Biodiversity Centre Report 2015 to 2016

21st March 2016-The biodiversity centre is located on a ridge in Gunung Brinchang at an elevation of 1800 metres above sea level. It was illegally cleared in 2000 and formal permission was given to REACH in 2004 to reforest it. In 2012 we set up a centre at the site for research and education.

bio d centre 5

bio d centre 4

bio d centre 1bio d centre 2

Since then more than 9200 trees were planted and they are all from endemic species such as Gerok, Eugenia, rhododendrons, nepenthes. Over 80% of the area is now covered with plants and in some areas trees have grown to more than 15 feet with ground covered with rich humus. Birds, insects and small mammals have started to move into the area. This is one of the first reforestation site at such a high elevation.gerok 8IMG_9934 IMG_9916 IMG_9910nepenthes nepenthes 3 Pictures of the area then and now shows the recovery.satellite pic bio d 2001 2015

Western slope 2001

ppwestern slope 2016p3p biod 20 march2016 36Ridge 2007p 2

Ridge 2016p3p biod 20 march2016 1stParticipants of our reforestation included those from

  1. Corporate bodies including multinationals such as Digi Group, Ikea, Data Dimension ,Ricoh, Hewlett Packard, Toyota, Starbucks, HSBC, Ritz Carlton Hotel,Bayer, Asea Brown, British American Tobacco and local companies such as APM, CIMB, Maybank , Public Bank, Boh Estate
  2. Both public and private institutions of higher learning such as UKM ,UTM, UiTM, UNITEN, MSU University, PTPL,Taylor College, Segi College, International schools
  3. Embassy of Finland
  4. Local schools
  5. NGOs and private individuals such as World Challenge Groups ,Bethany Home, Cherish, Japanese Long Stay Club, Mind Science Society,Mdec D’Jungle people and many more

Other than our own citizens, volunteers also hailed from Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Holland , USA and the Middle East.

Grants received exceeded RM 300,000 for the various activities spanning over a period of 12 years, the largest contributor being the Embassy of Finland. For the year 2015 we received grants from CIMB, Tunku Imran and Mr Paul Chuah. With these funds we were able to continue our biodiversity education and reforestation programmes for our local school children and last year 9 schools with over 200 students participated. The details of these programmes are in our website.

These funds also enabled us to maintain and upgrade the site. We have 6 short trails within this site and gardener and cleaner come weekly to maintain it.trail 3 etrail 3 cSince the ground area is almost all covered by vegetation our future reforestation programmes will consist not only of planting saplings onto the surface of the ground but “planting” endemic species of vegetation onto other plants eg tying epiphytic orchids onto trees.

We have completed a hand held railing along the trail to the site making it safer now.IMG_2372 IMG_2369Grills have also been fixed in the windows and doors in the 2 buildings for added security.

Besides this public awareness creation and education programme other ongoing and future projects at this site include

1.Colloboration with local universities and environmental NGOs to have more research done at this site including documentation of ferns, mosses , insects, amphibians, orchids.

Currently we have scientists and volunteers from University Technology Malaysia, University Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia Nature Society Pahang and Hammock

  1. Research for a viable cloud harvesting system as an alternative clean water source.

The last group was from University Malaysia Kelantan.IMG_02823.  Seeking funding and approval for the setting up of a mini weather station at the site. This is still under discussion.

We encourage our local residents and members to join our programmes

1.Biodiversity Activity at the centre -Subject to the availability of funds, for local groups these trips will be fully sponsored. The programmes start at 8.30 am and ends around 12.30 pm. There should be at least 2 weeks’ notice and groups going up should be in multiples of 8 ideally. Participants will be transported by 4 wheel drive vehicle from town to the site. There will be nature talks and activities may include labelling of plants, fertilizing, and reforestation. Those who are interested please contact Miss Saras.

For non-residents, charges will be incurred and there should be at least 1 months’ notice

2.For those interested in doing research at the biodiversity centre, please submit your proposal to us. Proposals should include aims, objectives, methodology, output and should be beneficial to the environment. The findings should be shared with REACH.

Fom time to time we will organise members’ activity at the site and we will announce it online.