New Straits Times 16 Jan 13;
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: One of four states is involved in Federal Govt's Central Forest Spine project
SOME 19,000ha of the Lower Belum Forest along the Grik-Jeli Highway will be gazetted as a permanent forest reserve under the Federal Government's Central Forest Spine project.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the area was a productive forest located within the Belum-Temenggor complex near the Grik-Jeli Highway.
He said Perak was one of the states involved in the CFS project, which would link up four major forest complexes in Peninsular Malaysia to create one contiguous forested wildlife sanctuary.
"The move shows how serious the state government is about preserving the environment and green lung of Perak. This is a huge sacrifice because the area involved is a productive forest for timber production. This long-term investment will benefit future generations," he said here yesterday.
Zambry said some groups had been urging the state government to gazette more areas in Temenggor, adding that a study needed to be done to ensure the timber industry was not affected.
The CFS is a master plan to enable the animal and plant species in the country to continue to thrive for future generations.
Under the plan, the forest complexes will be connected through a network of 37 linkages to form a 5.3 million ha of forest complex. This area would allow animals to roam freely from north to south of the peninsula.
The four forest complexes are Titiwangsa-Bintang-Nakawan Range; National Park to Eastern Range; Southeast Pahang Swamp Forest, Tasik Chini and Tasik Bera; and Endau Rompin National Park-Kluang Wildlife Reserve.
Earlier, Zambry witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the state government and Pulau Banding Foundation to promote sustainable development of the rainforest ecosystem of the Belum-Temenggor rainforest.
Zambry: 19,000ha along East-West Highway in Perak to be permanently gazetted
The Star 16 Jan 13;
IPOH: A total of 19,000ha of land along the East-West Highway in Perak are to be gazetted as a permanent forest reserve.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the move was in line with the Federal Government's Central Forest Spine initiative for a contiguous network of forests in the backbone of the peninsula.
Dr Zambry said it was important for animals, especially elephants that have been moving between the lower Belum and upper Belum forests, to roam freely along the route.
The area, which is along the Grik-Jeli stretch, is now a production forest, where logging is allowed.
“We will gazette the area soon. Once gazetted, no logging will be allowed in the area (which comprises forests on both sides of the highway),” he said after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the state government and Pulau Banding Foundation at his office here yesterday.
State Secretary Datuk Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan signed for the state government while the foundation was represented by its chairman, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Mohamad.
Foundations adviser Tan Sri Mus-tapha Kamal Abu Bakar said the MoU was for the foundation to manage and coordinate research at the Belum-Temenggor Rainforest.
He said this would allow both local and internationally renowned universities and research institutions to carry out scientific research on flora and fauna at the rainforest.
State govt plan to gazette 19,000ha along highway highly commendable
The Star 22 Jan 13;
THE Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) welcomes the Perak state government’s recent announcement to protect via gazetting, 19,000ha of forest along the East-West Highway.
This commitment signifies a willingness on the part of the state to contribute to the long-term conservation initiative led by the Federal Government and positively supporting the implementation of our national policies, such as the National Physical Plan (NPP) and National Biodiversity Policy.
Nevertheless, having campaigned to protect the whole Belum-Temengor forest complex since 1993, the MNS has in recent years, been concerned also with the forest flanking the East-West Highway which basically and geographically separates the now Royal Belum State Park and the Temengor Forest Reserve.
The viability and integrity of the forest complex in its entirety (Royal Belum State Park plus Temengor Forest Reserve) will be lost if this forest is allowed to be logged or degraded.
Change of land use in this 19,000ha and Temengor Forest Reserve, especially through ongoing logging activities and the introduction of monoculture will have adverse effect on threatened and endangered biodiversity as well as jeopardise the water supply and hydropower especially the catchment for Temengor Dam and the other series of dams along Sg Perak.
MNS was been involved actively in the process leading towards the Belum Temengor Integrated Management Plan (BT IMP) which is a site specific strategic plan for the development of the area. This plan is yet to be adopted by the state.
MNS reiterates its stand that the state and nation can generate revenue especially through developing nature tourism attractions and promoting scientific research and environmental education within this, the oldest rainforest in the world.
MNS stands committed and unwavering in its pursuit of further commitments to our original and consistent call for Temengor Forest Reserve to be accorded the protection it deserves.
The organisation will soon embark on a new campaign to advocate the conservation of the Belum-Temengor area as an Important Bird Area (IBA) as well as a Trans-Boundary Protected Area established linking the Royal Belum State Park and the Temengor Forest Reserve (in Malaysia) to the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary and Bang Lang National Park (in Thailand).
All these areas are globally recognised IBAs.
PROF DR MAKETAB MOHAMED
President, MNS
