By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, NOV 28 — Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj today declared 26 permanent forest reserves in the state as a Royal Selangor Heritage Forest (RSHF), in a significant move towards environmental conservation.
Spanning 108,000 hectares, RHSF encompasses the entire Central Forest Spine in Selangor, from Hulu Selangor to Hulu Langat.
The combined areas are now classified as a State Park under the protected forests category, under Section 10 of the National Forestry Act (Adoption) Enactment 1985.
It will serve multiple functions, including as a habitat for diverse flora and fauna, water catchment area, and natural solution for erosion and flood control, among other things.
The total area of permanent forest reserves in Selangor is currently at 250,739.33 hectares, constituting 31.7 percent of the state's land area. It is an increase from 30.55 percent in 2008.
Today’s development follows a decree by His Royal Highness during a briefing session with the Selangor State Forestry Department (JPNS) on March 16 for the drafting of a Royal Selangor Heritage Forest Development Master Plan.
The document was officially launched by Sultan Sharafuddin in the same ceremony today held in Shah Alam. He also watched a montage of a mini scientific expedition to Sungai Chiling, Ulu Selangor Forest Reserve during the event.
His Royal Highness then visited the various exhibition booths on display, including from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department, Tourism Selangor, and Wildlife and National Parks Department.
The announcement on RSHF was witnessed by Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah and Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari.
Also present were state legal advisor Datuk Salim Soib, state financial officer Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin, state executive councillor for environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin and JPNS director Azhar Ahmad.
