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Strengthening the community connection

19/10/2018

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MALAYSIAN NATURALIST, SEPT 2018

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THEY CAME from all over, and from a range of interests, but all for the sharing of knowledge and skills that have made these non-urban local communities a voice that’s getting louder for the sake of environmental conservation. And when they met at World Firefly Day 2018 in Kuala Selangor, the first such celebration for these bioluminescent beetles that almost get lost by the wayside, it was the first for most of the community members to discover that they were not alone, and far from forgotten.
     Indeed, as also launched during World Firefly Day was Komuniti PAKAS, a grouping under Pusat Aktiviti Kesedaran Alam Sekitar or Environmental Awareness Activity Centre. A sister initiative to the Malaysian Nature Society’s Urban Community Forest (UCF), PAKAS is focused on local communities living within and near environmentally sensitive areas in rural and non-urban areas.
​     Those gathered included the Wetlands Community, represented by the Penang Inshore Fishermen’s Welfare Association (PIFWA) and Sahabat Hutan Bakau (Friends of Mangroves) from Kuala Sepetang; the Flyway Community – Sungai Buloh Sasaran village and Sahabat Hutan Gambut (Friends of the Peat Swamp) from the Raja Musa Forest Reserve; the Wildlife Community – Sahabat Raja Rimba (Friends of the Tiger) from Merapoh in Pahang and Sahabat Beruang Matahari (Friends of the Sun Bear) from Trolak, Perak. 
     Alongside them were the Firefly Community – Inspirasi Kawa and Persatuan Pendayung Kampung Kuantan, while Kuala Sepetang Ecotourism’s Cikgu Kairul shared his experience on firefly tourism and Cherating’s “firefly whisperer” Hafiz shared his years of drawing fireflies, and tourists, to his small corner of Malaysia. Then there were MNS’s own, namely its ecoCare Kertih environmental education centre as part of the wetland warriors, and MNS Selangor Branch Nature Guides. 

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And, over two days on 7th and 8th July at Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park, one of the country’s first community-run firefly tours, they met, talked and listened, and created a vibrant grouping under MNS’s Komuniti PAKAS that will be able to assist, advise and empower one another towards having a stronger voice in the protection of the country’s natural treasures. This fulfils MNS’s own vision, for Malaysia’s natural heritage and rich biological diversity to be effectively protected, managed and conserved for the benefit and appreciation of all Malaysians, as well as its commitment under the MY forest project to strengthen the involvement of non-state actors in  forest governance.
     Among the highlights was the firefly introduction from MNS Wetlands-Marine Programme Manager Sonny Wong, where the audience heard that these beetles could be traced back to the time of the dinosaurs (the Mesozoic era, specifically, 66 million to 250 million years ago). There are more than 2,000 species of fireflies in the world, but there are gaps in the numbers found in Malaysia, owing to lack of research (which means each firefly sighting could be extra special!). He went on to stress the importance of protecting firefly habitats, which comprises not only the trees they prefer, but also the ecological health of the environment that provides them with their food supply.
     The audience also heard from Zulkifli  Soho from Kampung Endah, the first  MNS PAKAS community to be established in 2000. Situated just off the Selangor coast 3km from Morib beach, Kampung Endah began humbly, but has risen in prominence as a homestay destination with “nature extras”, including night nature walks, birding trips, introduction to herbal plants, information on mangrove ecology, beach explorations, organic horticulture and 3R commitment.
     Representing the local boys was  Inspirasi Kawa, a group from Mukim Pasangan, the area in which Kampung Kuantan is situated. Made up of a mix of young and old, including those rowing the firefly tour boats and local youths, the group has grown from strength to strength since it started in 2013, running their own nursery, replanting trees and being in the public eye with monthly river cleaning sessions. And they’re not blink-and-you’ll-miss-it events, either, as the cleaning takes up a whole day and a multitude of boats, rowers and volunteers, with the group collecting more than 2,000kg of rubbish  up until 2018.
     Other topics touched upon were sustainability (for example, Sahabat Raja Rimba’s flower craft from the leaf of the rubber tree), drawing in sponsors and raising funds, the management of volunteers (how ecoCare Kertih primarily conducts its activities), PIFWA’s 24 years of experience in planting mangroves and the issue of open burning (Sahabat Hutan Gambut).
​     This isn’t the last time that Komuniti PAKAS will be meeting. Thanks to some little, twinkly insect, ground has been laid to allow local communities from various ecologically sensitive areas around Peninsular Malaysia to become the voice for nature. And we hope this voice soon will crescendo to protect our forests and biodiversity. 
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Heritage, health and hope

21/3/2018

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malaysian naturalist, march 2018

THE Malaysian Nature Society’s proposal to create the Urban Community Forest (UCF) Network is based on its commitment towards protecting the architectural and natural heritage of Bukit Persekutuan, where its headquarters is based, says Ar. John Koh, the MNS Board of Trustees Chairman.
     Speaking to the Malaysian Naturalist after the Networking Session at the ninth edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF2018), Koh says MNS’s location within building JKR641 on Jalan Kelantan, itself a Federal Hill heritage landmark, led to the Society’s commitment towards its surroundings.
     “Ten years or so ago, I mooted the idea that MNS should work with other interest groups interested in saving Federal Hill,” which resulted in Badan Warisan Negara sitting down with MNS on this initiative, he says. And despite a failed bid to get the Museum of Natural History to be set up in the area (it is now in Putrajaya), he hopes there will still be opportunities to boost architectural restorations and natural heritage protection for the area.
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     Bukit Persekutuan is one of the last remaining green lungs in Kuala Lumpur, and the only low-rise forested areas in the highly developed Bangsar-KL Sentral-Damansara triangle. It is a historical site dating back to the formation of the Federated Malay States, with representation of eight states in the road names and its build up in the British Colonial era. The buildings were erected from early in the 1900s, and used as government offices and residences for British officers. JKR641 itself once housed the National Science Centre and was marked in area maps as far back as the 1920s, while prominent buildings are the Galeria Sri Perdana on Jalan Terengganu, the former residence of the Prime Minister now run as a museum, and the palaces of the states of Kedah, Perak and Negeri Sembilan.
     UCF Bukit Persekutuan is an initiative to empower local communities to protect their green spaces, and is a novel endeavour for the city centre, offering city dwellers a place to appreciate nature, in doing so improve their well-being. The initiative now boasts new forest trails, a nursery focusing on forest trees to assist in replanting efforts across the country and a resource centre for the use of the community.
     Things to see and enjoy within this 74.4ha of regenerated forests include an impressive range of flora and fauna within such a small area, as found by a survey in 2007. They include bats, six species of amphibians, 65 types of birds, 39 types of butterflies and moths, and two types of fireflies.
     Koh says MNS has become the custodian of these treasures, and seeks to boost the participation of a wide range of people in its protection. This includes local communities, young children and uniformed groups as well as MNS members, volunteers and corporate sector supporters, coming together for recreational and CSR activities at UCF Bukit Persekutuan, such as treeplanting and nature walks.
     His hopes also go far beyond this, with ambitions for green connectors linking UCF Bukit Persekutuan to the Perdana Botanical Gardens, Taman Tugu and Carcosa Seri Negara to create an extensive green network and flyway. Koh is also proposing JKR641 to be upgraded into Rumah Tapir, a central meeting point that is welcoming to MNS members, local communities, resident associations and anyone keen on promoting and living a green life.
     To some, Kuala Lumpur may seem to still be verdant, but its green lungs currently stand at a depressing 6.2% of the total land area of the city (demarcated as “open space”, and not necessarily forest cover, as noted in the KL Structure Plan). This, MNS believes, is not enough to ensure the health and wellbeing of those who live in, and breathe the air of, Kuala Lumpur.
     MNS wants to impel a change in people’s mindset about cherishing urban forests to make a city truly liveable and healthy. “If we want to be a developed nation, it’s not about high income. It’s the ability to inculcate environmental values that raises us beyond merely ‘making a living’ ,” Koh says.
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Urban forests – case study: malaysia

15/2/2018

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Henry Goh
President, Malaysian Nature Society

"MNS involvement in promoting and establishing Urban Community Forests"

MNS's Urban Community Forest successes include Kota Damansara Community Forest, Bukit Kiara, Bukit Gasing, Batu Caves and Templer’s Park, while ongoing projects include Bukit Persekutuan and Taman Tugu. Within urban areas outside of the Klang Valley, MNS has worked on the Penang National Park, Kuala Selangor Nature Park and Piasau in Miri, among others.

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Ar. John Koh
Board of Trustees Chairman,
Malaysian Nature Society

"Blending hard and soft landscapes within an urban setting; human landscapes"

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Tan Sri Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor
Former and longest-serving president,
Senior Advisor,
Malaysian Nature Society
Merdeka Award Winner for Environment

"Conserving the last forest patches within the urban landscape"


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TPr. Ishak Ariffin
Malaysian Institute of Planners

"Planning for the urban green environment and mainstreaming biodiversity"

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Calvin Raqeem Jacob
Taman Tugu Project Director,
Khazanah Nasional Bhd

"Taman Tugu & National Heritage Bill; private-sector funding"


Dr. Hum Bahadur Gurung
BirdLife International

"Environmental education and community outreach centres"

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Networking to protect urban community forests

15/2/2018

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BELIEVING THAT communities are the best protectors of their green surroundings, especially in urban areas, the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) has put this to the test over its long history as the country’s oldest environmental NGO.
     And the results are encouraging, with efforts over the years including the protection of Templer’s Park, Kota Damansara Community Forest, Bukit Kiara, Bukit Gasing and Batu Caves. Within urban areas outside of the Klang Valley, MNS has worked on the Penang National Park, Kuala Selangor Nature Park and Piasau in Miri, among others.
     Current ongoing projects include the Society’s support for Taman Tugu and its setting up of the Urban Community Forest Bukit Persekutuan, both in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and whose presence can only be beneficial for the wellbeing of its residents and visitors.
     Now MNS is taking the urban forest and community link beyond its borders, with the Urban Community Forest (UCF) Network, a platform to share knowledge, information, experience and skills in protecting and managing remnant or regenerating forests within urban spaces around the world.

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     The aspiration, says its key man Sonny Wong, MNS Wetlands and Marine Conservation Manager, is to bring together non-state actors – NGOs, civil society organisations, local communities, the public and the corporate sector – both among those already successful in protecting and managing urban forests and those seeking inspiration to start.
     “We believe and we have seen that nonstate actors are key to protecting and managing these remnant forests, and their experience and skills could benefit other groups and organisations who are interested in creating their own Urban Community Forest programmes,” Wong said in the run up to the announcement of the UCF Network at the ninth edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF) held here in Kuala Lumpur in February.
     During WUF 2018, MNS conducted a networking session titled “Role of non-state actors in the protection of urban green environment – Case study: Malaysia”, presenting views from six proponents of forest spaces in urban areas for the wellbeing of the people.

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L-R: Calvin Raqeem Jacob, TPr. Ishak Ariffin, Tan Sri Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor, Henry Goh, Ar. John Koh and Dr. Hum Bahadur Gurung.
UCF Networking Session speakers

Henry Goh, MNS President
Topic: MNS involvement in promoting and establishing Urban Community Forests
Ar. John Koh, MNS Board of Trustees Chairman
Topic: Blending hard and soft landscapes within an urban setting; human landscapes
Tan Sri Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor, former MNS President, current MNS Senior Advisor, Merdeka Award Winner for Environment
Topic: Conserving the last forest patches within the urban landscape
TPr. Ishak Ariffin, Malaysian Institute of Planners
Topic: Planning for the urban green environment and mainstreaming biodiversity
Dr. Hum Bahadur Gurung, BirdLife International
Topic: Environmental education and community outreach centres
Calvin Raqeem Jacob, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Taman Tugu Project Director
Topic: Taman Tugu & National Heritage Bill; private-sector funding
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    UCF network

    Sharing information and knowledge to protect and manage urban community forests
    UCFnetwork2018@
    gmail.com

    UCF website

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