Introduction of Kuala Selangor Nature Park

The Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP; Malay: Taman Alam Kuala Selangor) is a park
located by the mouth of Selangor River in Kuala Selangor District, Selangor, Malaysia. It
was established by the Selangor state government in 1987 and has been managed by
the Malaysian Nature Society on behalf of the state government ever since the park's
establishment.
With a total area of 2.4 km2 (0.93 sq mi), the park is a combination of secondary
forest and wetland with a man-made coastal bund separating the wetland from the forest.
Inside the park itself is a large pond surrounded by another bund. A water lock connecting the
pond with the river controls the water level of the pond. It comprises over 200 hectares of
coastal land where a large part of it is mangrove swamps.
The park, as part of the Selangor River estuary, is home to a number of large bird species
such as milky storks and herons as well as primates, namely silver leaf monkeys
and macaques. The area was a breeding ground of an endangered milky stork species before
the program was suspended. An abandoned aviary still stands in the middle of the park.
On the estuary of Sungai Selangor,this Kuala Selangor Nature Park situated at the foot of
Bukit Malawati, this 240-hectare park features three ecosystems to explore: secondary forest,
an artificial lake and a mangrove forest with views out to sea. Cover them all on a 3km trail
that includes a raised walkway above the mangroves and several lookouts. This is a
wonderful place to spot a range of wildlife, including birds (September begins the migratory
season), wild pigs, mudskippers and monkeys.

Figure 1: Sungai Selangor

Figure 2: Entrance of KSNP

History of Kuala Selangor Nature Park

According to history, Kuala Selangor has had settlements from as early as the 16th century,
Kuala Selangor under the Malacca Empire, after that it was an old royal capital of Selangor.
Kuala Selangor was conquered by Dutch in 1784 while attempting to expand their base in
Malacca (Melaka) for a share in the tin trade of Perak and Selangor. Bukit Melawati is a hill
overlooking Kuala Selangor and the Strait of Malacca.The Dutch destroyed the existing
fortifications on the hill during their 1784 invasion, and built a European-style castle, naming
it Fort Atlingsburg after their commander. By the end of the 17th century, the Bugis conquered
it and in 1857, the Selangor government was formed.
It is located well off the normal tourism route and hence, stil maintain its traditional
kampung (village) atmosphere. The town caters largely to tourists coming this way en
routeto firefly (Kelip-Kelip) at Kampung Kuantan the local travellers come for the fresh
seafood .Due to the historical background of Kuala Selangor ,this places possess many
historical sites that exist on Bukit Melawati,apart from that, there are a few charming tourists
attraction like Kuala Selangor Nature Park.
There were mangrove virgin forest in Kuala Selangor until the 1940s. However, the land was
cleared to make salt plans from 1965 to the 1970s. Furthermore, in 1986, the land clearing
started to create a marina, prawn farm and golf course. Sand dredging for the project killed
wide range of mangrove forest, and the existing secondary forest was created since then. For
these reasons, Malayan Nature Society (now the Malaysian Nature Society) and the Asian
Wetlands Bureau (now Wetlands International) made a petition to the government
of Selangor State, and the land was established as a park by the government on 27 September
1987.
Endangered Silvered-Leaf Monkey was adopted as a logo mark of the park. After that, the
park have been managed by Malaysian Nature Society under a cooperative arrangement with
the Selangor State Government. It became the first park to be managed by NGO in Malaysia.
In 1997, Kuala Selangor Nature Park was recognized as a nature reserve for conservation
and ecotourism, and recognized as Important Bird Area (IBA) under Birdlife International.

Enviromental Education Activities

Environmental learning parks are a developing and widely defi ned type of open space. From
pristine untouched wilderness areas, to damaged natural sites and small urban lots,
environmental learning parks cover a wide variety of subjects and sizes. The primary focus of
environmental learning parks is to connect people to the natural environment. Issues such as
plant diversity, animal habitat, sustainable building, wetlands, stream ecology, macro
invertebrates and much more can all be related to issues of water, soil and air quality and in
return can be related to our own lives. Environmental parks should cater to everyone.
Most often school children are the primary focus of environmental learning parks. However it
is important to provide opportunities for people to connect with the natural environment. All
ages, genders, ethnicity, and economic backgrounds should be addressed. In developing an
environmental learning park it is important to keep in mind the location of the park in relation
to where people live. Parks closer to a persons home have a greater chance of connecting a
person to that place. Environmental learning parks are also very effective on or near school
grounds.
KSNP was the inspiration of the Malayan Nature Society and the Asian Wetland Bureau and
in January 1987, was officially announced as a town park. The park is managed as an
important center for nature education and research. The park protects a vital stand of
mangrove forest, an important lifeline for a wide variety of wildlife.
Visitors can make a reservation to participate in educational activities in Kuala Selangor
Nature Park. These activities are generally conducted for a group of more than 20 individuals.
Examples: Indoor activities such as nature craft and paper recycling, and outdoor activities
such as guided tours, mangrove tree planting, night walk, and bird watching.
Birdwatching, or birding, is a form of wildlife observation in which the observation
of birds is a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual
enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, by listening for bird sounds by watching
public webcams.

Birdwatching often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are more
easily detected and identified by ear than by eye. Most birdwatchers pursue this activity for
recreational or social reasons, unlike ornithologists, who engage in the study of birds using
formal scientific methods.
KSNP is home to unique and interesting species such as a variety of birds, insects, spiders,
mollusks, crabs, fishes, reptiles and mammals. Some of the special mammalians are silvered
leaf monkey, Presbytis cristata, long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis, short-tailed
mongoose Herpestes brachyurus, smooth-coated otter Lutra perspicillata, mudskippers,
king crab and leopard cat.
Birdwatchers find it a good place to observe the characteristics of wetland birds since the
park is also home to over 170 species of birds either in residence or migratory. The Lesser
Adjutant and the Milky Stork are the rare bird species that have been observed here. Through
the efforts of local conservationists, captive Milky Storks are being naturalized into the area
to boost the local breeding populations.
Here, also are interesting avifauna including spoon-billed sandpiper Eurynorhynchus
pygmeus, Nordmann's greenshank Tringa guttifer, lesser adjutants Leptoptilos javanicus
and up to 30 feeding grey heron Ardea cinerea. Mud lobster Thslassia anomala and cockle
Anadara gandosa have been observed in the mudflats, and butterfly Danaus affinis in the
mangrove forest.
KSNP is comprised of mangrove forests dominated by Bruguiera cylindrica, B.parviflora,
Rhizophora mucronata and Avicennia officinalis. Extensive areas have been invaded by fern
Acrostichum aureum.

Figure 3 and 4 shows birds that can found at KNSP

Flora & Fauna at KSNP

KSNP has 3 distinctive habitats these being the Brackish Water Lake System, Secondary
Forestand also Mangrove forest Brackish Water Lake System

The lake at KSNP is man-made and was created for birds to roost and feed. It also acts as a
safe nesting area for approximately 156 bird species, 57 of which are migratory. There are 3
Watch Towers and Bird Hides situated around the lake where one can observe many bird
species including the Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus, Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis
and Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata to name a few.
Also around the lake area or close by, you can also see plants such as the Sea Hibiscus
Hibiscus tiliaceus, Noni Morinda citrifolia and Nypa Palm Nypa fruticans.

Secondary Forest

The Secondary Forest region covers an area of approximately 450 acres which is made
accessible by 4 trails. The secondary forest is predominantly a mixture of Strangling Figs,
coastal trees such as the Cordia dichotoma, climbers and of course the mangrove fern.
Within the forest, there is a variety of animals including Plantain Squirrels Callosciurus
notatus, Oriental Whip Snake Ahaetulla prasina, Four-lined Tree Frog Polypedates
leucomystax, Green Crested Lizard Bronchocela cristatella and many other reptiles and
amphibians. Of the primate species to be found in the forest there is the highly mischievous
and noisy Long-Tailed Macaques Macaca fascicularis and notably the distinctive Silvered
Leaf Monkey Presbytis cristata, an endangered species and logo of KSNP.
There are 4 nature trails that allow visitors to stroll in the forest, and study the flora there.
Visitors will see varieties of fungi, ferns, palm, and creepers.

Mangrove Forest

The Parks mangrove forest represents part of a complex coastal wetland system, which
provides an extremely important intermediate stage between the land and aquatic
environment. In this unique environment you will not only find rich biodiversity but also

specialist adaptations that plants have adopted to cope with the anaerobic and highly saline
condition found in the this type of environment.

Mangrove forest covers an area of 234 acres and is the focal point of the ecosystem for the
park. Here, 13 species of Mangrove trees and amphibious inhabitants from crabs to snakes
are seen. Raised boardwalks allow access to the crowded woods and over the mudflats so that
visitors can enjoy the sights and daily activities of inhabitants on the mudflats. The
mangroves and adjacent mudflats form part of a rich ecosystem that recycles nutrients and
provides protection against coastal erosion. It also provides a protective breeding ground for
many varieties of commercially important marine invertebrates including crabs, prawns and
bivalves, which in turn support a large variety of birds and mammals. Species found here
include the Fiddler Crab Uca rosea, Mudskipper species such as Boleophalmus boddaerti and
the Banded Archerfish Toxotes jaculatrix.

Artificial lakes In KSNP

There are 2 artificial lakes that get their supply of brackish water from the Selangor River.
The water level is controlled by sluice gates. A few hideouts are strategically located along
the edges of the open swamps and elevated hideouts offer shade and camouflage for longer
periods of watching the water birds and waders. These facilities provide the opportunity to
learn patience and silence necessary for the joy of bird watching.
There are two trails and one walkway in KSNP as of May, 2016. They are the Main Trail
traversing the secondary forest (550 meters), Bund Trail encircling the lake (1.7 km) and
Mangrove Walkway extending into the mangrove forest (1.5 km). These last approximately
15 minutes, 75 minutes and 55 minutes to walk respectively. There are two watch towers that
provide views of the area, and birds and other animals can be seen from the top of watch
tower platform. Also, there are some Gazebos for rest in the park.
The best season for migratory birds is between middle of September until late April when the
birds of cooler climates escape their respective winters. An important event organized by the
society is bi-annual bird census at the park and is worth looking into. Also, provides a good
opportunity not only to volunteer, but to work with experienced birders.

Examples of species which can be seen in KSNP

Plants: Mangrove trees (13 species such as Buta-buta, Bakau Kurap, and Perepat),
Noni, Sea Almond, Sea Hibiscus, and Bird Lime Tree

Molluscs: Mud-creepers, Blood Cockles, and Belitong

Annelids: Peanut Worms

Cnidarians: Sea Anemones

Insects: Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle, Weaver Ants, Striped Blue Crow, and Mangrove
Cricket
Reptiles: Monitor Lizard, Dog-faced Water Snake, and Reticulated Python
Fishes: Mudskippers, Red-tipped Halfbeak, Banded Archerfish, and Spotted Green
Pufferfish
Chelicerates: Horseshoe Crab

Crustaceans: Fiddler Crab, Mangrove Hermit Crab, and Tree-climbing Crabs

Birds

Resident birds (98 species such as Pink-necked Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Great
Egret, Grey Heron, Little Heron, Milky Stork, Collared Kingfisher, and Brahminy
Kite)

Migratory birds (57 species such as Mongolian Plover, Common

Redshank, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, and Black-capped Kingfisher)

Mammals: Silvered Leaf-Monkey, Long-tailed Macaque, Plantain Squirrel, Common

Palm Civet, Smooth Otter, Short-tailed Mongoose, Leopard Cat, and Short-nosed Fruit
Bat

Night lights or fireflies

The

Selangor

River

offers

the

opportunity to see millions of tiny

fireflies at night. This is a beautiful
spectacle when millions of resident
fireflies flash synchronously. The best time is between dusk and midnight and it is advisable
to avoid the full moon.
A local village cooperative provides a regular boat service from Kg. Kuantan jetty and
visitors are slowly rowed up river for about 1 km before returning. After your evening meal,
this is a heavenly way to end the day.

The Management of Kuala Selangor Nature Park and involment of UM

The area that is Kuala Selangor Nature Park and its surroundings was once a lush area of
mangrove forests. In the 1940s, the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) was established with
the aim to promote the study, appreciation, conservation and protection of Malaysias natural
heritage. In the area that was to be Kuala Selangor Nature Park, the Malaysian Nature.
Society, in conjunction with Universiti Malaya conducted one of its first activities which is
bird tagging a process of identifying bird species and recording their presences in the areas
where the birds can be found. By the 1960s, the wetlands area has been regarded as nothing

more than wasteland. Because of its status as a mangrove forest, early perception was that the
land could be developed to become more profitable.
According to the Malaysian Nature Society, the original proposal was to convert this wetland
area into a golf course. Seeing this as a threat to the existing ecosystem, the Malaysian Nature
Society attempted to acquire the mangrove area and consider the protection and conservation
of the ecosystem within. In 1987, after negotiation between the state government and the
MNS has been conducted, it was decided that the wetlands area granted to the MNS. The area
was named Kuala Selangor Nature Park, also known as Taman Alam. To keep true to its
original mission, the park was open for three purposes; education, conservation and research.
The Kuala Selangor Nature Park has been well established since its first opening to the public
in 1987. With the rapid development going on in its surroundings, the park is still attempting
to maintain the mangrove forest in its area. Its surroundings have since been cut and
converted from an area of lush mangrove forests to human settlements, commercial land uses
and, in recent years, aquaculture farms. Steps are being taken by the state government, the
local authority as well as the NGO involved in managing the area, to preserve the
environmental conditions of the park. The Kuala Selangor Nature Park is used for educating
the public on the importance of environmental protection, and instilling awareness of the
public over environmental issues. Adding to this is the potential of the Kuala Selangor Nature
Park as well as Kampung Kuantan to be a destination for eco-tourism.

Achievement
Ricoh Announces Start of Forest Ecosystem Conservation Project in Malaysia

Tokyos Ricoh Company, Ltd. (President and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the start
of a forest ecosystem conservation project in Malaysia entitled "Mangrove Forest Recovery
Project" at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park with BirdLife International Asia Division
(Regional Director: Cristi Nozawa, hereinafter "BirdLife"). This nature park is located 60 km
north of Kuala Lumpur.

To work toward achieving a sustainable society, Ricoh isn't only working to reduce its impact
on the planet, but is also engaged in biodiversity conservation to improve self-recovery
capabilities of the global environment. Since 1999 Ricoh has been working in partnership
with environmental NGOs and local communities in nine countries, including China, Ghana,
Russia, and Brazil, promoting 11 projects particularly focused on forest ecosystems where
biodiversity is richest. The "Mangrove Forest Recovery Project" at the Kuala Selangor Nature
Park is another of these, making it Ricoh's 12th project in its long-term support for building a
framework for continuous forest conservation.

In addition, Ricoh's local sales subsidiary, Ricoh Malaysia, in cooperation with a local parter
of BirdLife, Malaysia Nature Society, is planning to the "Mangrove Forest Recovery Project"
at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. Ricoh Malaysia's support will include educational and
awareness activities for local communities to raise their awareness and interest on the
mangrove habitat and its fauna and flora of the area as well as undertaking mangrove tree
planting.

The reserved fund is used for addressing multiple global issues, including global environment
conservation and youth-related issues. The "Mangrove Forest Recovery Project" at the Kuala
Selangor Nature Park gained approval at the general shareholders' meeting held on June 24,
2011.

1: Ramsar Convention
This is an international treaty enacted in 1971 to protect wetland ecosystems. Each country
that has adopted the convention designates wetlands within their borders and has them
registered with the Ramsar Secretariat. Plans are then developed and carried out for the
appropriate use and conservation of these areas based on designated measures to promote the
conservation of wetlands and the plants and animals that inhabit them, especially waterfowl.

2: Partnership for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

This is a framework for international coordination and cooperation between major
organizations involved in the conservation of migratory birds in the East Asian and
Australasian regions. It was established in 2006 by international organizations and NGOs
such as the Ramsar Convention Secretariat to construct an international network of important
bird habitats and conduct internationally collaborative operations to promote public
awareness and conservation activities regarding them.