SARAWAK
: AN ADVOCATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
 Sarawak
has always been known to be rich in her biodiversity, e.g., the rainforests,
unique gloral and fauna, marine life forms and natural resources, to name a
few. In this day and age, it is easy to be swept away by the inevitable infringement
of medern commercialisation and industrialisation; thereby compromisisng our
nature and the environment in the race to churn out huge profits. Thankfully,
our state government is aware of the danger and has consistently advocate for
environmental protection while achieving sustainable economic development. The
key word here is balance where sustainable development must not create irreversible
damage to the environment. And enough recources must be planned and left for
future utilisation.
One significant step taken in 1993
by Sarawak is an amendment to the Natural Resources Ordinance, 1949. The amendment
subsequently strenfthens the requirements for environment protection, and is
now called the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance(NREO) which shall
provide clear direction, institution and mechanism for environmental management
encompassing development activities relating to the utilisation of Sarawak's
natural resources like land use, agriculture and foresty. As a result of the
NREO, the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) is established 1 February
1994. NERB becomes the institutional framework for environmental protection
and management in Sarawak. The Controller for NREB is Encik James Dawos Mamit.
What are the funtions of NREB?
As highlighted by Encik James, the
functions and authority of NREB are as follows : 
1. Formulate or develop policies
and guidelines to ensure exploitation, conservation and management of natural
resources inthe state has no adverse impact in the environment.
2. Determine mode and manner where natural resources can be exploited or used
without damaging. polluting or causing adverse impact on the environment.
3. Direct any person or body involved in or undertaking the development, exploitation,
utilisation or management of natural resouces, on steps or measure to be undertaken
by the, to maintain environmental quality control.
4. Make orders for the protection and enhancement of the environmental. To ensure
and maintain environmental efficiency or the balance between economic development
and evironmental protection, the Environmental Impact Assessment. Failure to
implement EIA for the development projects is an offence punishable by law and
carries a penalty of a fine of RM10,000 or imprisonment for five years or both.
Presently, not less than 300 EIA reports for development projects have been
submitted to NREB for approval.
Natural Resources and
Environmental
Ordinance, 1993 (NREO)
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Direction
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Achieve environmental
effiencywhereby sustainable development is obtained by
maintaining a satisfactory balance between economis development and
environmental protection.
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Institution
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Natural resources
and Environment Board (NREB)
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Mechanism
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Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA)
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Other rules, gerulations and ordinances introduced for the preservation of environmental
effiency includes the following:
- Public Parks and Green Ordinance
1993; to control and manage state created green areas and public parks in
and around towns and cities in Sarawak. This ordinance is administered by
NREB.
- Water Ordinanace 1994; to protect
nad control water, and sources of water supply rquired for human consumption.
Guidelines for management of water catchment ares in Sarawak is entrusted
to NREB. Under this ordinance, a water supply authority must comply with provisions
of the NREO or rules, regulations and orders issued by NREB.
- Natural Resources and Environment
(Control of Livestock Pollution) Rules 1997, to control serious pollution
of streams and rivers in some parts of Sarawak by the commercial rearing of
livestock such as pig, chicken or cattle. Under this rule, livestock farmers
are required to install treatments facilities in their farm and obtain operating
licences from NREB.
 In
addition to these rules, regulations and ordinances, NREB is also actively conducting
various activities in collaboration with other government departments or agencies
to promote and provide guidence on environmental protection. The purpose is to
create awareness for the need to conserve and balance economis endeavor with nature
in the state.
What are some of these activities
? They are ...
1. Conducting Environmental Education
Awareness Programme for schools. Todate, about 500 upper primary school student
within Sarawak attended these talks. Radio talks and dialogues sessions are
also carried out.
2. Setting up three Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Lubok Antu, Tebedu and
Lawas to monitor air quality readings in the state and disseminate information
to public if requested.
3. Conducting environmental briefings to local and foreign visitors and dignitaries
as well as EIA briefings and seminar for EIA consultants.
4. Monitoring and undertaking enforcement works to ensure compliance to rules,
ordinance, directives or orders of NREM, e.g., open burning and livestock pollution.
The road towards environmental effiency
is a long and winding one, but it is a path thet must be taken. According to
Encik James, there are still some minor but common environmental problems faced
in the state, namely river pollution caused by discharge of waste water and
effluents by the public, commercial buildings and industries, as well as through
surface runoffs causing sedimention of rivers; and clearing of vegetation and
open burning. Encik James desires to see the government bodies and public working
together in a coordinated approach to wards the state's goal of environmental
effiency. He state that, "The government and civil service should take the lead
and provide guidence for environmental protection and enhancement with cooperation
from the public. The public should ne conscious of taking care of the environment
as part of their distinct culture and way of life."
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