Activities Report Jan 2000 Newsletter

Belum Forest Reserve-the State Park 
      The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) congratulates the MenterI Besar of Perak, YAB Tan SrI RamlI Ngah Talib on the very commendable move to protect the Belum Forest Reserve from any development. This is a welcome and important move, as it complements the transboundary parks in Thailand and the Ulu Muda forest Reserve.
      With Taman Negara representing the flora of central Peninsular Malaysia and the Endau Rompin, with its West Borneo influence representing the southern end, Belum fits the missing piece perfectly for representing the northern flora.
      The importance of the Belum Area (which includes the Temenggor, and Grik Forest Reserves) has long been the concern of MNS as well as other NGOs and the public. Since the MNS Belum I (1993/4) and Belum II expeditions (1998), MNS has discovered a unique habitat, rich and diversified in wildlife and plants, one of which is the interesting discovery of the rare Rafflesia flower. Many big mammals have been sighted in this undisturbed area, such as the seladang, elephants, tigers and tapirs, along with evidence of the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros.
      Belum with its neighbouring reserves, is large enough to be impactful for conservation. However, with the increasing wildlife population as reported by MOSTE earlier, there is a need for animal corridors for the migration and expansion of territory within the species. As such, ideally, to allow for such migration and better ‘gene-mixing’, the Belum Forests should be linked up with the adjoining forest reserves in Kelantan and Pahang by a series of protected corridors. These reserves will finally be in reality the sanctuaries for wildlife and flora in Peninsular Malaysia.
      These forests along the Main Range are already catchment areas for major rivers in Perak, Kelantan and Pahang. Logging has reached the foot of these mountainous regions. They are also too steep for agriculture, and with high erosion risk for development a better function is to protect them as conservation areas and animal corridors. Other states adjoining the Main Range, such as Pahang and Kelantan should set aside more areas for conservation and emulate the Perak example.
      The protection of forests is an investment in our future and is crucial for our own survival. The forest is a reservoir of pharmaceutical products, wild food stocks, natural pesticide and herbicide, natural fibres, wood products, eco-tourism, apart from performing the natural cycle systems of air, water, rain and nitrogen, fundamental to our continued existence.

Dato Dr Salleh Mohd Nor    Letter to the Editor, Kuala Lumpur, 16/11/99


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Created on 15th Jan 2000