems occurred during the implementation of the 7th and 8th Malaysias Plans, because they are more concerned with economic and physical developments. Moreover, the issue of water pollution

    is among the major concern of the Ninth Malaysias Plan (2006-2010). Urbanization has strongly distorted many natural landscapes throughout the world, and has contributed significantly to the crisis of biodiversity loss and fragmentation or deterioration of ecosystem

    and their services (Jingle, 2008). The growth of urban centers in the Multimedia Super Corridor, and the developments adjacent of Paya Indah Wetland has contributed to environmental pollution and land degradation, which subsequently results to irreversible

    damage to the natural ecosystem. Kenneth (2009) states that urbanization and semi natural forest accounted for greater spatial extent of wetlands conversion and utilization. According to Nik and Associates (1999), the peat basin (Paya Indah Wetland Sanctuary) has been

    subjected to number of piece meal economic development, and with the increase in

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    urbanization rate in the Multimedia Super Corridor, Paya Indah wetland can suffer land degradation and excess runoff. Similarly, according to Kuala Langat Local Plan 2020, urban

    land uses are expected to increase due to proposal of some new settlements in the area. Therefore, the study will cover environmental aspects of the wetland which includes water quality, vegetation cover, land use change and land degradation.

    STUDY AREA Paya Indah Wetland Sanctuary is located between 10110 and 10150 longitude, to 250

    and 300 latitude in the District of Kuala Langat, and sharing boarder with the District of Sepang, all in the state of Selangor as shown in figure 1 below.

    Figure 1: Land Use Map of Kuala Langat Showing Paya Indah (Source: Kuala Langat Local Plan 2020)

    It is part of the Kuala Langat North Permanent forest reserve. It has an area of 3100 ha, and it was an ex-tin mining area with open lakes. It consists of three zones namely: Conservation zone, educational zone and recreational zone. The wetland is located in a strategic area in

    the Multimedia Super Corridor. The adjacent and the nearest town is Dengkil. Othman (2006) stated that the area is a green lung with rich ecosystem, and has 14 lakes which resulted from tin mining activity and chopping of swamp peat forest. Similarly, Zakaria, Rajpar and

    Sajap (2009) added that Paya Indah Wetland Sanctuary has diverse topography, vegetative features and climate with splendid natural setting.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS This research employed mixed methodology, which is the combination of both the qualitative and quantitative methods. Data for the research was collected using various instruments

    such as questionnaire, interview, observation and analysis of relevant planning documents.

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    The target populations are the local communities surrounding the wetland (10km radius) and five public agencies (State Department of Town and Country Planning, Department of

    Environment, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Kuala Langat and Sepang Local Planning Authorities). The local communities understand the local environment better, and are able to detect minor changes within the environment, while the agencies were selected

    due to responsibilities shouldered upon them, such as: preparation of development plans, approval of projects proposal/land use change, enforcement of planning /environmental regulations, monitoring and protection of environmental resources in the region. A total

    number of 240 questionnaires were administered. 180 to the residents of the local communities within the surrounding wetland (10km radius) using random method of

    sampling, while 60 to the agencies using purposive method of sampling, which is a non-random sampling that allows a researcher to locate all possible cases of a highly specific and difficult to reach population (Newman, 2006). In this case, only samples that can provide

    relevant information were selected. Unstructured interview was conducted with five staff of Paya Indah Wetland, and also a field study was also undertaken on the site to physically observe some of the events and activities. Data collected was analyzed using Statistical

    Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). A test of relationship between land use activities/changes and environmental problems was carried out using Spearmans correlation (Spearmans rho). Other pictorial data were also presented.

    RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In the course of the study, both the Selangor State Structure Plan and the Kuala Langat Local

    Plan were studies and analyzed, the study was focused on proposals within the Multimedia Super Corridor. This is to determine whether further proposals of development projects can have effect on the wetland. The analysis revealed that, proposal of developmental projects is

    done with little consideration of the wetland as both environmentally sensitive area and conserved areas. Meanwhile, the wetland is of national importance and habitat for diverse flora and fauna. It is also a vibrant recreational area. The Kuala Langat Local Plan 2020 has

    proposed the development of new Kampungs (settlements) adjacent of the wetland irrespective of the existing ones; this is due to the fact that, the growth centers in the region

    are saturated with developments and therefore, development in the neighborhoods can be very difficult to regulate. Presently, there are some pending approvals for other developments in the area. This can in the near future have diverse impacts on the wetland.

    The findings of the research also indicated that the Multimedia Super Corridor which is the area where Paya Indah wetland sanctuary is located is undergoing serious modification in land use and cover; this is due to rapid rate of economic and technological advancement in

    the country since the past few decades. These gave rise to development of industries, residential units and public facilities among others. Some of the industries located within the radios of 10km are oil mills and recycling industry, while some are still under construction.

    These make the intensity of development there to be significant. The types of environmental problems identified in the area are water pollution of the wetlands water bodies, urban runoff, biodiversity extinction, reduction in vegetation, land degradation, and seasonal

    flooding as shown in figure 2. These problems are mainly caused by activities taking place

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    within the surrounding wetland, among which are industrial developments/activities, commercial activities, agricultural activities, mining activities and other infrastructural

    developments. These can be attributed to rapid rate of urbanization in the area which strives towards both economic and physical developments.

    Figure 2: Environmental Problems Affecting Paya Indah and its Surroundings (10km radius)

    Source: Field Survey, (2010)

    The study identified that there is a relationship between the causal factors and the effects of environmental problems in the area. Land use change as a cause and land degradation as an effect have indicated a relationship of 0.304*, this is quite true because urbanization,

    economic and physical development such as industrial, commercial, residential and other public facilities are associated with change in land use and cover. It further exposes the land of the area to various threats such as erosion, flooding, mudflow and many others. During

    the course of the research, most of the land degradation in the area (10km radius from Paya Indah) was due to industrial development (refer to plate 1 in figure 3), excavation (refer to plate 2 in figure 3), residential and other forms of development (refer to plate 3 in figure 3).

    Plate 3 Plate 2

    Plate 1

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    Figure 3: Land Degradation due to Industrial, excavation and other Forms of Development Source: Field Survey, (2010)

    Urban development is fast encroaching the wetland boundary from the east, west and south. This has reached an extent that the wetland is sharing boarder with an institution and also

    with residential areas, as shown in figure 4 below. This is a clear indication that without strict development control measures and enforcement of necessary regulations, part of the wetland may be used for further development in the near future.

    Figure 4: Map of Paya Indah and its Surrounding Land Uses Source: Kuala Langat Local Plan (2020)

    Industrial activities and water pollution have shown a significant relationship, with a correlation coefficient of 0.377** at 0.01 significance level (2 tailed test). The liquid and semi-liquid waste generated by the industries flow into the water channels, which end up in

    the wetlands lakes. This affects the water quality of the wetland and the region in general. Water pollution due to industrialization is among the major concern of the Ninth Malaysias Plan (2006-2010), where integration of environmental components into land use planning is

    among the measures to combat the problem. Sand mining adjacent of the wetlands lakes

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    such as the Tasik Terati (Lotus Lake) as shown in figure 5 below also pollutes the water. Most of the sand mined in the area is used for construction in the ongoing developments in

    the area.

    Figure 5: Sand Mining Adjacent Tasik Terati (Lotus Lake)

    Source: Field Survey, (2010) According to an unstructured interview with the staff of Paya Indah Wetland, developments in the area are in accordance with the State Structure Plan 2020 and Kuala Langat Local Plan

    2020. But an activity like sand mining is an illegal activity because license/permit has not been granted to the people carrying out the activity. They also stated that the water bodies adjacent to the mining areas dose not only pollute the water with sand, but end up causing

    oil spillage which affects the aquatic animals. Based on the results obtained from the study, Paya Indah wetland sanctuary is suffering from various environmental problems, and these

    problems can be attributed to economic development. Other factors include rapid rate of urbanization, industrialization, infrastructural development, which gave rise to change in land use and cover among others. The result obtained also proved that there is significant

    relationship between land use change and environmental problems. CONCLUSION

    Paya Indah Wetland inhabits vast flora and fauna, it should not be forfeited to development of all kind and the natural services provided by it should not be underestimated. Despite the effort of the Department of Wildlife and National Park in increasing the number of birds

    population, planting trees and ensuring that the lakes ecosystem are balanced, the wetland is still threatened by developments and land use changes. However, it is pertinent to note economic and physical developments are the target of most nations of the modern world.

    These are the factors of increased distortion of natural setting, more room for urbanization,

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    land use change and cover so as to meet the needs of these developments. Furthermore, it is inevitable to stop them; rather they can only be minimized through proper land use and

    environmental planning, with the incorporation of environmental components into planning process. There is need for strict regulation of development and land use activities in the area due to high intensity of development. In addition to planning tools used in controlling and

    regulating development and land use activities in the area such as land use zoning, planning permission and environmental impact assessment, the use of density control and carrying capacity in the area is highly recommended.

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