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Tourism calendar to include bird watching |
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Photo credit:
Long-tailed Parakeet by Laurence Poh/MNS |
14-08-2006
BY MARSHA TAN
Bird watching in Panti Forest will be included as an eco-tourism activity in the Johor state government’s tourism calendar starting next year.
State Tourism and Environment Committee chairman Freddie Long Hoo Hin said the state would collect photos and information on the more than 300 species of birds in the Panti Forest to be catalogued and distributed to the public.
He said bird watching used to be a passion for a small group of people but the interest in it has been increasing in recent years.
“Panti Forest is abundant with biodiversity and also more than half of the birds sighted in the state are there,” said Long during a dialogue with more than 150 bird watchers from overseas recently.
Long said some of the birds found in Panti were those classified as “globally threatened” and “nearly threatened”.
He added that all government departments and non-governmental organisations especially nature societies must work together to promote bird-watching in Panti Forest.
“The state government is very serious about conserving nature and we hope that through such activities, we can educate the public about our forests.
“We must also educate them (the public) and also the indigenous people that they must not disturb the forest,” said Long, adding bird-watchers could get permits from the forestry department for RM5 before entering the forest.
Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) Johor Chapter adviser Vincent Chow commended Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman’s concern in preserving and conserving nature.
“Relevant organisations such as schools could conduct tours for the students to explore our forests and learn about nature and the wildlife there,” said Chow.
Chow said he had received numerous emails globally concerning the Panti Forest and hoped that it would be gazetted as a National Park as soon as possible.
In an email made available to The Star, Justin Duffy from New Zealand said he hoped Malaysia would take into account and learn from the experiences of other countries, such as New Zealand, which has 73 birds listed as “endangered”.
“For Malaysia, it is not too late to begin conserving nature. I therefore implore you to act now and protect and conserve the incredible biodiversity that your country possesses.
“I sincerely hope that the Panti Forest will soon get the protection it deserves,” said Duffy.
Long said Panti Forest would be gazetted as a National Park by next year.
© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
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