Another Permanent Reserved Forest (PRF) excised!
SAM is concerned that more PRFs in Perak will be excised
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is extremely sad that another Permanent Reserved Forest (PRF) in Perak i.e. Bikam Reserve Forest (HS Bikam) located in the District of Batang Padang has been excised.
According to the excision gazette of 29 May 2013, the area excised is about 495.5 hectares which makes up what remained of the HS Bikam after being partly excised several times in the past. However the Forestry Department of Perak’s Annual Report of 2011 states that the HS Bikam covered 401.43ha.
The difference in area covering HS Bikam raises questions on forest boundary and management by the State Authorities and Forestry Department.
Based on our search, HS Bikam has been excised twice. Once in 16 April 1970 covering 105 hectares, and again on 28 March 1974 covering 216 hectares.
Lowland Dipterocarp forest covers the HS Bikam and over the years it had become ‘forest islands’ separated from the main forest range after surrounded by other land use and development. Hence, HS Bikam serves as the “final” natural territory for wildlife here.
In general, the excision of the entire HS Bikam is inconsistent with the statements and implementation of the National Forestry Policy 1978 (Amendment 1992) which has been adopted by all State Authorities in Peninsular Malaysia.
Excising the entire HS Bikam also contradicts the mission and one of the objectives, strategy and corporate strategy of the Perak Forestry Department.
In addition, the excision contravenes the Batang Padang Local Plan 2020 which maintains the land use of the Bikam forest reserve as PRF.
If the former HS Bikam’s land use is converted to oil palm plantations, it violates the 2008 ruling by the Federal Government that forest reserves are not to be converted for oil palm plantations.
A previous study by the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) found that there were three endangered tree species in HS Bikam and one of them, Keruing Paya (Dipterocarpus coriaceus) is categorised as Critically Endangered (CR). The Keruing Paya had been identified as endemic, meaning that in the whole of Peninsular Malaysia, this species was only available in HS Bikam in the state of Perak.
Latest information from our source revealed that the Keruing Paya species in HS Bikam has become extinct after the excision of the forest reserve and clear felling of the trees here.
The State authorities and the Forestry Department should take full responsibility over the extinction of the critically endangered Keruing Paya (Dipterocarpus coriaceus) in HS Bikam, which has probably resulted in total extinction of the species in Peninsular Malaysia.
Besides this, SAM has been informed that part or entire forest reserves in Perak that have become “forest islands” are proposed to be excised. Among them are Chikus, Gunung Besout and Parit Forest Reserves.
We are very concerned over the state of the forest reserves in Perak. SAM hopes and appeals to the State Authority to regazette the HS Bikam as PRF and implement a forest enrichment programme.
SAM also submits several measures to ensure protection of PRF coverage consistent with the National Forestry Policy 1978 (Amendment 1992) and Perak State Forestry Department’s Corporate Strategy and preservation of tree species categorized as ‘Critically Endangered ‘ (as listed below).
SAM trusts that the Chief Minister and the State Government will pay attention to this matter and do the needful to protect the forest reserves in Perak.
Among measures proposed to ensure protection of PRF and preservation of tree species categorized as ‘Critically Endangered ‘
1. Improving the National Forestry Act 1984 (Amendment 1993) which has been adopted by the State authorities, namely:
– there should be public consultation and participation in the event a PRF is proposed to be excised;
2. Do not endorse or approve applications to exploit forest resources and harvesting of timber in selected areas such as:
– PRF covering less than 1,000 hectares especially those that have become ‘forest islands’ and outside of the ‘forest spine’,
– wetland forests.
3. PRF areas identified as having endangered species and species categorised as ‘Critically Endangered’:
– parcels should be classified as ‘High Conservation Value Forest’.
4. Areas outside of PRF identified of having endangered species and species Categorized as ‘Critically Endangered’:
– should be gazetted as Protected Area and Natural Heritage in a selected area.
Press Statement, 2 August 2013