A WEBQUEST
Thea Sinclair
Biology Teacher
St. Stephens HS
Catawba County, North Carolina
A Special Thanks to the North Carolina Science Teachers Association for their Study Grant Enabling Me to Visit the Malaysian Rain Forest
A WEBQUEST
Thea Sinclair
Biology Teacher
St. Stephens HS
Catawba County, North Carolina
A Special Thanks to the North Carolina Science Teachers Association for their Study Grant Enabling Me to Visit the Malaysian Rain Forest
Background information
By Tom Tarrant, Used with
permission
In the country of Malaysia lies a national park called Taman Negara. This park extends over 4,343 square kilometers of primary rain forest that is more than 130 million years old. Taman Negara straddles the interior border regions of the states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu. Owing to state legislation in 1925, about 1300 square kilometers was designated as a hunting preserve. Big game hunters would go after tigers and elephants within the area. In 1939 the sultans of the three states declared the area a national park, named George V National Park. Following Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957, the park was officially renamed "Taman Negara" meaning "national park."
Taman Negara is a sanctuary for hundreds of species of birds, butterflies, insects, fish and plants. The park is also the home to Malaysia's aboriginal people, the Orang Asli (original people). A shy, yet gentle race, the Orang Asli continue to live the nomadic way they have lived for centuries, although they are fully aware of the progress in the country and will make use of modern conveniences like boat motors.
Learn more about the flora and fauna of Taman Negara
The
Problem (Teachers, please see note)
Currently, the only way to arrive in Taman Negara is to take a three hour trip in a boat up the Sungai Tembeling (Tembeling River. ) There is also a rough road from Jerantut to the village of Kuala Tahan; the trip takes about 2 hours. One can pay a boatman to be taken across the river into the park from the village for 50 cents Malaysian.Once at the park, visitors can stay in the 117 chalets of the resort, in the youth hostel or in the campground. There are also accommodations in the village across the river. Piped water and electricity have been brought into the park to provide comfort in the wilderness.
In this Webquest, it is hypothesized that a group of investors affiliated with the Malaysian Office of Tourism Development want to build a better road and accompanying bridge so people can drive directly to the park from other cities in Malaysia or nearby Singapore. In addition, they want to build a lodge about 4 kilometers from the Park Headquarters where visitors can spend the night further into the jungle. Currently the only places to stay overnight in the interior are several primitive hides built around salt-licks where one can occasionally view tapirs, wild pigs and tigers.
Your class will be assigned to groups representing various stakeholders in the decision-making process. When you receive your assignment from your teacher, you will go with your group to the computer and read background information about the stakeholder and their needs. You will then decide if you agree or disagree with the plan to build the road, bridge and housing based on the point of view of your stakeholder group. You also may come up with another alternative that is more compatible with your stakeholder's needs.
Click on the name of your assigned stakeholder group below.
Malaysia Department of Tourism official
Orang Asli tribe person
Malaysia Nature Society Member
Kuala Tahan Village Resident
Rain Forest Ecologist
Contractor for proposed lodge, bridge and road
Tourist from the United States
Once you have read your background information, you should write down your arguments for or against the building of the road, bridge and lodge. Place your arguments and any additional plans on the position statement handout.
Position Statement Handout
When all of the groups have completed the position statement, it is time to have a public hearing. Each group will have time to present their arguments and any counter plans. When all groups have finished their presentations, the class should try to reach consensus as to what the fate will be for Taman Negara in the 21st Century.
Copyright by Thea Sinclair, 1999 Last updated July,2004
Permission is given to use any of the materials and pictures for educational and non-commercial use only.
Send email to tsinclair@twave.net