Malaysia currently has an estimated 500 wild tigers, down from about 3,000 in the 1950s.

Also contributing to this ambitious target is the Johor Wildlife Conservation Project which was officially launched by then DYAM Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj in

Johor Bahru on the 15th June 2009. A state-wide hunting ban of wild animals such as the sambar deer, mousedeer, tigers and wild boars was also declared at the launch.

In an effort to help achieve Malaysia’s goal of 1000 tigers by 2020, WWF-Malaysia has launched its Tx2: Double or Nothing Campaign that will run throughout the year. �e launch of the Tx2 Campaign was symbolically done with the face-painting of 1000 people at the FGS Dong Zen temple in Jenjarom, on 20th February 2010. For more information on the campaign and Tx2 activities, log on to www.tx2.my

WWF-Malaysia/M.Kavanagh

3 42

HATCHERY PLAN FOR HAWKSBILLSSource: adapted from �e Star http://thestar.com.my/news/story

�e Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry plans to provide the much-needed funds to set up a hatchery for the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle at Pulau Upeh, Melaka.

Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the Fisheries Department would be asked to look into the matter as the state government lacked the funds to realise the project, commenting on the state government’s decision to revive an abandoned resort and chalet project on the 2.5ha Pulau

Upeh that is home to about 100 turtle nests, representing over 20% of turtle nests in the peninsula.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the project scheduled to start this month had been deferred until environmental and fisheries impact assessments are completed.

State Rural and Agriculture Development committee chairman Datuk Mohd Hidhir Abu Hassan confirmed that the island had been gazetted as a wildlife sanctuary under the Wildlife and National Parks Department but added that the protection did not cover the island’s marine life.

JOHOR RAMSAR SITES

Mangrove forests or swamps are forested intertidal ecosystems that occupy sediment-rich sheltered tropical coastal environments. Around two-thirds to three-quarters of tropical coastlines are originally mangrove-lined. Mangroves carry out critical functions related to the regulation of fresh water, nutrients, and sediment inputs into marine areas. By trapping and stabilising fine sediments they control the quality of marine coastal waters. �ey are also remarkably important in maintaining coastal food webs and populations of animals that live as adults elsewhere and depend upon the mangrove at different stages of their life cycle, such as fish, birds and crustaceans. Mangroves have an important role in pollution control through their absorptive capacity for organic pollutants and nutrients, and they play a vital role in storm protection and coastal stabilisation.

Background on the three Ramsar sites in Johor

�e state of Johor is currently home to 27,733ha of mangrove forests. A large proportion of this occurs in the south-west region of the state, which has 50% of the total mangrove cover in Johor. Within this region there exist three mangrove-dominated Ramsar Sites which were designated in January 2003 – Sg. Pulai, Tanjung Piai and Pulau Kukup, of which Tanjung Piai and Pulau Kukup have been gazetted as state parks. �ese two almost contiguous Ramsar Sites are fully protected under the National Parks (Johor) Corporation Enactment 1989.

Pulau Kukup Ramsar site no.1287.

A state park. One of the few intact sites of this type left in Southeast Asia. �e wetland supports such species as the Smooth Otter (Lutra perspicillata) and Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), with the former listed as vulnerable under the IUCN Red Book. Pulau Kukup has been identified as one of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) for Malaysia. �e globally vulnerable Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) chooses this site as a stop-over and breeding ground. Pulau Kukup is also important for flood control, physical protection (e.g. as a wind-breaker) and shoreline stabilisation.

Sungai Pulai Ramsar site no.1288.

A forest reserve. �e largest riverine mangrove system in Johor, located at the estuary of Sungai Pulai. With its associated sea grass beds, intertidal mudflats and inland freshwater riverine forest, the site represents one of the best examples of a lowland tropical river basin, supporting a rich biodiversity dependent on mangrove. It is home for the rare and endemic small tree (Avicennia lanata), animals such as the Long-tailed Macaque, Smooth Otter and rare Flat-headed Cat (Prionailurus planiceps) with the Smooth Otter and Flat-headed Cat listed as vulnerable and endangered respectively. Relatively undisturbed parts including the nipah swamps have been

discovered to be nesting sites of the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Bird species such as the near-threatened Mangrove Pitta (Pitta

Continue to page 5 (Part 2)

RENJER LINDUNGI HIDUPAN LIARSource: adapted from an article from Utusan Malaysia: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info

Sarawak merupakan negeri yang terbesar di Malaysia yang kaya dengan hidupan flora dan faunanya.

Taman-taman negara dan kawasan rizab semulajadi di Negeri Sarawak menggambarkan warisan semulajadi Sarawak dan juga merupakan produk pelancongan bagi menarik minat pelancong asing untuk datang ke negeri ini.

Difahamkan, terdapat lebih daripada 40 spesies hidupan liar dan dua jenis flora termasuk dari jenis rafflesia diwartakan sebagai spesies yang dilindungi di Sarawak.

Umum sedia maklum, tugas bagi menjaga, mengawal dan melindungi hidupan liar di negeri ini telah dipertanggungjawabkan kepada SARAWAK FORESTRY dan Jabatan Perhutanan Sarawak.

Namun, usaha untuk menjaga hidupan liar ini sudah tentu amat sukar untuk dilaksanakan sekiranya hanya dipertanggung-jawabkan ke atas kedua-dua agensi berkenaan.

Sehubungan itu, kerajaan negeri Sarawak mengambil inisiatif untuk memperkenalkan Renjer Hidupan Liar Kehormat (RHLK) yang dilantik secara sukarela terhadap individu yang berminat.Mereka diibaratkan sebagai barisan hadapan kerajaan dan pada yang sama ejen perlindungan dan pemuliharaan hidupan liar di Sarawak.

Ketua Warden Hidupan Liar SFC, Wilfred Landong berkata, pelantikan RHLK itu dibuat di bawah seksyen 8(1) Ordinan Hidu-pan liar. Katanya, pelantikan setiap renjer itu dibuat untuk tempoh tertentu dan tertakluk kepada syarat lantikan dan mereka mempunyai kuasa sebagaimana yang telah diperuntukkan di bawah ordinan berkenaan.

Setakat ini, Sarawak mempunyai seramai 417 RHLK yang menjalankan tugas melindungi hidupan liar di seluruh negeri yang kebanyakannya terdiri daripada anggota Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela).

Continue from pg. 1

ADVISOR:Y. Bhg. Dato’ Zoal Azha bin YusofSecretary-General NRE MEMBERS:Ravikumar SuppiahNRE

Halijah Binti Mat SinDepartment of Marine Park Malaysia

Burhanuddin Mohd Nor Department of Wildlife and National Parks

Mohd Jinis Abdullah Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia

Francis CheongJohor National Parks Corporation

Ilyani Abd. RaniPerak State Park Corporation

Ak. Mohd Rodzan Pg. Dahlan Sabah Parks

Siti Nur’ain AchehSabah Wildlife Department

Wilfred.S.LandongSarawak Forestry

Francis GombekSarawak Forestry

Siti Dessyma IsnaniSelangor State Forestry Department

CHAIRMAN:Zurinah Binti PawantehUndersecretary,Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division (BFM), NRE

SECRETARIAT:BFM, NRE & WWF-Malaysia

Biodiversity and Forestry Management DivisionLevel 6, Wisma Sumber AsliNo. 25, Persiaran PerdanaPrecinct 4, 62574PutrajayaTel: (+6) 03-8886 1111Fax: (+6) 03-8888 4473www.nre.gov.my

For more information on the Malaysian Parks Newsletter, please contactravikumar@nre.gov.my or ssuksuwan@wwf.org.my

Printed on TCF/Environmentally-Friendly paper

PTNJ/A.Majanil

PTNJ/A.Majanil

NATIONAL HERITAGE SITE LISTING

JABATAN WARISAN NEGARA KEMENTERIAN PENERANGAN KOMUNIKASI DAN KEBUDAYAAN

NATIONAL HERITAGE ACT 2005NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE SITES AS

HERITAGE SITE

WHEREAS in the Notice of Intention to Designate Site as Heritage Site under paragraph 27(2)(a) of the National Heritage Act 2005 [Act 645] published in the Gazette in P.U. (B) 190/2009 on 15 June 2009 and in the Utusan Harian and News Straits Times on 15 June 2009, notice has been given to the owners as specified in column (1) of the Schedule of the site as described in column (2), (3), and (4) of the intention of the Commissioner to designate the site as a heritage site under paragraph 31(2)(a) of the Act:

AND WHEREAS no objection was received by the Commissioner against such designation:

AND WHEREAS the consent of the State Authority under section 30 of the Act has been obtained by the Commissioner for such designation:

NOW THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 31(2)(a) of the Act, the Commissioner designates the site as described in the Schedule as a heritage site.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

(1)Name of Owner

State Authority of Perak

State Authority of Perak

State Authority of Negeri Sembilan

The Islamic Religious Deparment of Negeri Sembilan

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

State Authority of Perak

The Commissioner of the City of Kuala Lumpur

Auto Parking Inc. Sdn. Bhd.

Bumiputera-Commerce Bank Berhad (now known as “CIMB Bank”)

State Authority of Kelantan

(2)Site

Belum Royal Park

The cave of Gunung Runtuh

Seremban Jamek Mosque

Seremban Jamek Mosque

The Old Building of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Jalan Dewan Bahasa

The Suluh Budiman Building, Sultab Idris Teachers College (now known as “Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris” (UPSI), Tanjung Malim

The site of the flagpole of where the Malaya flag was raised for the first time and the Selangor Club Field

The site of the flagpole of where the Malaya flag was raised for the first time and the Selangor Club Field

The site of the flagpole of where the Malaya flag was raised for the first time and the Selangor Club Field

National Park (Peninsular of Malaysia), Kuala Koh

(3)District/Mukim/State

Hulu Perak, Gerik, Perak

Hulu PerakLenggong Perak

Seremban, Bandar SerembanNegeri Sembilan

Seremban,Bandar SerembanNegeri Sembilan

Kuala Lumpur. Bandar Kuala LumpurFederal Territory

Batang Padang, Ulu BertamTanjung Malim Perak

Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Kuala LumpurFederal Territory

Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Kuala LumpurFederal Territory

Kuala LumpurBandar Kuala LumpurFederal Territory

Gua MusangRelaiKelantan

(4)Lot No.

-

Lot 9165

Lot 1161

Lot 1161

Lot 701Section 0069

Lot 2635

Lot 70Section 59

Lot 70Section 59

Lot 70Section 59

WW

F-M

alaysi

a/E.Madeja

Hawksbill turtle (Eret

mochely

s im

brica

ta)

The following notice appeared in the New Straits Times in November 2009. Among the areas gazetted as national heritage sites are the Kelantan portion of the Taman Negara National Park and the Royal Belum State Park.

Sunset at Tg Piai Johor National Park, with waders in foreground.

Johor Ramsar sites are ideal places to learn about mangroves.

LAUNCHING OF A NEW BOOK ON THE MARINE PARKS OF MALAYSIA

A pictorial book on the marine parks of Malaysia was recently launched by the Deputy Minister of NRE, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup on the 26 January 2010. ‘Marine Parks of Malaysia: Beauty Beyond the Land’ takes you on a breathtaking adventure above and below sea level across the 42 islands that make up Malaysia's marine parks.

Over 300 stunning photographs by a team of experienced divers and underwater photographers illuminate treasures from the mysterious underwater world abounding in strange and exotic marine life, as well as tantalising glimpses of the country's most beautiful beaches. �e photographic narratives depict how important coral reefs are to the marine ecosystem and highlight creatures ranging from algae, sponges, molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans, bryozoans, sea squirts, mammals and reptiles to the thousands of fishes that make their homes there.

�e last chapter of the book discloses the heartbeat and functions of the Department of Marine Park Malaysia which was established to protect and

manage the abundant biodiversity in the waters surrounding the marine parks.

A labour of love by the Department of Marine Park Malaysia, this book aims to create an awareness of the importance of marine conservation efforts so that the splendour of Malaysia’s aquatic treasures can be enjoyed by the future generations.

Tan Sri Joseph Kurup presenting the book to the public for the first time.

NRE

NRE

Participants at the Global Tiger Initiative

Johor National Parks Corporation Tel: (+6) 07-266-1301Fax: (+6) 07-266-1302

http://johorparks.com.my/