The project’s two-prong objective addresses two equally important and inextricably linked factors: biodiversity and human livelihood. It aims to enhance protection and wise use of biodiversity of the Nenggiri River system by developing partnerships with local communities and other stakeholders, including enhancement of local welfare and livelihoods.

To look into the biodiversity aspect, the project has engaged Prof Dr Mohd Azmi Ambak of Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia to record the current status and level of exploitation of the kelah fish in the basin. Also ongoing is an assessment of the current threats to the riverine biodiversity in the upper basin. A threemonth preliminary soil erosion study by a private company, VT Soil Erosion Research and Consultancy, found five major contributors to siltation of rivers in the basin; namely agriculture, logging, gold mining, plantation and road construction.

The road is part of the Second East-West Highway, from the Blue Valley in Cameron Highlands to Gua Musang in Kelantan, cutting through hills and across rivers in the catchment area. The information collated from these studies will be used to develop a framework for conservation of biodiversity of the river basin, including suggested protected areas. This framework will set the basis for a management plan for community monitoring against threats to the flora and fauna, which includes the establishment of Friends of the Nenggiri. Already, the project team and local communities are documenting illegal fishing incidents and reporting them to the local authorities.

To counter the siltation brought upon by the land uses identified, the project team is working to influence the relevant stakeholders to adopt best practices management as well as to urge the local authorities to have better enforcement.

As for the socio-economic aspect, the project has started dialogues, both formal and informal, with local and state-level stakeholders. Besides the informal feedback obtained from such consultations, a survey and assessment of the socio-economic status of the communities is being done by Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Shahwahid Othman, to be followed by a report on community dependence on natural resources and sustainable livelihood options.

Titiwangsa Heritage, the company which has been given the right to develop the area for recreational fishing, will assist in promoting sustainable ecotourism and sport-fishing. There are more than 20 villages along the tributaries of the Nenggiri. Downstream, the main livelihood of the Malay community is cultivation of rubber and food crops. Upstream, the Temiar orang asli depend on harvesting non-timber forest products and fish.