Hunger for 'world's smelliest fruit' threatens Malaysian forests

RAUB, Malaysia (AFP) – Soaring demand for durians in China is being blamed for a new wave of deforestation in Malaysia with environmentalists warning vast amounts of jungle is being cleared to make way for massive plantations of the spiky, pungent fruit.

Grown across tropical Southeast Asia, the durian is hailed as the ''king of fruits'' by fans who liken its creamy texture and intense aroma to blue cheese.

But detractors say durians stink of sewage and stale vomit. The strong smell means many hotels across the region have banned guests from bringing them to rooms, while Singapore does not allow the fruit on its subway system.

Nevertheless, they are a hit in China, and the increase in demand has prompted exporters to vie for a bigger share of the burgeoning market.

Growers in Malaysia are increasingly shifting from small orchards to industrial-scale operations – a trend that environmentalists warn presents a new threat to rainforests already challenged by loggers and palm oil plantations.

''Right now durians are gaining a lot of attention from the Chinese market,'' said Sophine Tann, from environmental protection group PEKA, which has studied land clearances to make way for the fruit.

''This deforestation for planting of durians is in preparation to meet that demand.''

In the jungle-clad district of Raub in central Malaysia, swathes of rainforest have recently been chopped down to make way for a new plantation, with durian seedlings protected by netting planted across bare hillsides.

The plantation is next to an area of protected forest, which is home to a kaleidoscope of animals from monkeys to exotic birds.

The value of durian shipments from Malaysia to China in the first eight months of 2018 hit 7.4 million ringgit ($1.8 million), more than double the value in the same period of 2017, according to the agriculture ministry in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia hopes a deal struck in August to pave the way for the export of whole, frozen durians to China will boost shipments, and are aiming to more than double production to 443,000 tons by 2030.

Despite the looming production boom, the agriculture ministry insisted plantations will expand slowly and said it was encouraging growers to use existing orchards and revive unproductive trees.

''Deforestation for new areas is not encouraged,'' Agriculture Minister Salahuddin Ayub told AFP in a statement, adding that if trees were logged for plantations, strict environmental rules must be followed.