The Ecologist
Irshad Mobarak, a self-taught naturalist and environmentalist from the Malaysian island of Langkawi says that development need not mean destruction. It's a simple equation: cleared forests equal cleared hotel rooms. Tourism is a double-edged sword in Langkawi. With its turquoise seas and white beaches, 80 per cent of the economy of this Malaysian archipelago of 99 islands is linked to tourism, but overdevelopment and rainforest clearances are threatening the natural attractions that draw people to its shores.
