PEATLAND MANAGEMENT ATRAJA MUSA FOREST RESERVES(RMFR) IN MALAYSIA
BY:DEBORA BELAWAN
Selangor State Forestry Department

1

INTRODUCTION• RMFR located in the north westernpart of the State of Selangor• Gazetted as a forest reserve in 1990
• All PRF Gazetted under National
Forestry Act (Adapted) Enactment
1985• Peatland Forest is one of the major
ecosystem which plays vital role insosio-economy
development
andsustaining biodiversity elements

FOREST RESERVE IN SELANGOR

DISTRIBUTION OF SELANGORSTATE PEATLAND FOREST
Sungai Dusun FR (5,091 ha)
Sungai Karang FR (37,417 ha)
Bukit Belata (Tambahan) FR(3,140 ha)

NSPSF :
81,304ha

Raja Musa FR (35,656 ha)

Kuala Langat Utara FRKuala Langat Selatan
FRTOTAL : 91,080 ha

SSPSF:
9,776haRAJA MUSA FOREST RESERVED

Tg. Karang rice
field

Sime Darby
Plantation

Kg. Tawakal A, Sg.
Tengi Selatan

Ex-mining, BestariJaya•

In Selangor, peat swamps play a vital role in the socio-economic and livelihood of the local
communities, particularly in the fishery industry, ecotourism sector and recreation activities.

•Locally plays an important role in supplying water for domestic (Tj. Karang & Sekinchan) andagricultural uses (Sg. Karang rice fields).

•RMFR has global importance for its role in maintaining endangered and endemic species(biodiversity conservation) and as huge carbon sink.

• Over 107 species of tree, most of which arepeat swamp spp.
• 20 species of mamals- rare and endangered
mammals such as the Sun Bear, Leopard, Tapir,and False Gharial.
• 173 species of birds, of which 145 are breeding
residents, including endangered species such as
hornbills and the Short Toed Coucal.
• Over 100 species of fish including 6 species
endemics and 50 species restricted to blackwater rivers.
• 32 species of orchids (2 new records forSelangor - Bulbophyllum curtisii & Pomatocalpaspicata)

Source : Danced 2000 & NSPSF Scientific Biodiversity Expedition 2013

Managing RMFR(i)

Moratorium for any logging
activites in PRF for 25 years
since 2010;(ii) State’s comitment to maintain atleast 30% of their land aspermanent reserved forest;(iii) Implementation of IMP NSPSF
2014 – 2023 that has beenendorsed by State in 2014 whichcomprises :a)b)c)

Management of buffer
Zones
Prevention of Forest
Fires
Rehabilitation Plan

Focuses on facilitating naturalregenerationofforests
byrestoring the hydrology andecology

Provides guidance for multiple
stakeholders to work together
toprevent,preparefor,
respond to and recover after
fires

Rehabilitation
Plan

Prevention ofForest Fires

To reduce and mitigate thenegative influences of theactivities taking place adjacentto the Forest Reserve

Buffer Zone
managmenta) Buffer Zone Managementb) Prevention of Forest Fires

FOREST FIRE STATISTICS AT RMFR 2012-2021
FOREST FIRE STATISTIC AT RAJA MUSA FR
1400

1,300.00

1200

Area (Ha)

1000

800

690

600
407
400
200

1502001000900789100123456Year

YEAR

2012201320142015201620172018

201920202021

AREA (HA)

407

690

1,300.00

200

150

1000

900

FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENTSelangor State Forestry Department has developed and enhanced infrastructure to combat forest fire in
the peatlands

Canal blocking

Clay Dyke

Water Retention Pond

Piezometer
Installation

Watch Tower

Check Dam

High Density Poly
Ethylene (HDPE)
pipe instalation

Fire Prevention TeamNetworking withCommunities(Sahabat HutanGambut)

Fire Danger Rating
System (FDRS)
Signboards

HYDROLOGY SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
Efforts taken by Selangor State Forestry Department to manage the hydrological system in peatland forest tomaintain its water level

Fire Break

Check Dam

Clay Dyke

Check Dam

Canal Blocking

Installation of High Density Polyethylene Pipe(HDPE) MS1058• Rumah pump & enjin• Aerial view

Natural recovery with high water table

August 2012

March 2014

August 2018

c) Rehabilitation plan
Planting activities by SFD• This forest tree planting program aims to create forest cover,prevent peatland forest fires, haze and global warming.
• This activity was created to provide hands-on experience onconservation value and a great opportunity to explore and to know
better the importance and function of the RMFR to local
communities and volunteers• Started in year 2010;• Planted species such as Shorea leprosula (Meranti Tembaga),
Anisoptera marginata (Mersawa paya), Intsia palembanica(Merbau), Gonystylus spp. (Ramin) Euodia spp. (Tenggek Burung)and Macaranga spp. (Mahang) and many others;

Planting Activities Programmes
Selangor State Forest Department always encourages the public to work together
conserving peatland forest and to preserve its richness

Planting activity
with Selangor
Crown Price

Planting activity
with community

Planting activity
with student

Planting activity withgovernment agency

Planting activity withforeignerPlanting activity withvolunteers

Selangor Crown Prince - support the Raja Musa Forest Reserve Rehabilitation ProgrammeFriends of North Selangor Peat Swamp
Forest (SHGSU)o SHGSU as ‘eyes and ears’ for Forestry Department andother related agencies
o SHGSU forest fire patrolling and monitoring team routine:vMeasure water table;
vDaily update the FDRS signboard according toinformation from MMD website;
vobserve peat forest fire incidence both inside andoutsideforest
reservearea(bufferzonemanagement);and
vReport any forest reserve encroachment activity or
peat fire incidence to Forestry Department, GEC,BOMBA & DOE.

08/04/17

The Centre of Excellence (COE) for North Selangor Peat
Swamp Forest was developed in 2014

ACCREDITED QUEEN’SCOMMONWEALTH CANOPYThe Raja Musa Forest
Reserve in Selangor wasaccredited to be part of theQueen’s
Commonwealth
Canopy in 2017 and as apioneer site for the Peat
Swamp Forest Rehabilitation
and Conservation Project inSoutheast Asia and Malaysia.

Thank You