Help ALERT combat threats to crucial Malaysian park

Have a look at a global map of imperiled animals and plants.  What jumps out at you is the alarmingly high concentration of endangered species in the Malay Peninsula.  That's why ALERT's latest campaign is so crucial--helping to protect one of the most important nature reserves in Peninsular Malaysia.

Selangor Park, along with Malaysia's Central Forest Spine, is prime habitat for endangered species (photo by Gopalasamy Reuben Clements)

ALERT member Gopalasamy Reuben Clements, who lives and works in Peninsular Malaysia, is helping to promote a campaign to protect iconic Selangor State Park.  Please spend 30 seconds to sign this petition--and also 'like' and 'share' this blog on Facebook and other social media.

Gopalasamy shares his thoughts with us:

The Coalition for the Protection of Selangor State Park is greatly concerned with the proposal to degazette part of the park to make way for the proposed Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road.

Selangor State Park is the largest intact forest tract remaining in Selangor and the third largest park in Peninsular Malaysia.  It forms part of Peninsular Malaysia’s Central Forest Spine and functions as the most important watershed for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya.

The park protects forests that are not only rich in biodiversity and imperiled species but provide crucial ecosystem services such as clean water to many residents and businesses in the greater area.

The recent dry spell in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor highlights the need to hold on to every  square inch of catchment forest.  And putting more roads through the Central Forest Spine, a vital habitat for Malaysia's wildlife, will expose endangered species to more threats from habitat loss and poaching.

Selangor Park is a vital source of clean water for a large and growing populace (photo by Gopalasamy Reuben Clements)

Since 2009, many members of the public and NGOs have voiced growing concerns about the proposed road project, calling on the government to change the road alignment and not allow it to slice through the park.  But all efforts so far have been to no avail.

Now, with the project about to proceed, we need your help.  Please sign the above petition and help us raise the international profile of this vital area.  You could help us save one of Earth's most important ecosystems.