Oil Palm - Environmentally Friendly

Monday 3 August 2009
I am now back in my beloved home country after being away for three weeks in London attending my son's graduation ceremony at Middlesex University. Yesterday Sunday 2 August 2009 while running through the papers, I came across an article regarding a resort right in the middle of an oil palm estate - FELDA Residence Hot Springs Sungai Klah in Perak.
The resort is nestled in the serene and lush forest patches, surrounded by hills and clear cold mountain streams and rivers. All 6.5 hectares enjoy the scenic view of well-tended oil palm plantation and durian orchard amidst a haven of tranquility.
I have actually heard about this tourist attraction which was previously known Taman Rekreasi Air Panas. To my mind, FELDA has done a wonderful job of transforming this place, highlighting the fact that the oil palm plantation is an environmentally friendly surrounding, coupled with the fact that there exist the natural hot springs within the resort. These two natural factors complimented each other and now the resort is very popular amongst tourists from Singapore, Japan and Korea. http://www.plantationresorts.com.my/Hotsprings/index_ap.shtml
To my mind, all other big players in the palm oil industry should emulate this innovative effort by FELDA to develop along this lines, hence strengthening the image that the Industry is a sustainable industry, that we care about our environment and that we preserve our natural flora and fauna in our quest to cultivate oil palm in our country.