FINAL VERSION Gunung Stong State Park (GSSP), Kelantan Darul Naim Preliminary Management Plan June 2009 Gunung Stong State Park (GSSP), Kelantan Darul Naim Preliminary Management Plan by N. M. Maseri, A. H. Mohd-Ros & S. Suksuwan WWF-Malaysia December 2006 This document was prepared by WWF-Malaysia (Project MY02040-G) for the State Government of Kelantan and the Kelantan State Forestry Department Photo credits: N.M. Maseri/WWF-Malaysia, S.Suksuwan/WWF-Malaysia, S. Kamarudin/WWF-Malaysia This preliminary management plan was produced under WWF- Malaysia’s project MY0240G-GEN-000 which was funded by the generous contribution of the Malaysian public. ii Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Preliminary Management Plan for the Gunung Stong State Park was produced for the Kelantan State Government by WWF-Malaysia under Project MY0240-G which was funded through donations from the Malaysian public. We would like to record out appreciation to En. Wan Yusof b. Wan Ahmad, Tn. Hj. Dahlan Taha, En. Abdullah Sani, Tn. Hj. Khalim and other staff of the Kelantan State Forestry Department for their close cooperation and commitment to the Gunung Stong State Park. This document has benefited from the inputs and comments provided by the members of the Technical Working Committee of the Gunung Stong State Park: Y. Bg. Timbalan Setiausaha Kerajaan (Pembangunan), Pengarah UPEN, Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri Kelantan. YABrs. Pengarah, Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Negeri Kelantan. YABrs. Pengarah, Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains Kelantan YABrs. Pengarah, Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, YABrs. Pengarah, KESEDAR (Perbadanan Kemajuan Kelantan Selatan) Ybrs. Yang Dipertua, Majlis Daerah Kuala Krai Selatan Ybrs. Pegawai Hutan Jajahan Kelantan Barat the Malaysian Nature Society, Kelantan branch. Special thanks to Y. Bg. Prof. Dr. Abdul Latiff Mohamad of UKM, En. Mohamed bin Abdullah (KESEDAR Jelawang), and Dr Dionysius S.K. Sharma (WWF-Malaysia) for their support. Thanks also to Elizabeth Liew Yen Tzu of WWF-Malaysia for helping to format the report. i Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2004, the state government announced the intention for the formation of the Gunung Stong State Park (GSSP), within the 21,950 ha area of forest reserve known as the Gunung Stong Tengah Forest Reserve managed by the Forestry Department, Kelantan. The gazettement of the State Park will follow the Perlis State Park model, with management responsibilities, retained by the Kelantan State Forestry Department and reporting to a State Parks Management Committee, with a State Parks Steering Committee formed, under the chairmanship of the Mentri Besar. A protected area like the GSSP needs a management plan, especially if it is also promoted as an eco-tourism destination. A detailed management plan may take a few years to complete; it is the intention of the preliminary management plan to provide a rapid, stopgap measure in the interim, especially in addressing some of the pertinent issues that should be resolved. Thus, the objectives of the preliminary management plan are as follows: • To provide a framework for an efficient management system for the park; • To enable the effective protection of GSSP and its resources; • To promote the recognition of the biological and economic resources of GSSP, by scientific means; and • To provide recommendations for improving the standard of living of the local community, and their level of conservation awareness. GSSP is currently still under the management of the Kelantan Barat District of the State Forestry Department, based at Tanah Merah, though it is located within the Kuala Krai District, or more precisely, the South Kuala Krai Sub-District, with an office at Dabong. Apart from adjacent forest reserves, the land use surrounding GSSP is predominantly rural agriculture, mostly of rubber, oilpalm, and fruit orchards. Most of rubber and oilpalm is planted under areas developed by KESEDAR, FELCRA, and RISDA, while most fruit orchards are by smallholders. The value of GSSP lies in its position as part of the large forested landscape that also includes the Main Range, the Belum-Temengor area (c. 300,000 ha) in Perak, the Ulu Muda forests (c. 120,000 ha) in Kedah, and their extension, the Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary and the Bang Lang National Park in Thailand. The purpose of GSSP is the conservation of the biological, physical and hydrological resources of Gunung Stong and their related ecological systems, while allowing for limited eco-tourism activities. The indicator for the purpose is that vegetation, wildlife, fisheries, other biological, physical, and hydrological resources, show no significant decline within the 5 years of the implementation of the Preliminary Management Plan and beyond, while limited eco-tourism activities are allowed. ii Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan Summary of Key Issues and Actions Required No. ISSUE DESCRIPTION ACTION 1. Formal The boundaries of GSSP must be Proper boundary demarcation is demarcation of formally surveyed and demarcated a priority so that the park can be boundaries. before a gazettement can be done. legally constituted and law Without formal surveys law enforcement can be carried out enforcement at GSSP is contestable. effectively. 2. Fragmentation of The road has effectively separated It is recommended that the GSSP by the GSSP into 2 parts: a large western eastern portion be excised out Jelawang-Gua portion, and the smaller eastern of GSSP and replaced by the G. Musang Road. portion. The road provides greater Stong Utara Forest Reserve as access for encroachment, and is a part of GSSP. The road then security risk. becomes an effective eastern boundary of GSSP. 3. Management of The Dabong group of caves The management of the Dabong the Dabong group (including Gua Ikan, Gua Keris, group of caves should be of caves. Gua Pagar and Gua Setol) are integrated into that of GSSP. important bat roosting sites and sites This could be achieved by for endemic plants. Though not part gazetting the caves as part of of the GSSP, the Dabong group of the Serasa Forest Reserve caves is also an important tourism (currently covering an area of attraction and usually form part of 10,338 ha). visitor packages to GSSP. 4. Land Fringes of GSSP are encroached for A special sub-committee should encroachment farming actitivities, some as far as be formed to deliberate on this along the fringes 40 years ago, some with uncertain issue and recommend which of GSSP. legal status, if not yet converted to areas should be alienated and stateland. The formation of GSSP which should be retained as part may lead to two options: the of the GSSP. excision of the encroached areas out of the total protected area, or the absorption of these encroached areas as part of GSSP. However, the latter option may lead to issues of land acquisition and compensation. iii Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan Summary of Management Recommendations Protected Area Legislation The establishment, purpose and management of the park will be determined by the National Forestry Act (Amendment) Enactment 2004, which closely follows the Perlis State Park model of protected area establishment. Under this state legislation, GSSP will be managed by the Kelantan State Forestry Department through the introduction of an additional category, “State Park”, to the existing classification of forest reserves. Law Enforcement Law enforcement by park staff against illegal activities is based on two main legislative sources, namely the Wild Life Protection Act 1972 (Amended 1976 & 1988) and the National Forestry Act (Amendment) Enactment 2004. One of the most serious issues where law enforcement is concerned is the encroachment by illegal sandalwood (gaharu) collectors, whether foreign or otherwise. It is possible that they are also opportunistic poachers and collectors of other forest produce including shoots of the endemic palm, Licuala stongensis, for food. Actions that can be taken to improve law enforcement include more frequent monitoring and patrols by park staff, the introduction of a reward system for informers and tightening the registration process at entry-points, to prevent unauthorised entry. Surveillance Patrols There should be frequent and random patrols by park staff within GSSP and along its borders. Persons committing illegal activities should be apprehended and the laws enforced where necessary. The mere presence of park officers in itself can act as an effective deterrence against illegal activities. Joint operations can also be conducted with relevant agencies such as the Department Wildlife and National Park (DWNP), the army and the Police General Operations Force, to apprehend the offenders. Organisational Structure It is recommended that the Park Officer is a Forestry Officer of Grade G42, reporting directly to the Deputy Director, State Forestry Department. Reporting to him will be 2 Assistant Park Officers (G27), under each of which will be 2 Park Rangers (G17), with 3 Assistant Park Rangers (Forest Guard, Grade G11). A driver (R3) reports directly to each Asst. Park Officer. Terms Of Reference for the State Parks Committee This will be chaired by the Menteri Besar and consist of senior state officers. The committee to meet a minimum of twice a year, to decide on policy issues relating to protected areas in Kelantan. Terms of Reference for the State Parks Management Committee This committee is to be chaired by the State Secretary, and has the mandate to decide on key management issues pertaining to protected area in the State, including presenting proposals for new state parks to the State Parks Committee. This committee will meet twice a year. The Terms of Reference for the Gunung Stong State Park Technical Working Committee This committee is formed primarily to guide the formation and management of the GSSP, and will meet regularly to discuss management issues related to it, and is chaired by the Director, Kelantan Forestry Department. Any form of development within GSSP must be approved by the Technical Committee.