Complaint 2: The viewer who was a conservation scientist challenged whether the claim "its trees … give home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna" was misleading and could be substantiated.
Further studies on flora and fauna inventory in two ecosystems in two established Golden Hope plantations, carried out from May 2002 to June 2003, have showed that hundreds of flora and fauna species were present.
In the first study at Tangkah Estate in Johor, Golden Hope researchers recorded 86 species of flowering plants from 43 families including the presence of a rare species of Guttiferae Calophyllum biflorum. They also recorded 13 families, 18 genus and 22 species of birds, 12 species of bats, and 11 species of small mammals from six families.
In the second study, flora and fauna inventory was taken at a 35 hectare fresh water swampland at Bradwall Estate in Negeri Sembilan. 80 of plants from 49 families were recorded of which 48 species were indicated to be of scientific and ethnobotanical interest. 20 species of birds, many of them protected and totally protected species, were also recorded. Water of the wetland was well-stocked with fishes common to such habitat. This shows the swampland to be an important habitat for the survival of the protected species.
While levels of biodiversity are clearly lower in palm oil estates than in virgin rainforests, the key to maintaining high overall biodiversity levels lies in achieving a sustainable balance between the two.
The mangrove forest and mudflat surrounding Carey Island is a habitat for resident and migratory birds. Some of the bird species in Carey Island include the pigmy kingfisher, barn owl, barn swallow, ashy tailorbird, black-crown night Heron, crested serpent eagle, black shouldered kite, crested Goshawk, pacific swallow, brahminy kite and purple heron.
Golden Hope Plantations’ initiatives on biodiversity include collaborations with:
- University Malaya
- Floristic survey of Carey Island.
- Biodiversity study and conservation management of Carey Island fauna.
- Ecological and physiological studies on the mud lobster (Thalassina spp.).
- Regeneration and mass propagation of the Nyireh Batu (Xylocarpus spp.) through biotechnological methods.
- Effect of palm oil mill effluent on germination and early growth of selected plants.
- CAB International
- Microbial biodiversity study of the oil palm environment to provide scientific evidence of sustainability.
Books that support these researches include Birds of Carey Island and Phytoplankton of Carey Island.
Whilst these initiatives refer to Golden Hope Plantations, other large Malaysian plantation companies such as United Plantations Berhad are also leading the way in palm oil sustainability.
Khairudin Hashim, Yuen Yoong Leong (2006). Biodiversity and Oil Palm Plantations: Economic-Environment Gridlock or Peaceful Co-existence? In: Proceedings of the 5th International Planters Conference 2006 “Higher Productivity & Efficient Practices for Sustainable Plantation Agriculture”. The Incorporated Society of Planters, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. p. 7-9.
Mohd Hashim, T., Mohd Noor, A.G. & Ho, C.T. (2000) Is biodiversity and plantation agriculture mutually exclusive? – Golden Hope’s experience. In: Proceedings of the International Planters Conference 2000 “Plantation Tree Crops in the New Millennium: The Way Ahead”. The Incorporated Society of Planters, Kuala Lumpur. p. 853-67. See also Footnote 5.
Rosli Ramli, Rosli Hashim, Mohd Sofian-Azirun, and Y. Norma-Rashid. (2006). Birds of Carey Island, Institute of Biological Sciences (University of Malaysia) and Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, Kuala Lumpur. Aishah Salleh and Zan Mirani Tajuddin, Phytoplankton of Carey Island, University of Malaysia and Golden Hope Plantations Berhad.
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