While welcoming the Perak state government's announcement of the gazetting of the Royal Belum as a state park, Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) urged the authorities to extend the protection to the whole of the Belum-Temenggor forest complex.

"This extension of protection is necessary to prevent habitat fragmentation and, more importantly, human-wildlife conflicts within the area," said MNS Executive Director Dr Loh Chi Leong in a statement.

The New Straits Times reported today Perak Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Ghazali's announcement of the gazette, which covers about 117,500 hectares of the total 300,000 Belum-Temenggor forest complex.

One of Malaysia's largest continguous forests, the rainforests contained within the area are thought to be over 130 million years old, older even than the Amazon and Congo basins.

It is also home to a profoundly rich source of flora and fauna, including more than 270 types of birds and 100 types of mammals.

MNS spearheaded a signature drive last year through its postcard campaign calling for the gazetting of the Belum-Temenggor forest.

Having garnered support from 80,000 people from within and outside Malaysia, it hopes to present the postcards to Tajol Rosli soon.