100ha of forest reserve now a durian orchard

PETALING JAYA: A total of 100ha of land, about the size of 120 football fields, have been converted into a durian orchard in the permanent Sungai Brok forest reserve near the environmentally sensitive area of the Lojing Highlands.

This conversion is the latest in what critics have called blatant attempts by both the Kelantan go­vernment and companies to carve out areas of forests near the Central Spine Area, which is important for the country’s water reserves and the climate.