Bio-diversity

Due to deforestation the Orang asli cannot rely on the food resources of the forest fo their existence. -With decreasing forest areas, coupled with commercial demend for herbal palnt, the OA have littele alternative but to overharvest to get sufficient income to feed their stomachs. - In mid 2004, 20 acres of th OA land was taken by the neighbouring community to plant rubber trees which lead to further depletion of the forest causing the OA to be further impoverished. -As such some plants cannot be found in their area and they have to go further to the neighbouring forest areas to look for such plants. - As a result of such competitive harvestingsome of the herbal plantsare in danger of becoming extinct. Even before the plants mature or are able to replenish at the same rate of harvesting , the plants are harvested to meet the demands of the middlemen. - Finally the depletion of such herbal plants will also result in the younger OA generation losing their traditional knowledge.

Malaysia