Fewer than 150…This is the number of Malayan tigers left in our forests. Our powerful national symbol which was once estimated to be at 3,000 in the 1950s has now been classified as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species. If no precautionary measures are taken, the magnificent creatures which once thrived in our abundant forests will face the grim reality of being extinct forever.
Encompassing 6.71 million hectares of forests, Peninsular Malaysia’s green backbone also known as the Central Forest Spine (CFS), harbours extremely rich and diverse forest landscape which is also home to other endangered species such as the Malayan sun bear, Malayan tapir, and Asian elephants. It houses over 8,800 species of plants and holds a majority of the water supply for Peninsular Malaysia.
However, amidst her green glory, CFS’ beauty has been threatened. Environmental jeopardising activities such as poaching, illegal logging, entry and hiking without permits, and uncontrolled development have threatened the green gem’s biodiversity. This has contributed to forest fragmentation, which is the breaking of large forest landscapes into smaller division or blocks. This results in the endangering of wildlife habitats, reduction of carbon storage and an increase in human-wildlife conflicts, to name a few.
On the 12th of November 2023, a Myanmar man falling prey to a tiger at a rubber plantation in Gua Musang in Kelantan made headlines. Meanwhile, a similar tiger attack took the life of an Indonesian rubber tapper at Akar Prestige Plantation, on the 10th of November. These recent attacks are not only a clear depiction of human-wildlife conflict, but also a brutal reflection of how the tiger landscape has been affected.
Other than providing workers in these areas with the required education on how to address these situations, the call to address forestry crimes at national and state levels is louder now more than ever. Enforcement on the ground must be enhanced to ensure that illegal activities are eradicated and the integrity of the CFS is maintained, and biodiversity is protected.
Globally, initiatives like the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration have been launched to make Earth a healthier planet by stopping and reversing the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. Initiatives like this help ensure the conservation of biodiversity, address climate change and protect the environment.
Bringing this closer to home, the Central Forest Spine Master Plan has taken the step to respond to this call. The framework which is mainly implemented under the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM,) has embraced the SMART Patrol system to enhance its enforcement capacity with the aim of reducing wildlife poaching and illegal removal of forest products. The easily accessible and integrated enforcement system that complies with local requirements is crucial to monitor activities that pose a threat to biodiversity.
Through the Improving Connectivity in the Central Forest Spine (IC-CFS) project and with collaboration with Forestry Department Headquarters, the State Forestry Departments and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, the SMART Patrol system is now being enhanced to include implementation in selected permanent forest reserves. Piloting of the SMART Patrol in Perak alone has resulted in a total of 381 activities identified in 2022 which includes the presence of immigrants, signs of wildlife, encroachments and others. Pahang and Johor have also followed suit in adopting SMART Patrol for its conservation efforts.
Further emphasising the benefits of SMART Patrol, the system allows data to be shared with relevant forestry and wildlife departments and relevant organisations. For instance, if a forest ranger discovers a wildlife’s carcass in forest reserves, they will be able to share the data of the location and characteristics of the wildlife with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN). It is imperative that methods like the SMART Patrol system be prioritised to pave the way for the proper forest management and enhance the habitats of wildlife.
The Budget 2024 which was presented on the 13th of October 2023 highlighted that a budget of RM60 million will be allocated to appoint rangers among veterans from the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Royal Malaysia Police, Orang Asli and local communities. The Natural Resources and Sustainability Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also recently shared that 1,500 rangers have been added to increase enforcement efforts of permanent forest reserves in both West and East Malaysia.
One of the goals in the 4th National Physical Plan is to maintain at least 50% of forest cover up to 2040[1] and seeing how the Government and initiatives like Central Forest Spine are making great strides in enforcing the law, we can find assurance that our forests will be able to be conserved for the future generations. However, there is without a doubt that every Malaysian has the responsibility to address the urgency of improving forest management and environmental protection. This means that all Malaysians should play a part in protecting the forests and nature in their respective communities and working together with law makers to practice efficient policies.
Together, we must join forces to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of Peninsular Malaysia’s green lung.
**This article is brought to you by the Central Forest Spine (CFS), an initiative under the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia.
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[1] https://rmke12.ekonomi.gov.my/ksp/storage/event/962_22_dr_alias_rameli_4th_national_physical_plan_for_a_prosperous_resilient_and_liveable_malaysia.pdf
