By Danial Dzulkifly
BESTARI JAYA, June 25 — The Selangor State Forestry Department is finalising an Integrated Peatland Management Plan aimed at strengthening the long-term conservation and rehabilitation of the state’s peat swamp forests.
Its director Azhar Ahmad said the plan, expected to be launched later this year, will serve as a reference for sustainable peatland management in Selangor, in line with the state’s sustainability goals under the First Selangor Plan (RS-1), as well as national and Asean-level aspirations.
[caption id="attachment_405298" align="alignright" width="422"]
Selangor State Forestry Department director Azhar Ahmad speaks to the press during an Asean Task Force on Peatlands' site visit to the peat swamp forest rehabilitation area at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve in Bestari Jaya, Kuala Selangor, on June 25, 2025. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
“We plan to first table the integrated plan to the state government and hopefully launch it later this year,” he told the press during the Asean Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP) field visit to the Raja Musa Forest Reserve today.
Azhar added that the document will outline best practices for peatland conservation, including zoning, water management, and fire mitigation strategies for high-risk buffer areas surrounding forest reserves.
“This is because agricultural zones surround the Raja Musa Forest Reserve. Without good management, nearby farming activities can pose risks, especially open burning.
“Last year alone, we recorded six fire incidents in just three months,” he said.
Among the measures already implemented at the forest reserve are water retention structures, like check dams and water locks, designed to keep peat soil moist and reduce fire risk during dry periods.
“These forests, especially peatlands, are crucial not only for biodiversity but for regulating water systems and the climate. Several river systems traverse Raja Musa itself,” Azhar said.
He noted that peatlands play a crucial role as natural carbon sinks, reducing flood risks and maintaining groundwater levels during prolonged dry spells.
Spanning over 81,000 hectares, the Raja Musa Forest Reserve is the largest peat swamp forest in Peninsular Malaysia.
Selangor currently maintains 31.7 per cent of its land as permanent forest reserves, surpassing the 30 per cent minimum target set under RS-1.
The state government allocates between RM4 million and RM6 million annually for forest conservation and receives additional support through the Federal government’s Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) mechanisms.
