Shah Alam Community Forest

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Shah Alam Community Forest
Shah Alam Community Forest.png
Geography
LocationSetia Alam (Sect U13), Alam Budiman (Sect U10) and NusaRhu (Sect U10) in Shah Alam
Coordinates3.124684237672859, 101.47978022696584
Area430 acres
Ecology
Ecosystem(s)Lowland rainforest
DisturbanceCommercial development

Shah Alam Community Forest (SACF) (also known as Setia Alam Community Trail) [1] is a 430 acres of recreational site in Section U10, Shah Alam in Selangor, Malaysia. Located between north of Shah Alam National Botanical Gardens and south of Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve, it serves as a wildlife corridor to link these two forest fragments, for endangered wildlife such as Malayan Tapir. [2]

Contents

At present, 130 acres of SACF is owned by the State Government and the remaining 300 acres owned by Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS). In March 2016, the SACF Society was established, primarily aim to preserve and push for regazettement of the forest from threats of commercial development. [2] [3]

History

SACF is part of the traditional territory of the Temuan people, the local group of Orang Asli. These people still live in the southern part of the Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve in the village of Kampung Air Kuning, Bukit Bandaraya, Shah Alam.

In 1909, the area was constituted as part of the Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve. [4] Over the past 91 years, the forest had been cleared for commercial, housing, road works, and educational institution purposes for 21 times. Some of these developments include Alam Budiman, Bandar Puncak Alam, and Universiti Teknologi Mara's (UiTM) Selangor branch. However, the degazzetment of part of the Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve was only announced on May 20, 2022. However, this decision was made retroactive, going back 22 years to have its effect starting from November 20, 2000. [5] In 2024, the Federal Court of Malaysia granted the SACF Society leave to review this decision. [6]


Flora and fauna

The Shah Alam Community Forest consists of both primary and secondary lowland rainforest. [3] Being part of the Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve, the forest still has populations of Malayan tapir, White-handed gibbon, and Leopard cat, [7] which are totally protected under Malaysia Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, and protected species such as the Malayan Porcupine. There are also many species of snakes, lizards, civet cats, monkeys [7] exist in this area, showcasing a rare and remarkable biodiversity within urban settings.

Activities and attractions

Hiking / trail running / jungle trekking

Hikers and trail runners are daily visitors of SACF. The number of hikers increased during the Malaysia Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2021. The hill is the most accessible open-space getaway and workout opportunity for residents of the townships of Setia Alam and Alam Budiman. However, the trails can be slippery when wet and it is not advised to visit following a downpour. [8]

The main trail consists of a 6.9-km loop that is fairly challenging and can take around 3 hours to complete. [9] The trail has an elevation gain of around 600 feet and is rated as "hard". [10]

Downhill cycling

SACF has become a popular spot among cyclists for its steep drops. At least 5 loops of forest trails have been made by volunteer cycling groups, including members of the Shah Alam Community Forest Society (SACFS).  

Funding and Management

In 2019, the Shah Alam Community Forest Society received funding for a project from the Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP). This funding was made possible through the collaboration of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of three GEF Implementing Agencies: UNDP, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank. The project was executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the management of Shah Alam Community Forest is entirely handled by volunteers of SACF society. [3] [2]

Development plans

Numerous proposals and ongoing developments are underway in SACF, encompassing designated zones for housing, a road, and a cemetery. [11] [3] Menteri Besar of Selangor, Amirudin Shari, said that part of the forest has been allocated to the state-agency Selangor State Development Corporation. NGOs such as SACFS and Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (PEKA) have challenged these plans, [12] as there were already at least 12 roadkill incidents of tapirs while attempting to cross the B49 highway, also known as Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari, which was constructed in 2003. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Alam</span> City and state capital in Selangor, Malaysia

Shah Alam is a city and the state capital of Selangor, Malaysia and situated within the Petaling District and a small portion of the neighbouring Klang District. Shah Alam replaced Kuala Lumpur as the capital city of the state of Selangor in 1978 due to Kuala Lumpur's incorporation into a Federal Territory in 1974. Shah Alam was the first planned city in Malaysia after independence from Britain in 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selangor</span> State of Malaysia

Selangor, also known by the Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south, and the Strait of Malacca to the west. Selangor surrounds the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, both of which were previously part of it. Selangor has diverse tropical rainforests and an equatorial climate. The state's mountain ranges belong to the Titiwangsa Mountains, which is part of the Tenasserim Hills that covers southern Myanmar, southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, with Mount Semangkok as the highest point in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petaling District</span> District of Malaysia in Selangor

The Petaling District is a district located in the heart of Selangor in Malaysia. Petaling is not to be confused with the city of Petaling Jaya located in it, nor the mukim of Petaling under Subang Jaya City. The district office is located in Subang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Setia Alam</span> Township in Shah Alam

Setia Alam is a township located in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. It is accessible via Setia Alam Highway from the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) since the interchange opened on 14 July 2006. Setia Alam is also accessible from the Federal Highway and Klang via Jalan Meru. This township is developed by S P Setia Berhad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukit Raja</span>

Bukit Raja can be referred a mukim in Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia, that contains several areas in northern Shah Alam which are western part of Section 7 of Shah Alam, Setia Alam (U13), Denai Alam, Bukit Subang, Alam Budiman, Puncak Perdana, Bukit Bandaraya (U11) and National Botanic Gardens Shah Alam. However, definition of Bukit Raja nowadays has shifted south away, which commonly refer to several areas in Klang, that consists of some former oil palm plantation owned by Sime Derby Plantations. The first development of Bukit Raja estate was an industrial area around Bandar Baru Klang and Federal Highway, subsequently Bukit Raja has expanded to the border of Setia Alam with new establishment of “Bandar Bukit Raja” housing project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puncak Alam</span> Township in Selangor, Malaysia

Puncak Alam is a city in Kuala Selangor district, Malaysia. It is located within 20 kilometers to the northwest from the city of Shah Alam, the capital of the state of Selangor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian Nature Society</span> Environmental non-governmental organization in Malaysia

Malaysian Nature Society is the oldest and one of the most prominent environmental not for profit, non-governmental organisations in Malaysia. It was first established, as the Malayan Nature Society, with the launch of the Malayan Nature Journal, in 1940. Initially primarily as a scientific organisation, today MNS is involved in a wide range of environmental activities and campaigns. In 2008 MNS was awarded the inaugural Merdeka Award for the environment, primarily for its efforts in campaigning for the protection of the Belum-Temengor forests of Malaysia. MNS is a voluntary, membership-based organisation with approximately 3800 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alam Budiman</span>

Alam Budiman is a township located at Section U10 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. It is roughly halfway between Central part of Shah Alam, and Kapar, Klang. Alam Budiman also borders Meru to the west and Setia Alam to the southwest. It is situated near the new UiTM Puncak Perdana campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Templer Park</span> Forest reserve in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

Templer Park is a forest reserve in Rawang, Gombak District, Selangor, Malaysia. The 1,214-hectare forest reserve was named after Sir Gerald Templer, a British High Commissioner in Malaya. "On 8 September 1954, His Highness the Sultan of Selangor, the late Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah declared that Templer’s Park was 'dedicated by Selangor to serve as a refuge and a sanctuary for wildlife and a meeting-place for all who love and respect the beauty of nature'. The following year the government gazetted the area as “a Botanical Garden and Public Park” under the land enactment ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari</span> Road in Malaysia

Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari, or Shah Alam–Batu Arang Highway or Puncak Alam Highway and Jalan Batu Arang, is a major highway in Selangor, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klang Jaya LRT station</span> Railway station in Klang, Malaysia

The Klang Jaya LRT station is an elevated light rapid transit station in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, forming part of the Shah Alam line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandar Bukit Tinggi LRT station</span> Railway station in Klang, Malaysia

The Bandar Bukit Tinggi LRT station is designated to be an elevated light rapid transit station in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, forming part of the Shah Alam line.

The Johan Setia LRT station is designated to be an elevated light rapid transit (LRT) station in Johan Setia, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, forming part of the Shah Alam Line.

The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to Selangor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukit Gasing</span> Tropical forest reserve in Malaysia

Bukit Gasing is a tropical forest reserve in Malaysia. It straddles the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur, as well as the state of Selangor. Due to that, the reserve is governed by two different governments — the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the government of Selangor. There are many hiking trails in Bukit Gasing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Botanical Garden Shah Alam</span> Botanic gardens in Selangor, Malaysia

National Botanic Gardens Shah Alam is a national botanic garden in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. It is incorporated in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries. With area of 817 hectares, it is the habitat of flora and fauna, also a recreational destination in the Klang Valley. As of August 2021, the director of TBNSA is Siti Zubaidah binti Mohamad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukit Kutu</span> Ghost town in Malaysia

Bukit Kutu or Treacher Hill is a former hill station and now a ghost town in Hulu Selangor District, Selangor, Malaysia. This hill station was established in 1893 and consisted of two bungalows, which served as a lodge for visitors and included a 15.3 km (9.5 mi) bridle path that connected it with the town of Kuala Kubu. The hill station was abandoned in 1935 and the government of British Malaya acquired the station's bungalows which were sold as they no longer paid their way. The Japanese army later bombed the station during World War II, leaving it a ghost town. Since the abandonment of the hill station, it has become a popular hiking destination and is busiest during weekends. Bukit Kutu has a rich biodiversity with various kinds of flora and fauna which led to its gazettement as a wildlife reserve in 1922.

The Bukit Raja Selatan LRT station is a light rapid transit (LRT) station serving the Klang suburb in Selangor, Malaysia. It serves as one of the stations on the Shah Alam line. The station is an elevated rapid transit station in Taman Perindustrian Bukit Raja Selatan, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, forming part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System.

Bukit Cherakah is a hill in Kuala Selangor District, Selangor, Malaysia with the height of 213 metres (699 ft). It is one of three prominent peaks along the coast of Selangor. Bukit Cherakah gives its name to a forest reserve which includes the Shah Alam Community Forest and the National Botanical Garden Shah Alam.

References

  1. ↑ Jenn (2022-06-01). "Setia Alam Community Forest Trail to Mirror Lake and Bukit Sapu Tangan". MeowtainPeople. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "About Us". Shah Alam Community Forest. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Shah Alam Community Forest (SACF) | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  4. ↑ Lim, Jarod. "'Preserve urban forest area'". The Star. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  5. ↑ Babulal, Veena (11 July 2022). "NGO challenges Bukit Cherakah's degazettement as 'unlawful'". New Strait Time. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Apex court grants leave for two NGOs to challenge Bukit Cherakah development". The Edge Malaysia. 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  7. 1 2 "[Video] Camera Traps and Biodiversity Survey at Shah Alam Community Forest". Shah Alam Community Forest. 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  8. ↑ "Shah Alam Community Forest - Review of Shah Alam Community Forest, Shah Alam, Malaysia". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  9. ↑ Hasmiza, Z. (25 June 2022). "Shah Alam Community Forest Trail". Alltrails.
  10. ↑ "Shah Alam Community Forest Trails Hike - Selangor, Malaysia | Pacer". www.mypacer.com. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  11. ↑ "Shah Alam Community Forest not on forest reserve land - exco". Yahoo News. 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  12. ↑ Bhd, BFM Media Sdn. "Dubious Degazettement of the Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve?". BFM 89.9. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
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