Journal of Wildlife and Parks (2014) 29 : 61-67 61 A MODEL OF GREENED EX-TIN MINE AS A LOWLAND BIODIVERSITY DEPOSITORY IN MALAYSIA Ang, L.H.*, Ho, W.M. & Tang, L.K. Researchers of Ecophysiogy Branch, Forest Plantation Program, Forest Biotechnology Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia *Corresponding author:
[email protected] ABSTRACT Ex-tin mine is a common landscape in Peninsular Malaysia and it covers approximately 113,000 ha spreading mainly in the states of Selangor and Perak. Forest Research Institute Malaysia has successfully greened an ex-tin mine covering 121.5 ha located in Bidor, Perak. Presently, a 17 y-old man-made mixed stand of 60 forest tree species beautifies the once barren-desert like landscape with lush green vegetation surrounding the mining ponds. The man-made mixed forest was established employing findings from two decades of research activities. The forest is also the man-made habitats that house 70 species of birds and many wildlife species from the diminishing nearby lowland forests located about 10-20 km from the greened ex-tin mine. The two fragmented lowland forests are Bikam Forest Reserve and Chikus Forest Reserve which are located in the fast-expanding economic zone of Batang Padang District, Perak. Avian dispersers brought about 20 primary lowland species to the man- made forest since the last 15 years. This paper demonstrates the rehabilitation technology employed to green an ex-tin mine and also reports the regeneration of the tropical rainforest species brought by avian dispersers in the greened ex-tin mine. Keywords: Ex-tin mine, Rehabilitation, Restoration, Biodiversity depository, Man-made forest, Wildlife.