Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 25 October, 2006

Turn Forest Wastes Into Bio-fertilisers, Charcoal: Bio-scientist

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Plantation companies can reduce the hazardous effects of open burning by turning forest wastes into bio-fertilisers and charcoal.

Dr Farouk Abd-elaziem Gad, a bio-scientist at the International Islamic University's engineering faculty, told Bernama said such innovative efforts will not only yield economic benefits like income and job generation but also help reduce the expensive health costs from respiratory diseases associated with the haze.

Commenting on the statement by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid that regional action to tackle the haze problem had been unsatisfactory so far, Gad said it is time regional scientists find innovative ways.

"The haze menace, largely due to forest fires and open burnings to clear agriculture land in Indonesia, has to be tackled systematically and properly researched," he said.

Gad, who had also successfully developed enzymes to produce bio-fertilisers and animal feed from discarded oil palm trunks, said plantation companies should not take the easy way out by open burning as this would have adverse economic, social and ecological impacts in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

"While they can argue that ash from open burning will help fertilise the soil to some extent, one should not dismiss the extermination of millions of beneficial microbes and worms for the growth of plant life as a result of open burning," he said.

Gad said there are machines capable of producing charcoal briquettes from sawdust and these products can be used for cooking, removing foul odours and water purification.

"These alternatives also help to create jobs and generate income besides helping to reduce air pollution," he said.

-- BERNAMA