As one drives along the not so new route from Pos Betau to Bertam Valley, one cannot but observe many magnificent examples of mature Tualang trees (Koompassia excelsa) along the route. They are unmistakable because of their towering crowns resembling a broccoli head above the forest canopy and their hallmark - a smooth, huge trunk that only opens at the top, fanning out like a broccoli. They can reach 80M or so and often, honey bees make the Tualang their preferred home due to the fact that not many wild animals can get to the canopy of a Tualang. Another bonus for the Tualang is the fact that its timber is of not much value in the market, thus sparring it from the chainsaws (Chinese lumberjacks call this tree "Pow Pei Cheng", meaning green bark that cracks because the tree doesn't take sawing well and often ends with cracked trunk, rendering it 'useless'. Another thing is the actual density of the wood - the light yellow and light weight wood does not stand well against the elements...). That having said, the hunger for wood will not leave this massive giants standing around for too long as the once virgin jungle valley is now again facing the onslaught of chainsaws brought upon by human greed...
First among many, and definitely among the finest examples...it is interesting to note that this magnificent giant doesn't belong to the Dipterocarpus family, a family of tropical hardwood trees that is found mostly in the lower elevation forests in Malaysia. It actually belongs to a very extended family of plants called Leguminosae that gives you your beans!
close-up
Another huge one around the bend but covered by the forest...
This rather 'green' example smack on the side of the road...
A vertical panoramic view of the tree.
Another extremely tall tree perched on the ridge of the mountain.
An incredibly old tree seen from a bridge over a wide gorge. Notice the tall palm tree behind the Tualang and try to figure out the size of this tree!
A vertical panoramic view...
A closeup.
The valley that houses many magnificent trees...how long will Nature last against the greed and follies of man?
Notice the "little" crowns of trees resembling a broccoli - there are huge Tualangs among theese...
Then, sad views like these...the vegetable farming activities in Bertam Valley are fast encroaching into the lower Betau Valley and this is the result...man always wins at first (economic gains) but pay later with environmental disasters.
All too common signs along the route from Betau Valley to Ringlet at the Cameron Highlands: "Mind the entry/exiting of timber lorries"...
Actually this forest in this particular part of Pahang was some of the finest examples of forest in Peninsular Malaysia. But as usual with us humans, we logged them. And now, we are clearing them as your photos show. I give the world a few more decades before the end comes. I truly believe we will be unfortunate enough to live and experience it....
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