Bestari Jaya: The Raja Musa Forest Reserve has been selected by the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP) as a regional reference site for peatland conservation and restoration efforts. ATFP chairman S.R. Siva Kumar highlighted the transformation of the area from degradation due to illegal logging and farming to a model of integrated peatland conservation acknowledged at the international level.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the site was chosen in recognition of the success achieved by the Selangor government and relevant parties. Siva Kumar noted that delegates from seven countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Laos, attended the 10th ATFP Meeting to witness the rehabilitation efforts in the peat forests. The visitors, comprising policymakers and scientists, expressed interest in the conservation approach employed at the site.
Siva Kumar, who also serves as the Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division secretary at the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, emphasized the importance of peatland conservation due to its environmental role as a carbon sink. Malaysia is hosting the 10th ATFP Meeting from June 24 to 26 at Novotel, Putrajaya, as part of its ASEAN chairmanship this year.
Selangor Forestry Department director Azhar Ahmad stated that the visit not only showcased the state’s efforts but also introduced the work and initiatives of various agencies involved in peatland conservation. He mentioned that Selangor is implementing an Integrated Management Plan (IMP) that has yielded positive impacts and that the location is part of the Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems in Malaysia project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
The Raja Musa Forest Reserve, located in Bestari Jaya, was gazetted on January 8, 1990, covering an area of 23,486 hectares. It also functions as a production forest, research site, and wildlife protection zone. In September 2017, it received recognition under the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, designating it as a conservation area for future generations.