COMMENT In the past three years, the number of visitors to the Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia (Frim) in Kepong has increased dramatically from an average of 200,000 per annum to well over a million in 2014.

Due to it being a short drive from the city centre, this 600 hectares of lush green tropical forest, located just next to Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve, has turned into a popular ‘park’ for urban folk to spend the morning part of their weekends.

It is also registered in Trip Advisor as “a must visit for all nature lovers who are looking for a short escape from the bustling metropolitan,” which means occasionally, there would be foreign tourists making their way to Kepong.

However, very few visitors know that it took nearly a century of hard work for Frim to become what it is today - a forest reserve with over 15,000 species of plants. Its biodiversity is also impressive, and the proverbial saying, ‘Rome was not built in a day’ is true here.

Long history

Nothing happened overnight. We should be proud that there is also a vast diversity of flora and fauna, including (good news to birdwatchers) 181 bird species from 45 families, of which 26 of these species are migrants and wintering birds. The history of its development is simply amazing to be told - that it is humanly possible for man to reforest a barren piece of land for the sake of future generations.

Planting of trees had in fact started as early as 1927. Within a span of just three years, a total of 372,471 trees were planted on this plot of land that used to be degraded soil. The early planters had such great foresight that we who are enjoying the fruits of their hard work should at least learn to appreciate Frim for what it is.

Frim is first and foremost a local headquarters for research in forests and timber utilisation, but its campus is open to the public at a very nominal fee of RM5 per adult, hardly sufficient to pay for its own maintenance.

Impact studies that were carried out proved that recreational activities have left negative impacts on the ecology of Frim. Excessive number of visitors to Frim has caused the degradation of the environment, and at most times, given the management a nightmare trying to please every visitor.

Preserving its beauty

Educating the public is still one the best ways to ensure that the beauty of this man-made forest is preserved for the future generation of Malaysians, but the message has not reached the masses, especially those who visit the forest reserve regularly. This is what is worrisome, as more damage is being caused by recreational activities.

According to one study undertaken by Dr Noor Azlin Yahya of Frim, since the institute opened its door to the public, it has suffered from various kinds of human activities, from trekking and jogging to biking and hiking.

Within the first 10 months of the opening of the new canopy walk trail in 2014, for example, 306,336 users were recorded. Studies showed that the width of the trail had increased from 92cm to 141.1cm, while the average width of the Bidara mountain bike trail had increased to 156cm compared to 100cm just slightly over four months previously.

It clearly shows the lack of discipline amongst the trekkers and cyclists to keep within the trails provided. At the same time, some of the facilities that were provided by Frim had been vandalised. Littering is still a huge problem on these trails.

Dr Azlin’s study also showed that “undesirable change to the resource base means degradation to four elements; soil, vegetation, wildlife and water resources.” Soil study showed an increase the average bulk density from 1.18 g/cm3 to 1.26 g/cm3.

“Repeated biking exercise of 500 times yielded 14 percent more soil compaction compared to 9 percent from hiking exercise. Once soil compaction has reached more than 1.47 g/m3, plant growth will be affected,” she highlighted in her presentation.

For both biking and hiking activities, it was found that there were significant differences in terms of chemical properties (reduced nitrogen, available phosphorus and organic carbon) whereas there are no significant changes in physical characteristics (coarse sand, fine sand and silt) when exercise was increased.

If the damage is not curbed, Frim may yet again close its doors to the public. This is because these human activities are worrying to the management of Frim, who are trying to preserve it as a place for eco-tourism, especially since the Selangor Exco Member for Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment, Elizabeth Wong, said that an application has been submitted to turn it into a Unesco heritage site.

According to Mexican architect, environmentalist and ecotourism and cultural tourism expert Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, eco-tourism must take into consideration “environmentally responsible travel and visit to relatively undisturbed natural areas in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local population.”

The emphasis in Hector’s definition are in two equally important words - responsible and low visitor impact. With over one million visitors per annum, Frim is concerned that it could easily lose its status, if sufficient care is not being taken.

 

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.