Sungai Wi Expedition 2017-Planning
In line with Reach policy of studying and documenting the wildlife of Cameron Highlands, Reach is planning a scientific expedition to Sungai Wi towards the middle of 2017. Sungai Wi Forest Reserve is on the north eastern area of Cameron Highlands bordering Kelantan and covers an acreage of 11,417 hectares. It was gazetted in 1997 and is the largest forest reserve in Cameron Highlands. With altitudes ranging from 500 metres above sea level to 1900 metres above sea level (near the peak of Gunung Swettenham at the Kelantan border), we expect to see a range of vegetation. This would include the Hill Dipterocarp Forest, Upper Dipterocarp Forest (750 m to 1200m), Lower Montane Forest or Oak Laurel Forest (1200-1500m) and Upper Montane Forest or Cloud Forest (>1500m). Besides Sg Wi, the other 2 rivers draining this area is Sg Rening and Sg Bertak.
Reach will be collaborating with JPSM (Forestry department of Peninsular Malaysia) and the Pahang Forestry Department. Reach is now in the midst of seeking funding for this expedition. Participants are by invitation only and would include experts from FRIM (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia), local universities such as UiTM, UKM, UPM. MNS( Malaysia Nature Society) Retired Scientists, JPSM , Perhilitan and State Forestry Department. We will provide the logistic support, food , accommodation at the base and field camps. We will also organise a seminar 6 months after the expedition. Participants are required to share their findings and Reach will collaborate with them in the publication of these findings.
Mossy Forest n Biodiversity site Activity on the 26th September 2016-SK Convent Tanah Rata
Below are the pictures of the Mossy Forest and Biodiversity Activity on the 26th of September 2016 for Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Tanah Rata. The programme was supervised by Miss Melody Woon , our regular volunteer. As evident by the pictures, the students and teachers had a good time and they learnt a lot about the mossy forest from our guide Mr Satya.
Filling up the questionaires
Going up to Gunung Brinchang via Sg Pallas Estate Road
REACH 17th Annual General Meeting 2017
Dear REACH Member
I hereby give notice that REACH 17th, Annual General Meeting will be held as follows:
Date : 8th March 2017
Time : 8.00pm
Venue : Barre Centre , Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands.
Agenda :-
1. President’s welcoming address.
2.To confirm the minutes of the 16th Annual General Meeting.
3.To adopt the annual report 2016.
4.To approve the audited Statements of Accounts ending 31st Dec 2016
5.To dissolve the committee 2015 / 2016.
6.To elect a Committee for ensuing year 2017 / 2018.
7.To appoint two honororyAuditors for ensuing year 2017 / 2018.
8.To consider any other matters of which 7 clear days notice shall have been given in writing to the secretary.
9.Pictorial History of Cameron Highlands.
10.Newly appointed President’s closing speech.
We appreciate your attendance.
Thank you,
Dr. KOH GIM LAM
SECRETARY
CSI with SJKC Kuala Terla on the 9th November 2016
The CSI activity with SJKC Kuala Terla was carried out over 2 days to accomodate more students and below are the pictures taken on the 2nd day. The programme on both days are similar. 
CSI with SJKC Kuala Terla on the 8th November 2016
A limitless expanse of hills – dark green with diagonal bands – stretched out before me in the misty morning light.Suddenly, with a flurry of noise, a flock of yellow-vented bulbuls took off in unison over the cusp of hills.Although Cameron Highland’s broad swathes of nature are always breathtaking, her small details are no less amazing.
This is probably best encapsulated in Gunung Brinchang, a colossal hill covered in montane forests.The trees here teem with the sweet calls of fire-tufted barbets chirping over one another, and the murmur of the wind.
It is difficult to think.
A flutter of wings in the sea of gerok trees caught my eye, and I start towards its general direction before I catch myself. For a moment, I had forgotten my purpose.The highlands does not release its enthralled guests easily.
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8th November 2016
Today was spent out in the sun with 30 students and teachers from Kuala Terla Chinese Primary School. It was my first time taking part in REACH’s Community Stream Investigators programme, and volunteering as documentarian.
The programme began with a detailed introduction by Ms Melody Woon, who explained about the many physical, biological and chemical tests that can be conducted to determine the quality of water running down the rivers. This was followed by talks on how the highlands have been polluted and damaged by overdevelopment.
The Disappearing Hills by Yeo Kai Wen
5th November 2016
Reach is pleased to announce that there will be a screening of the award winning documentary ” The Disappearing Hills ” on the 7th of November 2016 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Bertam Valley Chinese Primary School (SJKC Bertam Valley). All are invited.The Disappearing Hills is a documentary of Cameron Highlands with emphasis on the aftermath of the Bertam Valley floods and the human stories behind it. It is done by Yeo Kai Wen ,a talented graduate from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Yeo spent around 3 months in Cameron Highlands and has given as accurate and impartial account as he could. Below is his synopsis…
Stern-faced soldiers wielding M-16 rifles stood guard as excavators mowed down rows of chrysanthemums, leaving behind broken stalks and fallen petals. At a distance, farmers stood by helplessly as they watched years of their hard work destroyed under government orders. In recent years the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia has been pressured by development in that area. While this has created a secure and comfortable lifestyle for many farmers, it has also resulted in large swathes of forests being cleared to make way for farm expansion. As a result, flooding has become an annual affair claiming property and lives while contaminating rivers with human waste, plastics and dangerous levels of pesticides. The ‘Disappearing Hills’ documents the human stories behind these environmental issues.