Malaysia Forest: Exploring the Unknown
Added to website: 22 July 2004
The latest CCC forest project started at the end of March with the arrival of the first Volunteers to the Malaysia Tropical Forest Conservation Project (MTFCP). Based on Pulau Perhentian Besar, the development of the project follows the successful pilot project that was completed in 2003. This represents an important step for discovering the relatively unknown biodiversity of these islands.
The small islands that line the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia are heavily forested and likelyto have a very important ecological role. Such islands often provide refuge for endemic, endangered and migratory species as previously found on similar forested islands in Southeast Asia. Pulau Redang, situated off the north east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, has been noted to support a number of unique species, including half the mammalian species identified in Malaysia. The Flying lizard (Acanthosauria armata) illustrates the importance of the offshore landmasses, as although rare on mainland Malaysia, this species thrives on the surrounding islands of Peninsular Malaysia.
Despite this, very little ecological research has been conducted on the numerous forested islands surrounding Peninsular Malaysia. The main focus of island research has centred on Langkawi off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and other studied areas include the Republic of Singapore. Here factors affecting specific species distributions on small tropical islands were investigated. Little research into the resources of the east coast islands has been carried out, and that which has is limited in the peer-review literature to the fauna and vegetation of Pulau Tioman.
Virtually no forest conservation orientated research has been completed on the Perhentians. Exploring the ‘unknown’ under direction of CCC, Volunteers will be responsible for the collection of pioneering data on the islands biodiversity. No data on the forest habitats existed prior to CCCs involvement, but based on initial findings Volunteers can expect to witness a myriad of wildlife including tree shrews, squirrels, flying lemurs, and vast quantities of bats, snakes, birds and dusky langurs, in the lush tropical forest surroundings.
The work is being lead ‘on the ground’ by project scientist Roger O’Malley, who previously worked with CCC on the successful study of the terrestrial biodiversity of Danjugan Island (Philippines). The MTFCP is working in close collaboration with the Department of Wildlife (with local officers working alongside CCC staff) and is also supported by other national organisations such as the Malaysian Nature Society and the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia. In addition, the project is also implementing CCC’s scholarship scheme for host country nationals, ensuring the development of necessary capacity for long-term effective conservation.
The MTFCP understands that heavily forested islands such as Pulau Perhentian Besar often play a unique ecological role, existing as a haven for endemic and migratory species. Whilst the Perhentians are protected by a series of marine protected areas however, the ecological and economical importance of the forests have not yet been evaluated, as is the case of most of the Malaysian islands. Whilst neighbouring Redang Island has had the benefit of a terrestrial resource assessment and resultant management plan, the Perhentians still lack the provision of such a basic information foundation to guide and inform future management actions.
Thus, the aim of the MTFCP is the collection of further, in-depth baseline information on the health and ecological status of the forests of the Pulau Perhentian Archipelago. In addition, one of the stated objectives of the proposed work is to instigate a programme of training and conservation education at both the local scale on the Perhentian Archipelago and also at the national level within Malaysia.
