This publication is supported by the ASEAN Peatland Forests Project (APFP) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Co-financing was provided by the Selangor State Government and the SEApeat project funded by the European Union (EU). Integrated Management Plan for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest 2014-2023 (Vol. 1) Prepared by: Selangor State Forestry Department with technical support from Global Environment Centre (GEC). Copyright: © 2014 Selangor State Forestry Department 3rd Floor, Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abd. Aziz Shah, 40660 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. This publication should be cited as: Selangor State Forestry Department 2014, Integrated Management Plan for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest 2014-2023. Reproduction of material from the publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. All rights reserved. First published in 2014. Printed in Malaysia by Hizi Print Sdn. Bhd. (NO. 478629-H) Book design by Global Environment Centre. Front cover photo by Selangor State Forestry Department. ISBN: 978-967-10268-5-4 INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR NORTH SELANGOR PEAT SWAMP FOREST 2014-2023 VOLUME 1 MAIN PLAN SUPPORTED BY: Integrated Management Plan for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest 2014-2023 Vol. 1 FOREWORD Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh It is a great honor for me to have the opportunity to write the foreword of Integrated Management Plan for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest 2014-2023 (IMP-NSPSF 2014- 2023) which reflects the Selangor State Government’s commitment in balancing economic, social development and the environment factors in this state. Peat swamp forests cover more than a third of the total permanent forest reserves in Selangor. These forests are vital to the balance of our ecosystem. However, rapid development and booming population have significantly put peatlands in Selangor under threat. Since peat swamp forests have complex ecosystem, there is a need for an integrated landscape approach to deal with this matter. Thus, IMP-NSPSF 2014-2023 provides a key framework for the management of the largest peatland landscape in Selangor. I truly hope that IMP-NSPSF 2014-2023 will enhance the efforts in preserving the pristine of our peat swamp forests in Selangor as they have high potential in eco- tourism and to safeguard the sustainability of our biodiversity. My sincere thanks and gratitude to all agencies involved for their contributions in preparing the IMP-NSPSF 2014-2023. In addition, I would like to thank the Selangor State Forestry Department and Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia through ASEAN Peatlands Forests Project (APFP) and SEApeat project for their efforts in developing and publishing this IMP- NSPSF 2014-2023 as a guideline for the management of NSPSF over the next 10 years. Thank you. Y.B. DATO’ HAJI MOHAMMED KHUSRIN BIN HAJI MUNAWI, D.S.I.S, A.S.A, P.P.T. SELANGOR STATE SECRETARY ii PREFACE North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest comprises of Raja Musa Forest Reserve, Sungai Karang Forest Reserve, Sungai Dusun Forest/Wildlife Reserve and part of Bukit Belata Forest Reserve Extension. It covers an area of 81,304 hectares. The Integrated Management Plan has prepared from Dec 2013 to June 2014 supported by Malaysian component of the ASEAN Peatland Forest Project (APFP) which is implemented under the framework of the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2006-2020 (APMS). This Plan significantly updates an earlier Integrated Management Plan (IMP) previously prepared with support from DANCED in 1999. The current plan will cover the next 10 years from 2014 – 2023 and incorporates the findings from a number of studies and activities undertaken through the Smart Partnership programme of the APFP Malaysia (involving the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia and other partners including Forestry Department Selangor, Department of Agriculture, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Malaysian Meteorology Department, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysian Nature Society, Sahabat Hutan Gambut Selangor Utara and the Global Environment Centre) between 2011 – 2014. We wish to extent our appreciation to the members of Smart Partnership programme, staff of Selangor State Forestry Department and state government agencies and other stakeholders who give out their inputs and advice to the development of the IMP. In addition we thank the National Coordinator of APFP facilitated the various related studies and activities. A special acknowledgement to the financial assistance given by the Global Environment Facility through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Co- financing was provided by the Selangor State government and the SEApeat project funded by the European Union. Carbon assessment and hydrological surveys were supported by USAID-LEAF project. Special thanks are made to the ASEAN Secretariat for facilitating the APFP. FAIZAL PARISH DR. MOHD PUAT BIN DAHALAN DIRECTOR DIRECTOR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT CENTRE SELANGOR STATE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT (RPEA – APFP) DATO’ SRI DR HJ ABD RAHMAN BIN HJ ABD RAHIM DIRECTOR GENERAL, FORESTRY DEPARTMENT OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA iii Integrated Management Plan for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest 2014-2023 Vol. 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction The ten-year Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest for the period 2014-2023 was adopted in December 2014. The IMP updates an earlier plan for the period 2000-2010. It has been necessary to update the plan to reflect current conditions on the ground as several parameters/variables such as strengthened laws and a moratorium on logging have been put into place over the years. It also draws on significant studies and other activities undertaken under the Malaysian component of the ASEAN Peatland Forests Project (APFP) within the NSPSF between 2011-2014. North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF) is made up of four forest reserves - Raja Musa, Sungai Dusun, Part of Bukit Belata Extension and Sungai Karang Forest Reserves. A summary on total area of NSPSF is as in Table 1. Table 1: Total area of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest as included in formal gazettement documents. No. Forest Reserve Size (ha) 1. Raja Musa Forest Reserve 35,656 2. Sungai Karang Forest Reserve 37,417 3. Part of Bukit Belata (Extension) Forest Reserve 3,140 4. Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve / Sungai Dusun Forest Reserve 5,091 Total 81,304 NSPSF is located within the administrative Districts of Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam and Hulu Selangor in the northern part of Selangor State. Management Aim and Objectives The proposed overall management objective for the ten-year planning period is as follows: “To maintain the geographical extent and integrity of the North Selangor Peatland Forest to sustain and rehabilitate the functions of the ecosystem as provider of goods and services for the benefit of the local and global communities.” iv Specific Management Plan Objectives: The Specific Management Plan Objectives are: 1. Re-establish the hydrological functions and the natural water balance of the NSPSF. 2. Prevent all fire occurrence and associated haze in and adjacent to NSPSF. 3. Restore the Forest ecosystem of NSPSF by encouraging natural forest regeneration and where necessary supplement with planting in severely degraded sites. 4. Establish a buffer zone of at least 1,000m width along the entire outer boundaries of the NSPSF to minimize impacts of activities in adjacent areas. 5. Develop and promote sustainable use of NSPSF including eco-tourism, harvesting of NTFP, recreation and environmental awareness, education and research. 6. Promote conservation of peatland biodiversity and ecosystem functions. 7. Maintain and enhance carbon stock, minimize GHG emission and develop options for carbon financing. 8. Promote multi- stakeholder participation in the implementation of the IMP. Management Zones An analysis of data and studies conducted during the project showed that some parts of the forest are degraded and need intensive work for rehabilitation whereas others have important values for conservation, ecotourism or water resources management. Thus, the area is divided into specific forest management zone each with different objectives and management prescriptions as follows: 1. Water Catchment Forest 2. Rehabilitation Zone 3. Recreation/Eco-tourism and Education/Research 4. Biodiversity Conservation 5. Community Forest 6. Agroforestry Zone The distribution between the various areas is shown in Table 2. v Integrated Management Plan for North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest 2014-2023 Vol. 1 Table 2: Summary of overall Management Zones, NSPSF Management Zone Area (ha) Hectares Percent A. Water catchment forest 22,594 27.8 B. Rehabilitation zone 18,547 22.8 C. Recreation/ eco-tourism and 8,299 10.2 Education/ Research D. Biodiversity Conservation 30,118 37.0 E. Community Forestry 225 0.3 F. Agroforestry zone 1,521 1.9 Total 81,304 100 Management Approach To maintain the water management functions and promote the natural regeneration in the forest the natural hydrological regime of the NSPSF needs to be restored by blocking up to 500km of abandoned logging canals in the forest. This will support the regeneration of the forest; reduce the emission of Greenhouse Gasses as well as the risk of fires. It will also enhance the value of the NSPSF in water supply and flood control for adjacent