The importance of Kinta Valley Limestone Karst. Why It Must Be Protected

From Gunung Lanno looking to the north. A quarry operation lies in the foreground with Gunung Rapat and Gunung Terendum behind

Paleontologist Lim Tze Tshen 

By Mr Lim Tze Tshen the President of the Paleontological Society of Malaysia who was in Ipoh on July 2019 at the invitation of Kinta Valley Watch (KVW) group to present a talk on paleontology and the importance of limestone hills.

Here he mentions 7 points why the limestone hills of the Kinta Valley must be protected and preserved.

1.The coverage of limestone karst in Kinta Valley is the largest one in the Peninsular.

2. The greater Ipoh area is located within the limestone karst area. This limestone karst is one of the potential areas to develop sustainably from an ecosystem point of view. Over-development will not only affect but also destroy the geological stability of the ecosystem, and also reduce the chance of exploring the unique limestone caves in Kinta Valley by its citizens.

3. Limestone karst, including the caves and other geological features, is rare and unique compared with the other geography landscapes in Southeast Asia. Therefore, it should be protected.

 

A scarred Gunong Lanno on the outside but inside (below)

Inside Gunung Lanno.. underground water flows through Gua Air (Pix by GAP)

4. Limestone mining resources are much more abundant underground. Furthermore the mining technology is relatively well-developed to exploit the  underground limestone mining.

5. The exposed-limestone karst and caves are distinctive. There are some unique species in this biological community, including wild fauna and flora, and they are the natural heritage of our country.

6. The general survey of Kinta Valley limestone karst hasn't been done, but limestone exploitation is still ongoing. It will diminish individual species and the opportunity to educate local biologists.

7. Many limestone caves contain fossils of ancient life forms and may hold important archaeology sites, if we exploited it without comprehensive research, we will lose the chance to understand and record the history of our country and the life within Kinta Valley karst. 

Lim Tze Tshen