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Nov 20 2018

Sustainable Forest Trail to Gunung Perlis to revitalize Perlis State Park

The Habitat Foundation, as part of its commitment to strengthening protected areas in Malaysia, is partnering with the Perlis Forestry Department to build a 12 km Sustainable Forest Trail to Gunung Perlis. The Gunung Perlis Trail, as it will be known, will enable park visitors to enjoy a scenic hike through this distinctive semi-deciduous forest to summit Gunung Perlis atop the Nakawan Range. The range forms a natural border with Thailand with Thaleban National Park on the other side, making it an important regional transboundary conservation area.

The Gunung Perlis Trail is being built by a core team of trail builders supported by volunteers that will pitch in on weekends. Work on the trail will gain momentum in the dry season from December to March and the trail loop is estimated to be completed in March 2019.

Perlis State Park, which covers an area of 5,075 hectares, is a small but significant part of Malaysia’s protected area network although few know of this State Park nestled amidst limestone hills, rubber estates, paddy fields and small villages. The initiative to build the Sustainable Forest Trail is expected to awaken awareness and appreciation for the park and nurture a community of regular visitors and supporters.  This is part of an overall strategy to revitalize the park and generate recurring income for the upkeep of visitor amenities.

Sustainable Forest Trails are uniquely placed to benefit protected areas because the process of building them also helps nurture a strong community of trail builders and supporters working closely with the park management authorities. This community of trail enthusiasts will be called upon to play a continual role in the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the trails to complement the work of the park’s management team.

In support of The Gunung Perlis Trail, The Habitat Foundation has teamed up with the social enterprise MyChangkul because of its impressive track record in designing, building and developing a community around the acclaimed sustainable trails in the Kota Damansara Community Forest and the Shah Alam Community Forest in Selangor. In addition to its role in making these urban forests accessible for recreational use, MyChangkul has in 2018 been called upon to strengthen capacity for state parks in Perak and Johore.

Yong Foo Chuen, founder of MyChangkul and Awang Shaffie, Director of Perlis Forestry Department at the start of the trail building training workshop in August 2018

The journey so far

In January 2018, MyChangkul began working with the Forestry Department and local guides to map out the most suitable alignment for the Gunung Perlis trail loop. The new alignment is already mapped out using GPS and marked out on the ground.

In August 2018, the Forestry Department organized a training workshop facilitated by MyChangkul which attracted 35 participants comprising forestry staff, local nature and outdoor guides and enthusiasts. The opportunity to have a role in building the new Gunung Perlis Trail has been extremely well-received by local people who are excited about building a trail which they can be proud of. They see it as something that will endure as a legacy for future generations.

Following the August 2018 training, it was necessary to take a break over September and October to allow the inter-monsoonal rains to pass.

In November, with the arrival of drier weather trailwork on the Gunung Perlis trail has now picked up and the core team of trail builders have been making steady progress.  On weekend trail days, trained volunteer trail builders join in to share the load. Currently, the trail builders are pushing to complete the first leg from the entrance to the peak – a distance of 8 km – by January 2019. The entire trail loop is expected to be completed and launched by March 2019.

There is also scope for volunteers from outside Perlis to chip in towards this historic community-built Sustainable Trail. If you wish to learn more, kindly contact thf@habitatfoundation.org.my

Gunung Perlis Sustainable Forest Trail
Several recces were needed to identify the most suitable alignment for the new sustainable trail.  Yong Foo Chuen of My Changkul with local guides.
Several recces were needed to identify the most suitable alignment for the new sustainable trail. Yong Foo Chuen of My Changkul with local guides.
Boundary markers at the top of Gunung Perlis.
Boundary markers at the top of Gunung Perlis.
Training in session: In the MyChangkul training workshop participants learned how good design is the secret to  engineering forest trails to withstand the high rainfall of the Malaysian rainforest. 
Training in session: In the MyChangkul training workshop participants learned how good design is the secret to engineering forest trails to withstand the high rainfall of the Malaysian rainforest. 
Rainwater is effectively channelled off the trail to enable it to dry quickly. Meanwhile, the construction of waterbars helps to control the velocity of the water and the installation of armouring helps to shore up key sections. 
Rainwater is effectively channelled off the trail to enable it to dry quickly. Meanwhile, the construction of waterbars helps to control the velocity of the water and the installation of armouring helps to shore up key sections. 
Justine Vaz of The Habitat Foundation explaining the significance of the project in fulfilling the promise of public participation which is enshrined in Malaysia's National Policy on Biodiversity.
Justine Vaz of The Habitat Foundation explaining the significance of the project in fulfilling the promise of public participation which is enshrined in Malaysia's National Policy on Biodiversity.
The trails are constructed with simple tools – rakes and changkuls mainly.
The trails are constructed with simple tools – rakes and changkuls mainly.
Typically, no outside materials are added to the forest environment; only fallen trees and rocks in the immediate vicinity are pressed into service.
Typically, no outside materials are added to the forest environment; only fallen trees and rocks in the immediate vicinity are pressed into service.
En. Jamili of the Perlis Forestry Department sharing his support for the project.
En. Jamili of the Perlis Forestry Department sharing his support for the project.
At the end of the workshop, there was an opportunity for everyone to say something about what they had learned from the workshop and their thoughts on participating in the trail -building initiative.
At the end of the workshop, there was an opportunity for everyone to say something about what they had learned from the workshop and their thoughts on participating in the trail -building initiative.
The final requirement of building sustainable forest trails is engaging a community of builders and users that will provide the backbone of trail upkeep in the years to come.
The final requirement of building sustainable forest trails is engaging a community of builders and users that will provide the backbone of trail upkeep in the years to come.
All the participants in great spirits at the conclusion of the trail building workshop.
All the participants in great spirits at the conclusion of the trail building workshop.
Some of the participants at the trail building workshop, such as Othman Ayeb and Aiyu had come all the way from Langkawi to join in.
Some of the participants at the trail building workshop, such as Othman Ayeb and Aiyu had come all the way from Langkawi to join in.
Trail builders with changkuls ready on the day of the inaugural start to building the new trail!
Trail builders with changkuls ready on the day of the inaugural start to building the new trail!
Justine Vaz of The Habitat Foundation and Ahmad Zafir of The Habitat Penang Hill join in the building of the new trail.
Justine Vaz of The Habitat Foundation and Ahmad Zafir of The Habitat Penang Hill join in the building of the new trail.
Meet the core team of trail builders: local forest guides Man, Shukri, Along and Zam.
Meet the core team of trail builders: local forest guides Man, Shukri, Along and Zam.
No trees are removed during the build. Instead, young saplings along the trail path are dug up and relocated to the side of the trail.
No trees are removed during the build. Instead, young saplings along the trail path are dug up and relocated to the side of the trail.
Perlis Trails 081118 P1210923 web
Perlis Trails 081118 P1210923 web
Perlis Trails 081118 P1210931 web
Perlis Trails 081118 P1210931 web
Perlis Trails 081118 P1210925 web
Perlis Trails 081118 P1210925 web
Perlis Trails 081118 P1210937 web
Perlis Trails 081118 P1210937 web

Written by justine · Categorized: 2018 THF Grant Recipients, Sustainable Tourism · Tagged: Gunung Perlis trail, MyChangkul, Perlis State Park

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The Habitat Penang Hill
Bukit Bendera,
11300 Penang, MALAYSIA.

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thf@habitatfoundation.org.my

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