Forests & Coastal Programme
The programme aims to promote and support the sustainable management of forests and wetlands to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change.
The Forest & Coastal Programme includes a broad range of activities related to assessment and management of forests and biodiversity at the local, national and global levels. This programme also focuses on climate change issues.
The Forest & Coastal Programme has organised/co-organised a number of meetings both in the country and around the world. Workshops and meetings are usually centred around topics that relate to forest, biodiversity and sustainable management issues.
GEC's Forest & Coastal Programme consists of four team members, all who are well versed and experts at their field knowledge.
- Nagarajan Rengasamy (Coordinator, Forest Care Programme)
- Nurhayati (Programme Officer)
- Saiful (Programme Officer)
- Nazeri (Programme Officer)
- Muhyiddin (Programme Officer)
Projects and activities completed and underway include:
Assessment and rehabilitation of portions of the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest, Malaysia (ongoing)
The North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF) is located in the north western part of the Selangor State and it covers an area of 73,392 hectares. It consists of Raja Musa Forest Reserve (RMFR) and Sungai Karang Forest Reserve with an area of 23,486 hectares and 50,106 hectares respectively.
RMFR was gazetted in 1990 and prior to its gazettement, the area was part of State land forest and was intensively subjected to logging since 1950s with very little control and supervision from Forestry Department. As a consequence, the condition of the forest is heavily disturbed and the forest stand is only of medium to low density. Under the "Integrated Management Plan of the NSPSF (2001 - 2010)", 70% of RMFR is classified as production forest, 27% as forest sanctuary for wildlife and the remaining 3% as research forest. Forest harvesting in RMFR continued until 2007 within the production forest. RMFR support tree species with small to medium sized crowns, typically reaching 30 metres in height. Emergent trees are scattered throughout the area. Kempas (Koompassia malaccensis ), Kedondong (Santiria spp.), Kelat ( Syzgium spp.) and Durian (Durio carinatus) are the dominant tree species within the forest. Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus) which was a common species in the peat swamp forest is now very rare. Part of the nortn-east corner pf RMFR are known for its high water table and dominated by palms and pandanus.
The RMFR had been illegally encroached by people and turned into farms/agricultural and settlement area. Drainage canals that were built for the illegal agricultural activities have caused water to drain out from the peat. This had led the area susceptible to peat fires and oxidization; indirectly contribute to carbon emission and global warming.
As a spearheading environmental organisation in peatland rehabilitation and conservation, GEC established a collaborative programme with Selangor State Government and Selangor State Forestry Department to rehabilitate 1000ha of degraded land within a 23,000ha peat swamp forest. The programme includes a range of actions including fire prevention, restoration of natural water table, encouragement of natural regeneration as well as replanting severely degraded areas. The programme also involves the engagement of local communities and volunteers in carrying out the seedling production, enrichment planting, post planting treatment and monitoring of threats.
-------------------------
Assessment of options for community-based natural resource management and livelihood enhancement in Manjung District, Perak (2013 - ongoing)
An assessment on developing a community development and natural resource management programme for the Cluster one zone (Coastal areas near to Seri Manjung) that will form part of a combined Vale Supporting Community Livelihoods Social Investment plan for three to five years.
-------------------------
Ecological Mangrove Rehabilitation for Village Protection and Sustainable Livelihood
A 2 years project funded by UNDP - Small Grants Programme focused on rehabilitating degraded mangrove belt along Bernam River through implementing Ecological Mangrove Rehabilitation Approach
-------------------------
Meliau Range Conservation Programme, Sabah (2003- 2006)
A collaborative programme by the Sabah Forestry Department, TSH Resources Berhad and GEC to conduct studies on biodiversity in Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, Sabah and creating an awareness on conservation efforts in the rich tropical rainforests of Sabah. This conservation programme was funded by Keindaren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF) of Japan.
Continue reading
-------------------------
Rapid assessment of impacts of tsunami on coastal ecosystems in Aceh, Sumatra (2005)
Rapid assessment of impacts of tsunami on mangroves in Malaysia (2005).
Community based rehabilitation of mangroves in Malaysia (2006-2009)
Community based protection of forests (2006-
Urban Forest protection and Tree planting initiative (2007-
Community based forest management programme in northern Vietnam (2008-2009)
Rehabilitation of the Ruoergai peatlands, China (2002-9)
Restoration of drained and burnt peatlands in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia (2002-7)
Development of a management strategy for the Merang-Kepahayan peat swamp forest in Sumatra Indonesia (2005-7)
Development of regional project for the rehabilitation and sustainable use of peatlands in Se Asia. (2006-8)
Networking and Partnerships
Development of a Coastal Greenbelt Initiative to exchange experience and best practices in coastal forest protection sand rehabilitation.
Webmaster