STU 2073 ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES LECTURE 5

MOHAMAD HILMI IBRAHIM

STU 2073
NATURAL
RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT

FRST, UNIMAS

HELLO GUYS
AND WELCOME

TO STU2073

OUR FOURTH UNIT
LESSON IS

RESOURCE
DEPLETION,
ENVIRONMENT
DEGREDATION AND
POLLUTION

CONTENT FOCUS

01 02 03
Land Resource Marine and Coastal
Depletion Resource Depletion Enviromental Economy

RESOURCE DEPLETION

Resource depletion is the consumption of a resource faster
than it can be replenished.
Resource depletion cause by air pollution, water pollution,
solid wastes, agrochemicals, radioactive wastes, greenhouse
effect and global warming, ozone depletion, improper
resource utilisation and deforestation.
It results instability in the ecosystem which affect food chains
and food waves also species fragmentation and extinction.

LAND RESOURCE DEPLETION

FOREST LOSS IN MALAYSIA

Rhett A. Butler on 15 November 2013, https://news.mongabay.com/2013/11/malaysia-has-the-worlds-highest-
deforestation-rate-reveals-google-forest-map/

DEFORESTRATION IN PENINSULA
MALAYSIA

Fragmentation of Natural Forest Cover in Peninsular Malaysia 1954 –2000
(Source: National Physical Plan 2)

DEFORESTRATION IN BORNEO

Fragmentation of Natural Forest Cover in
Borneo 1973 –2010.
(Source:

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.010
1654.g003)

COMMON SIGHT OF
DEFORESTATION

ILLEGAL LOGGING

Refer to the harvesting, processing, transporting,
buying or selling timber in contravention of
national & international laws.
Cause: increasing demand for timber, paper &
derivative products, including packaging.



EFFECTS OF ILLEGAL LOGGING

1.Poor living standards for
indigenous populations.

2.Global warming & climate
change

3.Loss of biodiversity
4.Economic losses

NEGATIVE IMPLICATION OF
DEFORESTATION

Destruction of the wildlife
habitats
Climate change
Landslides and flood
Depleting the capacity of
reservoir storage

A GLIMPSE OF THE REFORESTATION COST

Young tree (4 feet tall) =
RM 50/tree
High density planting
(20,000 – 30,000 young
trees/ha) = RM 1.5 million

*not included the costs of land preparation,
planting services & growing maintenance .

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

Refer to the commerce of products derived
from non-domesticated animals or plants,
extracted from natural environment /raised
under controlled condition.
Involves the trade of living or dead
individuals, tissues (skin, bones/meat) or
other products.
In less than 50 years, 60% of vertebrates
species population has decreased.
Cause: high price paid for rare species

WHY IS WILDLIFE TRADE HARMFUL?



1. Diminish species

population & cause

local/global extinction.

2.Weaken entire ecosystems

& threated essential links

of the world biological

diversity.

MARINE AND COASTAL
RESOURCE DEPLETION

MARINE & COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS
DISRUPTIONS AND DESTRUCTIONS

Environmental degradation and resource
depletion of the marine and coastal
ecosystems in Malaysia are associated
with the development impacts of following
sectors:
1. –Agriculture
2. –Aquaculture
3.–Forest industries
4.–Heavy industries

DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS FROM
AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Excessive amounts of chemicals run
off the land into coastal bodies
1.Contribute to eutrophication (excess
nitrates)
2.Toxification (pesticides, herbicides)

DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS FROM
AQUACULTURE SECTOR

Uncontrolled aquaculture expansions:
1.Reduce resource values –threatening the

natural population of the native species
2.Intensive practices pollute coastal water -

through theextensive application of hormones
and antibiotics
3.Obstruct mangrove and another critical habitat
- reduce the reproduction of marine species.

DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS FROM FORESTRY
INDUSTRY

Removal of forest cover in watersheds:
1.–Increases sediment loadings of rivers (from the

upstream > downstream > estuary > coastal area –
mangrove & coral reefsecosystem)
2.–Water quality is reduced and siltation increased
3.–“smothering” of coral reefs & shellfish and
submerged vegetation (seagrasses)
4.–Reduces the vigor of life in coastal waters

DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS FROM HEAVY
INDUSTRIES

Threats extend beyond the plant sites

Wastewaters can seriously
jeopardize coastal ecosystems.
Minor disturbances - localized
turbidity
Major disruptions - water pollution:
toxic chemicals.

ILLEGAL FISHERIES

Refers to fishing activities conducted by foreign
vessels without permission in waters under the
jurisdiction of another state/ which contravene its
fisheries law and regulations.
Malaysia loses up to RM6 billion due to illegal
fishing every year.



FISHING ZONES IN MALAYSIA

TYPES OF FISHING VESSELS IN MALAYSIA

EFFECTS OF ILLEGAL FISHERIES

1.Depletion of fish stocks,

especially in developing

countries coastal waters.

2. Threatened marine

ecosystems.

3.Food and regional security at

risk.

ENVIRONMENT (ECOSYSTEM)
& ECONOMY

CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENT ECONOMY

ROLES OF ENVIROMENT ECONOMY

1.Quantify the values received from the respective
ecosystem services to demonstrate their
importance to human welfare.

2.Facilitating the related stakeholders to design
systematic utilization plans that can help
protect natural resources from degradation

HOW TO EVALUATE THE ECONOMIC
VALUE OF THE ECOSYSTEM
SERVICES?

1.Revealed preference methods

Attributing value by

observing/measuring the spending

pattern on goods and services that

contain the respective qualities that

desired to be value.

HOW TO EVALUATE THE ECONOMIC
VALUE OF THE ECOSYSTEM
SERVICES?

2. Stated preference methods
Surveys to ascertain willingness
to pay

EXAMPLE HOW VALUE OF
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN THE WILD?







CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, resource depletion, environmental
degradation, and pollution are all major problems that
need to be addressed. They are all interconnected, and
addressing one will often help to address the others.
Solutions will require a concerted effort from many
different sectors, and will take time to implement.
However, with the right policies in place, these problems
can be managed and eventually resolved.