Nov. 17, 2014, 9:33 p.m.

BRADDON Liberal MHA Joan Rylah has blamed a contractor for land clearing on her property, which led to council intervention and a state authority's investigation.

BRADDON Liberal MHA Joan Rylah has blamed a contractor for land clearing on her property, which led to council intervention and a state authority's investigation.

"We engaged an independent contractor to undertake work to clear fire hazards, clear fence lines, remove weeds and dangerous trees at risk of falling, from beside the road and to protect infrastructure," Mrs Rylah told The Advocate.

"Many of the trees were considered a danger to stock and ourselves, as land owners."

Mrs Rylah said she was not on site (near Somerset) when any of the work was done.

She said she and her husband, Rod, believed the contractor should have been aware of the riparian reserve.

"On October 27, we were notified by the Forest Practices Board of a possible breach," Mrs Rylah said.

"We immediately instructed the contractor to stop all works and complied with FPB directions.

"Approximately two weeks later, the Waratah-Wynyard Council notified us that a development application was required.

Continued here:
Contractor blamed for land clearing

BAYBORO | The matter of a controversial land-clearing project in Pamlico County could be headed to court, and the Pamlico County Board of Commissioners will be asked for its support Monday at a 7 p.m. meeting.

The Atlas Tract, a 4,658-acre tract of forest and wetlands in the Florence community, is the subject of a possible lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers by the Coastal Federation and local citizens.

Those groups allege illegal ditching and the destruction of wetlands, charges that were first offered by citizens in 2013, with complaints to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That federal agency gave an Illinois company the authority to clear and ditch land for conversion to agricultural use.

The land owners are Spring Creek Farms LLC, of Illinois.

Spokesmen for the Southern Environmental Law Center and the property owners are on the agenda for Mondays commissioners meeting at the county courthouse.

According to Alan Propst of Oriental, a leader of the citizens group, the request will be for the commissioners to support a letter of intent to sue the federal agencies.

The commissioners last year sent letters to the federal authorities for information and to voice concerns.

The clearing allegedly will undermine the water table in the area and adversely affect nearby estuaries.

Propst said the support of commissioners was vital if a lawsuit goes to federal court.

According to Propst, 251 acres have been cleared and ditched to date.

Read the original post:
Land-clearing issue to come before Pamlico commissioners

November 17, 2014

The move is to keep an eye on illegal land-clearing and fight corruption.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will station its officers in Cameron Highlands to tighten surveillance and monitor corruption to combat the problem of illegal land-clearing activities.

The move was made following MACC checks conducted since May last year which found there was no specific and systematic centre for the public to submit complaints effectively on illegal land-clearing and corruption.

Its deputy chief commissioner (operations), Mohd Shukri Abdull, said while waiting for government approval on the posting of permanent officers, the MACC would station officers there temporarily as soon as possible.

People can pass any information to MACC, he said in a statement here yesterday.

Mohd Shukri said although the MACC received complaints and information from time to time, it had a problem with inadequate evidence.

The MACC, through its inspection and consultancy division, has conducted checks to determine the cause of the problem in Cameron Highlands, he added.

On Nov 5, a mudslide occurred in Ringlet and Lembah Bertam, Cameron Highlands believed to have been partly contributed by illegal land-clearing activities resulting in the death of five people.

Last year, Mohd Shukri said the MACC had charged the people who illegally cleared land and tried to bribe an officer at the Land and District Office in Cameron Highlands.

Read this article:
MACC to station officers in Camerons

Tree Tech provides land clearing services for both residential and commercial purposes. Land clearing is often used to expand yards or outdoor living spaces or clear lots for building. We have the mechanized equipment to offer efficient removal of trees and brush and control undesirable vegetation like vines, thorns and other nuisance vegetation - whether its along roadsides or encroaching trees along fields. Our specialized equipment enables us to do land clearing for municipal properties, highway work, and residential properties. Land clearing is also used to manage the underbrush on wooded lots. Clearing out undesirable trees, brush and vines from wooded parcels to creates a managed, park like appearance or add depth and function to natural areas. Vista Clearing is another of Tree Techs land clearing services. Many properties are located in areas that offer tremendous views. Trees and brush often interfere, minimizing or blocking a potential view. Our clients have found that having us manage these areas through pruning and or removal has enhanced their landscape and increased their property value. Tree Tech offers land clearing consulting services throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island to help you improve the look and value of your property.

Serving Massachusetts & Rhode Island:

Read the original here:
Tree Tech Land Clearing | Tree Services MA | Tree Removal RI

Ex-rep alleges 'Palace letters' responsible for excessive land clearing works

KUANTAN: A former state assemblyman claimed that letters purportedly issued from the Pahang palace have contributed to the proliferation of excessive land-clearing activities in Cameron Highlands.

Datuk Ho Yip Kap, who was the Tanah Rata representative from 2008 to 2013, said that during his tenure, very few of such letters were given out to aged farmers who wanted to earn a decent living by working on a small piece of land.

"Now, certain people who claimed to have connections to the palace are offering the letters for RM100,000 to RM300,000.

"Some greedy farmers took up the offer, resulting in massive and uncontrolled land-clearing activities.

"There are also some corrupt officers in the district office who give out the land-clearing permits discreetly," he said.

Due to this loophole, farmers and contractors would carry out land-clearing activities within 24 hours.

A source said RM20,000 would be collected from farmers for approval to clear one acre of land.

Ho said he had raised the matter at the state assembly, asking for a freeze on land-clearing permits and a ban on the use of heavy machinery in the highlands.

However, he said no concrete action was taken. Ho applauded former Cameron Highlands MP Datuk Seri S.K. Devamany for playing an active role and raising his concerns in Parliament in the past.

Continue reading here:
Ex-rep alleges 'Palace letters' responsible for excessive land clearing works

Pan view of driveway easement, land clearing out to road
Pan view of driveway easement, land clearing out to road.

By: Sunny Golden Dog

Original post:
Pan view of driveway easement, land clearing out to road - Video

Land Clearing West Palm Beach
Do you need your land cleared, trees removed, new landscaping. Call for a free quote. Sundance Florida Landscaping. http://www.sundancefloridalandscaping.com.

By: Doug Thaler

Go here to read the rest:
Land Clearing West Palm Beach - Video

The Science of Survival: Elizabeth Kolbert and Dr John Williams on the science of climate change (Me
Elizabeth Kolbert (The Sixth Extinction) and scientist Dr John Williams explore the science surrounding climate change, the effects of land clearing and agri...

By: The Monthly Video

The rest is here:
The Science of Survival: Elizabeth Kolbert and Dr John Williams on the science of climate change (Me - Video

The Pahang Government wants the MACC to produce evidence of the allegations in its report.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pahang Government has reportedly taken the position that theres no evidence of politicians and the palace being involved in illegal land clearing in the Cameron Highlands, as alleged by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission in a report on July 22.

It was learnt that a meeting of the Pahang National Security Council meeting on July 22, chaired by Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan, dismissed the MACC report on the grounds that it was hearsay.

The Pahang Government wants the MACC to produce evidence of the allegations in its report, according to sources privy to the July 22 meeting. To say that the state government does not take action when confronted with facts is unfair.

Adnan has since been reminded by the Malay press not to overstay his welcome. He also stands accused by the Malay press of being arrogant.

The views expressed in the contents are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.

The rest is here:
Pahang dismisses MACC on land clearing

November 10, 2014

The Institution of Engineers offers its help in drawing up a master plan to prevent disasters.

PETALING JAYA: The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) has called for an integrated approach against floods and landslides in Cameron Highlands and offered its expertise in formulating a master plan to prevent such disasters.

In a press statement issued today, IEM President Lim Chow Hock also told the government to order an immediate freeze of excessive land clearing.

Any further opening up of the highlands will definitely aggravate the problem of soil erosion and increase the risk of flooding, he said.

The long term solution lies in the control of land use and the relevant authorities must be serious in tackling the root cause.

Referring to areas that have already been opened up, Lim said authorities should make sure that the land owners and operators undertake measures to reduce soil erosion.

He said the plastic houses that shelter vegetable farms on hilly slopes should have facilities to hold back water from flowing into rivers when it rains.

There must be an integrated approach to solve the recurrent flooding and landslide problem, which should include controlled land use and land clearing, the application of best agricultural management practices, the relocation of squatters along river reserves, the appropriate flood mitigation measures and the necessary flood forecasting and warning system, he said.

In order to prevent further loss of lives, it is important to formulate a Cameron Highlands Disaster Prevention Master Plan urgently.

Original post:
Halt land clearing in Cameron, says IEM