Forest resouce management and forest biodiversity conservation in Peninsular Malaysia

Forest has long been recognized as a repository of genetic resouces, offering diverse sets of habitats for plants, animals and micro-organisms. Forest are the richest of all terrestrial ecosystem, providing a wide array of goods and services, from timber and some non-timber forest resources, to playing an important role mitigating climate change, at the same time providing livelihood to milllions of people worlwide. The total forested area in Peninsular Malaysia in 2005 amounted to 5.88 million ha or about 61 percent of the total land area, comprising of the inland forests (5.4 million ha) followed by peat swamp forests (0.3 million ha), mangrove forests (0.1 million ha) and planted forests (0.8 million ha. Of the total forested area, 4.7 million ha has been designated as Permanent Reserved Forests (PRFs), where approximately 1.52 million ha has been classified as Protection Forest, while tha remaining 3.18 millin ha being classified as Production Forest. The role of Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) in safeguarding our forest biological resources is clearly spelt out in the objectives of FDPM, that is to conserve and protect the forests biological diversity, water and soil and their sustainable utilization. Forest management practices has come a long way commencing with foundation laid by the Colonials in the early 1900s. It has been subjected to constant review and refinement. Emphasis changed, from solely sustained yield timber production to multi-functions forestry. As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Malaysia has resposibility and obligation in the conservation of it`s biological diversity. Scientific biodiversity expidition is an effort towards realising the objective of CBD. Among the significant findings of the expeditions are the discovery of a new species of ginger (Zingiber mynthianum) and a new fern species (tectaria shahidaniana) in Wang Mu Perlis, two new speciesof frog, Thloderma licin and Rana Montjerai, in Ulu Muda dan Gunung Jerai respectively and the discovery of possibly a new species of fish (Paedocypres spp.) in Bukit Bauk, Terengganu. This paper will highlight FDPM`s commitment in managing forest in a holistic and balance manner, particularly in the conservation of forest biodiversity. Current Issue and challenges with regards to forest resource management and conservation, as well as future outlook will also be highlighted.