Nakawan Range: The Nakawan Range in Perlis has emerged as a potential ‘genetic bank of herbs’, with over 60 herbal plants identified within its hilly rainforest, offering significant prospects for sustainable exploration and future benefits.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perlis Forestry Director Ag Shaffie Ag Ahmadni emphasized the need for collaboration between researchers and higher learning institutions to explore these herbal resources scientifically. This collaboration aims to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these herbs, which include ‘tongkat ali’, ‘kacip fatimah’, fenugreek, and other local species that are rare in other areas. Traditionally used and now cultivated by communities such as the Wang Gunung community, these herbs are being transformed into health products.

Ag Shaffie shared these insights during a press conference held in conjunction with the Nakawan Rainforest Festival, part of the state’s International Forest Day celebrations. The festival, spanning four days from May 29, took place at the Sungai Batu Pahat Ecotourism Complex.

On April 30, Bernama highlighted that the Nakawan Rainforest, with its rich natural attractions, is a focal point for attracting domestic tourists to the state. Perlis Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Rural Development Committee Chairman Abu Bakar Hamzah noted the area’s unique features, such as rare limestone formations and over 1,000 unexplored caves, stretching from Wang Gunung to Kampung Wai in Kuala Perlis.

Ag Shaffie also announced a collaborative initiative with the Faculty of Business at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) called ‘Perlis Forest Community’ (Perlis Force). This initiative aims to boost the local economy by systematically marketing forest products. He stressed the importance of involving local communities not only in marketing but also in safeguarding the forest against encroachment and illegal logging. The programme includes the Wang Gunung community, along with the Bukit Jernih community, Perlis climbers, and nature explorers.

Additionally, Ag Shaffie highlighted the unique honey produced in the Nakawan Range, where bees nest in limestone rock, adding another distinctive feature to the area’s natural heritage.