guarding the mangroves trees

Mangrove trees is the natural forest on the swampy beaches in Malaysia. It was growing in abundance in the west coast of the peninsular, protected from the strong north east monsoon. The trees were being cut to the extinction main to be process and turn into charcoal and used as piling material for building construction.

When the new government took over Selangor in 2008, the license to harvest the trees were suspended. Despite this, the thieves continue to illegally cut down the log. It is estimated about 50,000 were felled despite the ban.

There seem to be total disregard for the authority, despite the constant petrol, the trees are still being cut down. However a few weeks ago some progress had been made. A two week surveillance by the Selangor Forestry Department finally bear fruit as they manage to seize about 30,000 mangrove logs with estimated value or rm300,00. A crane and 13 workers were caught.

The extinction of the mangrove trees in certain location of the beaches had brought the problem od soil erosion. Slowly the beaches front had shifted, as the protections against the winds and current normally provided by the mangrove are being removed.

sources:

The star newspaper

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sun energy a salleable product

Many developed nation had introduced a feature to enable small consumers to sell electricity to the national grid. This will give some incomes as well as help the nation to reduce the burden on pollution.

Malaysia is following suit with the implementation of feed-in-tariff (FiT). The new meter will be able to measure the amount of power taken from the grid as well as the value sale to the grid.

It is expected that a consumer that produces 4 KW will be earning around rm400 per month. A normal house will need about 4 KW and the investment required is about RM60,000. The consumer will pay RM6000 and the rest will be born by the bank. The expected revenue is RM696 and the monthly payment about RM456 leaving about rm240 as profit.

These are main advantage of installing the system:

1. the solar energy will reduce the carbon footprint. Is important as the pollution is taking tolls on the eco-system. There is fear of global warming and rise of the seal level.

2. The panel itself will last a long time. The normal working life is about 20 years. The project would be financially viable and pay itself.

3. It is also beneficial for the utility company as it can be operating like a middle men buying the power from the consumers at a lower price and sell it at a profit.

Sun energy is a viable proposition. A product salleable at a profit and can be a long term investment.

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