GEC partnership with HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad began in 2011, aimed to rehabilitate Raja Musa Peat Swamp Forest through community participation. The three year project resulted in the establishment of a local community group who are aware and concerned about the peat swamp forest degradation issues called Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (FNSPSF); and development of peatland environmental education programme called Peatland Forest Ranger, to educate school children on the importance of environmental protection on peat swamp forest.

The partnership continues in 2014 through a three year project to support the local community group efforts on protecting and conserving the peat swamp forest resources through rehabilitation and sustainable management practices. The project is anticipated to develop series FNSPSF innovative initiatives to enhance and strengthen the capacity among the local community in peatland water management and forest rehabilitation works.

Duration: 2014 - 2017

Funder: HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad

Partners: Kuala Selangor District Council, Selangor State Forestry Department

Target groups: Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest Association (FNSPSFA) from four villages, namely Kg Raja Musa, Kg Bestari Jaya, Kg. Seri Tiram Jaya and Kg. Ampangan.

Aim/objective:

• Strengthen FNSPSF/Community ownership and participation in peatland water management and  forest rehabilitation work adjacent to Raja Musa Forest Reserve
• Enhance school children engagement  in peatland conservation via GEC’s Peatland Forest Ranger Programme; and
• Promote the importance of peatlands water management and conservation, particularly Raja Musa Forest Reserve to the general public

Project Achievements

Organised a series of awareness campaigns to promote the importance of peatlands in Malaysia to general public

A total of six exhibitions were successfully organised at six different places, outreaching to approximately 1500 audiences. The exhibitions were held at surrounding villages such as Kampung Sungai Kelambu and Kampung Bukit Ciku in Kuala Langat and marketplaces that have high perdestrian volume such as Ramadan Bazaar. These exhibitions were spearheaded by The Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest.

Community engagement activity

A peat water fishing competition was organised to engage public in the rehabilitation activities. This unique fishing competition, first of its kind, was participated by more than 60 local communities, anglers and stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of conserving peatland forests and preserve peat water for healthy peatland ecosystem. The fishes caught during competition were later released to conserve the fishes as well as to identify different species found in peat water.

Establishment of handicraft shop

A community handicraft shop was established to support social and economic needs of the local community living around the forest reserve. Handicraft such as batik, key chains and frames made from natural resources like peat tree stumps, bamboo, mengkuang and pandanus are being sold in the shop. The handicraft shop is currently managed FNSPSF.

Implementation of rehabilitation activities by FNSPSF

The Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest has constructed three canal blockings at the forest reserve to raise water level and wet the peat soil to prevent peat fire. This activity was done together with 395 volunteers;

A total of 6375 Tenggek Burung saplings were planted by Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest together with 1695 volunteers in year 2016, covering 10.13 hectares; and 

The Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest were involved in tree tagging at Sungai Karang's Intrepretative Trails in Selangor.

Implementation Peatland Forest Ranger (PFR)

GEC has organised four PFR trainings with selected schools neighbouring the forest reserve. Peatland Forest Ranger is an environmental education programme established by GEC to educate students about their immediate peatland environment and impart knowledge about the ecosystem, through visits and demonstrations. It is also a platform to mobilize youngsters by instilling in them the spirit of scientific inquiry into environmental problems and involving them in the efforts of environmental preservation. GEC has also conducted two peat technical workshops involving 140 students and an annual PFR camp in 2016 involving 40 students at Taman Negara Enday Rompin to illuminate them on tropical rainforest management.

For more information about the project, please e-mail us at outreach@gec.org.my