| I was disturbed to read today that the frogs | | | | 3. reduce the industrial pollution from nearby oil |
| from the Tasek Chini were no longer singing. | | | | palm estates that bring fertilisers and pesticides |
| They have practically disappeared. This may not | | | | into the lake |
| seemed strange to you, in fact, you may not | | | | 4. stop illegal logging activities near the lake |
| have any idea where Tasek Chini is . After all, it | | | | 5. disallow opening of land within the forest near |
| "was" a beautiful large mass of freshwater lake in | | | | the lake |
| the tropical forests of Malaysia. It "was" because | | | | 6. introducing programs to empower the |
| it now no longer is beautiful as it was, with | | | | aborigines called Jakun living in the surrounding |
| pollution levels reportedly 56 times higher than is | | | | areas of the lakes so that they continue to live |
| considered healthy, and worse, this is right inside | | | | there with their traditional resources that are |
| the tropical jungle. | | | | linked to biodiversity conservation. |
| The frogs are not the only ones disappearing. The | | | | Most important of all is education to children on |
| fishes, cobras, pythons are also diminishing in | | | | the importance of the lake and introduce them to |
| numbers. Weeds called the "Cat's Tail" have | | | | the lifestyle of the aborgines living off the land |
| proliferated, snuffing out important sunlight that | | | | surrounding the lake. These aborigines lived in |
| would allow organisms to grow. | | | | harmony with the animals, plants and environment |
| This is worrying enough for some concrete action | | | | and they ensure the survival of the lake. |
| to be taken to revive the ecosystem. In | | | | Now if you do have a lake in your area where |
| retrospect, how can action be taken to protect | | | | you are living, ensure that the frogs stll sing. Frogs |
| the environment, or a delicate ecosystem such as | | | | are a good barometer of the environment. Frogs |
| Tasek Chini, or any other lake in the world? | | | | are declining due to habitat destruction, |
| Here at Tasek Chini I read about the Sustainable | | | | contamination, predation and genetic pollution. Will |
| Development Network or SUSDEN which is | | | | the frogs sing again at Tasek Cini? We do not |
| running the Save Tasik Chini Campaign since | | | | know yet, but there is one thing we do know. |
| August 2004, and these are remedial steps taken | | | | Irregardless of where we are, if we save the |
| by the authorities and the Non Government | | | | frogs, we may be able to save our lives too. |
| organisations in concert to step the decline: | | | | Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner who loves |
| 1. Collect and remove fallen trees and weeds that | | | | the outdoors. Now, where it is not possible to go |
| choke the lake | | | | to enjoy the great outdoors and the lakes |
| 2. reduce the pollution that comes from newly | | | | everyday, we can still enjoy the fresh air and |
| developed training camps for National Service that | | | | scenery right in front of our own homes during |
| have been built near the lake | | | | summer with our patio chairs. |