Lets Protect the Ecosystem Although Malaysia development achievements over the last 25 years have been impressive,

such rapid pace of change has not been without its detrimental effects on the natural environment. It is not feasible to build new hydroelectric dams, airports and city conurbations, for example, without incurring physical changes. But, to avoid extensive and unpalatable destruction of the environment and to demonstrate real progresses, any new development should ideally improve materially on what they destroy. Developing and protecting an environment that can be viably sustained into the foreseeable future is precisely what has not been the modern pattern of development in Malaysia. Decide on the improvements development has brought to the material lives of Malaysians, almost all aspect of the environment has been affected by development activities. This range from deforestation to air and water pollution, from erosion and siltation to the dangerous discharge of hazardous and toxic waste. The area of natural forest is fast being depleted. Major causes include large scale land development schemes, dam construction, mining, shifting cultivation and commercial logging. These activities also destroy or threatened to diminish the nation biodiversity. Malaysia closed canopy forest contain more than 50 percent of the worlds total plant species and about, 1000 species of vertebrates and anywhere between 20 000 and 80 000 invertebrates many of which are indigenous. Soil erosion is closely associated with deforestation and vegetation clearance on hill slopes. This is best illustrated by erosion scars on steep road cuttings which can be observed alongside Malaysias major highway. Water and marine pollution are also closely related to many development activities. Major sources include organic waste, silt from erosion and discharges from industries. Logging activities contribute to the siltation of rivers and the pollution of watercourses. Rivers which run through urban industrial areas contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead and zinc and in many locations exceed World Health Organization standards. In coastal areas, oil and grease and suspended solids are major contaminant. Air pollution is an additional problem, especially in urban industrial areas. Major sources include industries and motor vehicles. Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley are among the worst affected areas, with prolonged haze episodes occurring during dry months. Toxic and hazardous waste are unavoidable by-products of industrialization. Their swift, safe and efficient disposal and greater enforcement on anti-pollution regulations should be national priorities.

Forest destruction Hasty and bad forest management has led to environmental problems and the loss of long term timber productivity and threatens biodiversity. Indigenous forest dwellers are displaced and seasonal earnings from minor forest products such as rattan and medical plants, lost. In addition to damage to vegetation, heavy machinery used in harvesting causes massive soil damage leading to erosion. Logging roads and skid trails increase surface runoff almost tenfold from the normal 60 mm a year to 550mm. Increased runoff cause almost thirty times more soil erosion in the first year when an area is logged. Erosion stabilizes after three years, when the exposed surfaces have new vegetation cover but the recovery of the soil takes anything between 10 to 50 years. Totally compacted sites generally do not support regrowth for 30 years. Repeated logging using heavy machinery simply removes a large area of the forest from productivity together.

A habitat is the natural home for thousands of flora and fauna. Habitat destruction is the act of destroying an animal or a plants natural home, mainly caused by human activities that has given prolonged negative effects . If an animals habitat is destroyed, it might be extinct, future generations might not be able to see them anymore, for example the Dodo bird. If this happens, it can affect all animals above it in the food chain. Habitat destruction is one of the main threats to biodiversity. Biodiversity refers to the various kinds of plants and animals that live in a particular area. Arctic communities have less biodiversity because of the very few species of animals that live there. Tropical forests, however, have thousands of different animal and plant species, making them the most bio diverse areas on earth. Ecologists use biodiversity as a way of measuring how habitats are affected by land use. The act of deforestation has caused the bio diversities being harmed, animals and plants have to suffer the consequences of their species being extinct. Saving species 1. The WWF and groups like this educate people about conservation 2. Get governments to help such as PERHILITAN, FRIM. 3. Passed laws to protect animals and plant example The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects endangered species in the United States from hunting and collecting. 4. Join environment club

Air Pollution Until recently, air pollution was not regarded as a significant problem. However following rapid urban and industrial expansion, the quality of air particularly in buildup areas, has become a major concern. For serious location and during certain times of the year the situation is serious. Air is mainly polluted by potentially deadly dust from cement at construction sites, dirt, and fumes from vehicles, and industrial areas in the form of carbon monoxides, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides and odours from garbage dumping areas. Major effects of air pollution are acid rain and haze. Major contributors of acid rain are sulphur and nitrogen oxides which are released into the atmosphere mainly by vehicles and industrial processes. Acidic rain is formed when pollutants combine with moisture in the atmosphere, especially in countries with high humidity of air. Acidic rain are recorded with low pH values with annual as 4.8-5.2 of pH value. When acidic rain falls into rivers and lakes, the pH value will then drop below 7pH (neutral); hence the marine cannot survive when their water pH falls below 5.5pH. Haze is another sign of major air pollution. Haze is caused by the presence of a large number of air particles suspended in the atmosphere. These particles are very desecrate and cannot be seen by the eyes, it can be from natural substance. For example, soil dust, volcanic emissions and sea spray salt. It can also be man-made substance, such as soot, smoke and other by-products from fuel burning and industrial process. The haze effect has been affecting the community since 1960s. Asthma cases have increased during haze periods and the visibility were reduced up to 20%.Thus, steps should be taken to ensure the air is clean.

1. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency. 2. Don't use your wood stove or fireplace when air quality is poor. 3. Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires. They produce the largest amount of pollution. 4. Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood. 5. Use solar power for home and water heating. 6. Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers. 7. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle. 8. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions. 9. Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternative to lighter fluid. 10. If you use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990. They are required to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and cleaner burning. 11. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible. 12. Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.

Water Pollution As the world continues to develop industrially and its urban population increase the pressure on the worlds water intensifies. Mare clean water is needed at expected whilst at the same time more potential source of pollution is appearing. Domestic sewage, factory discharge, oil spills and soil all contribute to the water pollution which dire consequences of wild life and human health. To survive all living things require water that is clean and unpolluted water. We all ultimately draw from the same water supply which is replenished over and over again through the hydrologic cycle. However as society develop more needs and sophisticated technologies, the quality and the quantity of water declines, as society new activities generate pollutants that degrade the water. Water pollution is caused because of a few things that happen constantly. Humans are even polluting when we drive our cars! That fits in one huge pollution causing category, pollution caused by humans, which is everything that we do that causes pollution. Of course, humans are not the only source of water pollution. There is also runoff. Runoff is when water runs off of hills, mountains, thus it carries man-made and natural pollutants, such as rocks, dirt, soil, and garbage. Finally the pollutants being carried are deposited into lakes and rivers at nearby areas. Pollution enters the hydrological cycle through point and non-point sources. Point sources are pollutants that are discharged at specific locations, for example through pipe and sewers to the surface of the water. On the other hand, it comes from unspecified locations, for example rainfall moving over and through the ground. Ways to protect our water 1. Check and fix any water leaks. 2. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets. 3. Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously. 4. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes. 5. Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines. 6. Install a low-flow shower head. 7. Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water. 8. Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks. 9. Vegetate or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible. 10. Never dump anything down a storm drain. 11. Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly. 12. Check your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil. 13. Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway. 14. Learn about your watershed.

Land development World landscape has been a subject to great changes in the 20th century as the world has advance through various stages of economics development. The dynamics of land use changes are complex and largely driven by economic forces. Wide tracks of forest were now transformed for urban, industrial, commercial, residential and recreational development. Wild lands are being cleared for crops and domestic animals. The single biggest cause of deforestation is farming. Animals used to live in a bio diverse habitat, they cannot survive in an area with one crop. Large scale of areas are used for the development of cities, roads and railways etc. The animals are threatened by human activities, such as deforestation has destroyed the landscape, change the climate and the natural quality of soils and rivers. When flat land is fully built up, developers look to the highlands for expansion. Forest is cleared to make way for new access roads, housing and resorts which have shown major problems, such as landslides. Landslides occur when a slope remains static for a long time and then fails in a single dramatic event. Too rapid development has caused major landslides, therefore government has been building concrete walls on consolidated rocks to prevent it.

Ways to prevent miss usage of land. 1.