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REACH Community Initiated Reforestation

FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSERVATION &

ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS PROGRAMME 2004

Progress Report No.1

April 2005

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Project Background

This community led reforestation project was initiated by REACH in partnership with the

Department of Forestry since Jun 2002. The site had been illegally cleared for farming in

October 2001. This illegal activity was highlighted to the authorities by REACH. Since then

REACH has been actively involved in efforts to rehabilitate and prevent further irreversible

damage to the area.

The RM7, 500 grant awarded by Ford would help REACH in subsidizing part of the logistics

of organizing such reforestation trips. REACH has organized activities for various groups

who share their concern and have brought them up to the project site to help with the

reforestation activities.

The site is unique as it is a montane forest situated in the Hutan Simpan Hulu Bertam, which

forms part of the water shed for the surrounding areas. However this on-going project has a

long way to go due to the vastness if the area cleared has resulted in the loss of ground cover

causing massive soil erosion due to high flow of water run-off during the heavy rains.

This project will serve as a demonstration of one of the possible mitigation measures to

handle erosion, siltation and landslides for future community led reforestation activities in thehighlands whilst improving the water quality and supply in the highlands.

Objectives:

The objective of the project is as follows: -

1. To restore the deforested and cleared area within this water catchment areas.

2. To identify suitable tree species, g round cover, methodology and approach that is best

suited for reforestation in the highlands.

3. To create a sense of responsibility, ownership and awareness within the community, of

their role in safeguarding the forest and the watersheds.

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Activities:

REACH committee and members of the local community have been going up to the project

site to replant and nurture the saplings that have taken root to help expedite the natural

process of restoring the forest on a fortnightly basis since January.

The planting of saplings is ideally done in the first half of the year to coincide with the rainy

season. The native indigenous plants from the surrounding areas have been identified and

transplanted to the project site. The REACH committee is constantly monitoring the growth

and mortality rate of the saplings. Watering, weeding and mulching transplanted saplings are

important until the saplings are well established and this is done on a two-month interval.

The following are the details of the activities and events, which have been held to date:

9th Jan 05 - Collection of saplings along new road project site.

30th Jan 05 - Replanting of saplings at Reforestation Project Site

13th Feb 05 - Reforestation Activity with local community

20th Mac 05 - Monitoring and preparation of plots

15th Apr 05 - Reforestation Activity with School Group from Petaling Jaya

Progress:

The progress over the past 2 year period that REACH has been monitoring the site include:-

More than 200 saplings transferred on site over a two year period.

80% success rate from among the initial saplings transferred in 2003.

Identification of more suitable methods based on analysis of success of the

methodology and approach tested on site.

20% of the total area cleared show signs of natural rejuvenation. The areas that

remain barren are being replanted by REACH with indigenous tree species.

REACH has been given permission to extend the project area to the adjacent land

belonging to the State. Presently being illegally cultivated for farming.

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15th Apr 05 - Reforestation Activity with School Group from Petaling Jaya

Volunteers collecting moss from the plot of farm land which is still

being illegally cultivated.

The tiring and tedious task of lugging the bags of moss and saplings up the steep slopes.

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The volunteers hard at work. Activities include the digging of holes,

transplanting the saplings and softening the soil around the saplings

by digging trenches and padding it with moss.

Local Species trans-planted at project site.

1. Podocarpus nerifolius (Podo Bukit)

2. Lauraceae spp. (Medang)

3. Lauraceae spp. (Kulit Kayu Manis)

4. Swietenia penagiana (Merpauh daun runcing)

5. Shorea platyclados (Meranti Bukit)

6. Xanthophylium spp (Minyak Berok)

7. Eugenia spp (Kelat)

8. Bucklandia populnea (Geruk)

For more details of our reforestation activity please visit the REACH webpage at

reach@ reach.org.my.