The approach used by the Perlis Forestry Department (JPNP) in using the open conservation method in permanent forest reserves (HSK) not only helps to protect and preserve the flora and fauna but at the same time encourages the public to get involved in caring for the natural treasures.

Its director, Ag Shaffie Ag Ahmadni said conservation efforts by giving education and understanding to the community will help them to better know the habitat and wildlife found in HSK.

“With these methods, the public can better understand the boundaries that need to be maintained when in HSK to avoid conflict between people and wildlife,” he told Bernama recently.

He said the method used in Perak is quite unique in that it uses the concept of open conservation and not to protect and conserve wildlife in ‘cages’.

He said wildlife needs to continue living in its original habitat.

He said these efforts began on March 2, 1691 with the gazetting of the Mata Ayer HSK covering an area of 3,341.30 hectares (ha) followed by the Bukit Bintang HSK covering an area of 2,785.85 ha on Dec 4, 1952.

Ag Shaffie said Perlis now has HSK measuring 10,869.74 ha starting from the Malaysia-Thailand border until Kuala Perlis, and 90 per cent of it is a limestone range.

He said the HSK area covers 13 per cent of land area of Perlis, namely Mata Ayer, Wang Mu, Bukit Bintang, Kurong Batang and Bukit Papan.

He said the HSK was also gazetted as a state park, as well as wildlife protection, learning and water catchment areas in 2007.

He said the plants found in the limestone forest are slightly different from the tropical forests found in the country.

Ag Shaffie said Perlis has a semi-autumn climate like the climate found in neighbouring Thailand, which causes the forests in this state to have differences in terms of vegetation, habitats as well as the flora and fauna that are different from the forest reserves in other states.

“Among the unique species found in the limestone forest are the Bogak tree or ‘Cycas Clivicola’, the Malut tree or its scientific name ‘Hopea ferrea’, and the Kentoi monkey or its scientific name ‘Macaca arctoides’,” he said.

He said Kentoi macaques are only found in the northern part of Perlis which is Wang Kelian and sometimes as far as Wang Mur, Kaki Bukit.

He said to ensure no conflict happens between people and wildlife in areas where visitors are concentrated, the Perlis JPNP provides signs such as wildlife crossing areas, prohibition on feeding wildlife, Kentoi monkey zone and others.

Additionally, the JPNP also provides information boards about kentoi macaques in tourist hotspots such as the Wang Kelian viewpoint so that tourists can not only recognise but also appreciate the presence of the species.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency