MyCEPA depends on the cooperation, partnership, and participation of all levels of
society. As a result, effective communication networks and public education are
built and serve as the pillars of strength to achieve the aims of the programme.
Community involvement and cooperation between various agencies is the key to
success in the community-based rehabilitation and conservation efforts.
Community-based rehabilitation programmes are planned and progressing through
a combination of policy, socio-economic, and science elements which is essential to
ensure the effective forest conservation in Malaysia. The following are the
community-based rehabilitation programmes that have been established in partnership with local communities, NGOs, as well as the relevant government agencies and
private sectors:
(a) Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest or Sahabat Hutan Gambut
Selangor Utara (SHGSU) in Selangor State.
The North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF) plays a global importance
for its role in maintaining endangered and endemic species (biodiversity conservation) and climate regulation while also serving as a huge terrestrial carbon
sink. NSPSF plays a pivotal role to the well-being of the local community who
live near the forest. The forest supplies water for domestic use (Tanjong Karang
and Sekinchan), irrigates water for agricultural areas especially the rice fields,
and serves as a source of protein (freshwater swamp fisheries).
The Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest or Sahabat Hutan Gambut
Selangor Utara (SHGSU) (PPM-016-10-10,082,012) is a group of individuals
who are aware of and concerned about the degradation of peatland forests. They
understand the impact of peatland forest ecosystem degradation to society and
thus being proactive in the conservation of peatland forests. SHGSU was
established with the primary objective to strengthen collaborative efforts
among the government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities to overcome issues related to Raja Musa Forest Reserve (peat swamp forest). The
following are the activities being carried out by SHGSU:1. Establishing a patrol team, which consists of 2-motorbike riders who patrol
around Raja Musa Forest Reserve (RMFR) 3–4 days in a week and monitor
along the forest buffers for open burning.
2. Establishing the SHGSU community nursery. The nursery has produced
about 100,000 saplings for tree planting activities at RMFR to date.
3. Establishing a team to undertake planting activity in RMFR.
4. Producing handicraft products made of natural resources.
5. Empowering the SHGSU members in climate mitigation and adaptation in
peat swamps in Selangor (2013–2019).
6. Through the SHGSU members participation, supporting the implementation
of the Integrated Management Plan for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest
2014–2023 which is in line with the ASEAN Guidelines on Peatland Fire
Management.
24 Sustainable Peatland Management Focusing on Community-Based Peatland. . .
655
society. As a result, effective communication networks and public education are
built and serve as the pillars of strength to achieve the aims of the programme.
Community involvement and cooperation between various agencies is the key to
success in the community-based rehabilitation and conservation efforts.
Community-based rehabilitation programmes are planned and progressing through
a combination of policy, socio-economic, and science elements which is essential to
ensure the effective forest conservation in Malaysia. The following are the
community-based rehabilitation programmes that have been established in partnership with local communities, NGOs, as well as the relevant government agencies and
private sectors:
(a) Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest or Sahabat Hutan Gambut
Selangor Utara (SHGSU) in Selangor State.
The North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF) plays a global importance
for its role in maintaining endangered and endemic species (biodiversity conservation) and climate regulation while also serving as a huge terrestrial carbon
sink. NSPSF plays a pivotal role to the well-being of the local community who
live near the forest. The forest supplies water for domestic use (Tanjong Karang
and Sekinchan), irrigates water for agricultural areas especially the rice fields,
and serves as a source of protein (freshwater swamp fisheries).
The Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest or Sahabat Hutan Gambut
Selangor Utara (SHGSU) (PPM-016-10-10,082,012) is a group of individuals
who are aware of and concerned about the degradation of peatland forests. They
understand the impact of peatland forest ecosystem degradation to society and
thus being proactive in the conservation of peatland forests. SHGSU was
established with the primary objective to strengthen collaborative efforts
among the government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities to overcome issues related to Raja Musa Forest Reserve (peat swamp forest). The
following are the activities being carried out by SHGSU:1. Establishing a patrol team, which consists of 2-motorbike riders who patrol
around Raja Musa Forest Reserve (RMFR) 3–4 days in a week and monitor
along the forest buffers for open burning.
2. Establishing the SHGSU community nursery. The nursery has produced
about 100,000 saplings for tree planting activities at RMFR to date.
3. Establishing a team to undertake planting activity in RMFR.
4. Producing handicraft products made of natural resources.
5. Empowering the SHGSU members in climate mitigation and adaptation in
peat swamps in Selangor (2013–2019).
6. Through the SHGSU members participation, supporting the implementation
of the Integrated Management Plan for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest
2014–2023 which is in line with the ASEAN Guidelines on Peatland Fire
Management.
24 Sustainable Peatland Management Focusing on Community-Based Peatland. . .
655