Protecting buffer zones to make the cut

A boat heading into the Royal Belum rainforest.

THE buffer zones of Royal Belum State Park must be protected to prevent logging and ensure the forest reserve makes it into the heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

Eco-tourism and Conservation Society Malaysia (Ecomy) co-founder and chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian said it was pointless for the state park to be accorded the status when just across the Gerik highway, logging continues at the Temenggor Forest Reserve.