Elucia Yong Siew Lean

On the 24th of July 2010, the Lower Sixth formers of SMK Sultan Ahmad Shah participated in the Community Stream Investigation programme (CSI) initiated by the Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (REACH). This programme is conducted to raise awareness about the condition of the rivers and streams in Cameron Highlands. And indeed, it was an eye opening experience for each of the students.

The programme started with a briefing by Dr. Liau, firstly introducing REACH and how it had been established, and how it had grown to be a strong organization. This was followed by talks on how our land has been polluted and damaged by over-development in the highlands. Pictures of how beautiful and pristine Cameron Highlands used to be were presented, there’s indeed a big difference of the Cameron Highlands then and the Cameron Highlands now. Photos of the rampant clearing of the land for development and methods of pollution of the streams and montane forests were shown. It was truly educational for the students as they were all so ignorant of the consequences of the over-development in the highlands. To know that it has a severe impact on the water that we consume everyday was eye opening. Short tea breaks in between the lectures were a big help for participants to ask more questions about the conditions in Cameron Highlands.

Next, was a briefing on the Community Stream Investigation programme (CSI). The students learnt the ways on how to test the water. The World Water Monitoring Day was also introduced by Uncle Balu, who was also one of the trainers there to help us out with the programme. I find it interesting that there are actually organizations that stresses on global water crises, for instance the World Water Association. The students were also taught on how to distinguish between healthy and polluted water through the presence of macroinverterbrates. It was indeed an interesting revelation to us as many of us were unaware of the presence of these macroinvertebrates.

After the briefing, we were provided with a sumptuous lunch at the Country Lodge Restaurant. In between lunch, we also got to know more about the environmental problems afflicting the highlands from Dr. Liau.

We later adjourned to the Sungai Pauh Forest Reserve where we conducted our research on the quality of the water along Sungai Bertam and Sungai Pauh. We were briefed on how to use the multi meter tester to determine the pH value, ppm(parts per million) and also electrical conductivity of the water. We were later taken for a little “tour” by Dr. Liau to determine which stream was to be tested on and also to observe the physical conditions around the stream. Dr Liau said that a stream is healthy when it is shaded by foliage, and when there are presence of rocks and also lively plants growing by the banks of the stream.

At the end of the little “tour”, the students started their CSI research under the guidance of Dr. Liau. The students netted various species of invertebrates to identify their various tolerances towards the quality of water (level of pollution). The students had discovered that Sungai Bertam is actually very much polluted due to the agricultural activities upstream. On the other hand, Sungai Pauh achieved a high water quality index, even sensitive creatures like crabs could be found there!



As an added bonus to this programme, the students were allowed to test their own water brought from their various homes. And from the results, it was quite and eye opener. Even how much filtered the water was, there were still traces of pesticides detected in all the samples of water.

In conclusion, the students of SMK Sultan Ahmad Shah were unanimously agreeable that the CSI programme was an extremely valuable experience to behold. It has also inculcated in them the need to preserve the various sources of the streams and also the catchment areas. Overall, it was an educational yet exciting and enlightening experience which will linger in each one of the students for a long time. Our heart felt thanks to REACH for giving each one of us this invaluable experience.

By Melati Mohd Ariff

This six-part article dwells on several environmental issues namely global warming, water vitality, ecosystems, biodiversity and Green Economy. This is the fourth of the series.

CAMERON HIGHLANDS, June 22 (Bernama) -- Chew Lai Ling and Suhaimi Mamat are teachers in Cameron Highlands. Chew, 42, teaches music at her very own Cameron Music School in Brinchang whilst Suhaimi, 28, teaches special education for students with learning disabilities at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Rata. One Saturday morning, Chew, Suhaimi and another 26 teachers voluntarily 'wore a different hat'. They were assigned to a crime scene investigation or 'CSI' of a different kind. They went to several locations and by the time they arrived at the final spot within this highland resort at about 4:30 pm, the ambient temperature had rose to 30 degrees Celsius. At the final 'crime scene', the team got their result like what they expected and it was not a favourable one! The final water sample taken confirmed the team's greatest fear, it tested positive for carbamates and organophosphate found in pesticides though there was not much human activity in the area.

AN INITIATIVE OF REACH

CSI in Cameron Highlands is the acronym for Community Stream Investigators, a new community based approach for water management. CSI is an initiative of the Regional Environment Awareness Cameron Highlands (REACH) that was established at the height of the water crisis in the highland resort in the late 1990s. Chew, Suhaimi and the other teachers were taking part in one of the CSI modules, Training the Trainers programme. This programme is made possible by a grant from CIMB Foundation. 'Crime scene' here refers to stretches of rivers where water samples were tested.

Alarmed by the deteriorating water quality in Cameron Highlands, REACH formed the CSI and it has been monitoring the water quality of some of the key rivers of the highlands since 2005. "Our main aim is to make the local community more aware about the state of the rivers and streams in Cameron Highlands and to identify sources of pollution. "We also aspire to motivate the community to join hands with us in safeguarding the environment and in protecting our waterways," said Dr Liau Tai Leong, REACH's vice president and the prime mover for CSI's activities to Bernama in an interview recently. Besides monitoring and documenting the changes in the water quality over time, CSI also aims to work closely with the community to ensure the quality of their drinking water. "Among our long term goals are to restore the water catchments in this highlands and conserve the rare and important ecosystems. Our river system by right should have superior water quality and of high ecological and environmental value.

STATE OF RIVERS IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS

In total, there are about 126 rivers and tributaries in Cameron Highlands but according to Dr Liau only 10 per cent of them are within class 1 and 2 meaning the water is fit for drinking. "As we speak more rivers are being degraded," he said. A river classified, as class 5 would mean it is biologically dead as in some of the tributaries of the Sungai Terla no living organisms can be found. According to Dr Liau who was formerly a government health officer, the usual sources of river contamination in Cameron Highlands are domestic waste, sewage, chemical fertilisers and pesticides. "The testing conducted by the CSI commences with the biological monitoring using macro invertebrates as indicators. They are organisms that can be seen with the naked eye. "These include aquatic organisms such as insects in their larval or nymph form, crabs, snails, leeches and worms. The more types of organism you find in the river, the better the state of the river is," he said. He explained further that macro invertebrates are good indicators of river quality. They are easily affected by the physical, chemical and biological conditions of a river. It takes only a little pollution to kill or chase away some of them. "If the biological monitoring parameter fails, then the next step would be the chemical testing to identify the contaminants of the water. Lastly would be some physical assessment," Dr Liau explained on the procedures used by the CSI. Physical assessment would entail inspection of the 'crime scene' and to ascertain the main source of contamination.

VISITING THE CRIME SCENES

For the purpose of training the participants for the CSI programmes, Dr Liau chose Sungai Bertam and Sungai Pauh in Tanah Rata. Both flow through the compounds of Cameron Highland's Forest Department. Sungai Bertam, one of the main rivers in Cameron Highlands has its origin in Gunung Brinchang and flows about 18 kilometers into the Ringlet reservoir at Habu. "The water is pristine at the slopes of Gunung Brinchang but the water quality deteriorates as it meanders through farms and towns of Brinchang, Tanah Rata and Ringlet. "The river has somewhat become a drain that not only has to take in pesticides and waste water but also silt and at some points suspended solids and untreated sewage," explained Dr Liau. Sungai Pauh, on the contrary, has remained pristine since 2005 when the CSI picked it as a test site. "The survey on the particular Saturday at Sungai Pauh found many different organisms in large amount. The biological diversity index exceeds 22 indicating that the river is very clean with excellent water quality. "All these contribute to the biodiversity of the river. Biodiversity is nature's gift to us, a reflection of the health of any ecosystem including the river ecosystem," he said.

"This is in contrast to that particular stretch of Sungai Bertam (opposite Taman Sedia) where the participants took water samples. The biological diversity index found was around eight or nine including some leeches, which are known to survive in low quality water. "Even though there is not much activities except for few farms, the tests show traces of pesticides and the presence of phosphate above the norm and we can deduce that the point source for this must be a farm," said Dr Liau. He told Bernama that random tests carried out last April on tap water samples in some locations in Cameron Highlands indicated the presence of carbamates, organophospates and organothiophospate, commonly found in pesticides. (visit www.reach.org.my for results of pesticides in piped water) "By right we should not have pesticides residues in our water, treated or not treated. We are talking here about acute and chronic poisoning," he said.

NEED MORE SUPPORT

Even when REACH is hoping more and more residents of Cameron Highlands would join hands, Dr Liau was swift to point out about 90 per cent of the volunteers were either in farming or tourism industry. "They all have vested interests," he claimed. But at least the awareness through the CSI is making good impact on those who have participated in its programme. Music teacher Chew told Bernama that she was indebted to her daughter Melody, 17, a REACH volunteer, for convincing her to join the CSI Training the Trainers programme. "Melody told me about the condition of the rivers in Cameron Highlands. I know the water quality has dropped. I remembered when we first moved to Cameron Highlands, we need not use filter for our drinking purposes. "But since five or six years ago we have to install filter for our drinking water," said Chew, a self-professed environmentalist adding that she goes to the extent of doing recycling in her rented music school in Brinchang. She had begun talking to parents of her music students about the contaminated rivers and their relation to the farms and excessive usage of pesticides.

NEEDS MONITORING

As for Suhaimi who hails from Rompin, Pahang, he would like to see a big campaign being organised to educate the locals on the importance to safeguard the rivers. "It should be a day's event, all about rivers and their significance to our existence. It should be done systematically and hopefully it would create the much needed awareness," he said. Like Chew, he too is seeing the impact of unplanned development on this highland resort. The weather for one he said has not been cold like when he was first posted to Cameron Highlands about six years go. "Whatever development to take place, it has to be environmental friendly. It should not degrade the environment," he told Bernama. Speaking on the CSI programme, Suhaimi said he had no knowledge of the program until his headmaster told him about it. "I presumed it was something of a fishing trip but attending this programme was really worth it," said Suhaimi. He said nine other teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Rata participated in the CSI Training the Trainers programme. According to Suhaimi, he used to swim in Sungai Pauh, one of the 'crime scene' for the CSI programme during several of his camping outings. He has observed some campers throwing rubbish indiscriminately and washing their cooking utensils and plates in the river. "The authorities need to monitor the camping sites regularly as the campers' lackadaisical attitude would only worsen the already bad situation," he said. Suhaimi also plans to educate his students on the importance of river organisms in a creative manner by using more pictures as they were special students (slow learners).

-- BERNAMA

As a token of appreciation for awarding RM 10,000.00 to  REACH for the publication of the orchid book, REACH presented YB Dato Devamani with 3 Orchid Books at the REACH office today. YB Dato Devamani is a 2nd term Member of Parliament for Cameron Highlands. He is a former lecturer and believes that education is the way forward. He said that this book is a big achievement from a community based organisation such as REACH .We hope he will continue to support us in the publication of our 2 upcoming books ie “Montane Flora of Cameron Highlands” and  “Wild Birds of Cameron Highlands”

Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (R.E.A.C.H.) was formed by several residents of Cameron Highlands who were concerned about the quality and rate of development in Cameron Highlands.

Officially registered on 6th September 2001, R.E.A.C.H. aims "to conserve Cameron Highlands as an area of natural resources and as a natural heritage, a highland resort surrounded by permanent forest reserve and sustainable agriculture with quality drinking water".
R.E.A.C.H. runs its activities by co-operating with the Local Authorities, Schools, Business entities, the public and YOU!!!