SHAH ALAM, March 17 — The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj has decreed that the state government should continue preserving Selangor's 108,000-hectare forest reserve.
The Ruler said the state government should extend the period of the moratorium for logging which has been imposed for 25 years since 2009 to disallow logging activities in the permanent forest reserve.
"His Royal Highness has also ordered the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, who has a degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology, to closely monitor efforts to maintain a green environment in Selangor with the target of planting no less than 11 million trees by 2026.
"Sultan Sharafuddin is also of the view the collaboration between the Forestry Department and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in conservation efforts and ongoing research will enable this permanent forest reserve to be utilised towards preserving geological, cultural and biological heritage as the seventh National Geopark in Malaysia," said the Selangor Royal Office in a Facebook post.
His Royal Highness added the efforts of the Selangor Forestry Department (JPNS) to preserve the state park will also be felt by the people, through the provision of controlled climbing routes in several locations that are being planned.
Sultan Sharafuddin also wanted the name of the state park to be renamed the Royal Selangor Heritage Forest when it is officially launched later in August.
Earlier, His Royal Highness granted an audience to newly-appointed JPNS director Azhar Ahmad and his predecessor Datuk Ahmad Fadzil Abdul Majid, at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam, where the Ruler was briefed on the latest updates in the development and gazetting of the Selangor forest reserve through the Master Plan 2023 - 2032.
The Raja Muda was also in attendance.
— Bernama
