Nation

Orang Asli help forestry dept plant trees

PEKAN: The campaign to plant 100 million trees that was launched before this will provide additional income for 15 Orang Asli at Tasik Chini as they get paid for the trees they plant.

The first-time project involves the activity of planting about three different species of high quality timber trees at the Chini Forest Reserve Area.

Pahang state forestry department (JPNP) (East Pahang Zone 1) Deputy Director Nurfazliza Kamarulbahrin said the 15 Orang Asli involved in the programme were villagers from Kampung Cendahan, Kampung Tanjung Puput and Kampung Tanjung Sambit in Tasik Chini.

She said as many as 1,080 Merbau and Keruing species of timber trees, including petai trees would be an economic source for the villagers when the trees bear fruit within seven to 10 years' time

Nurfazliza said that the project which is under the 100 million tree planting campaign involves an area of about two hectares of illegally cleared land for agricultural activities.

"Many of the participants involved in the tree planting activity are made up of individuals who joined the 'Buy Back Guarantee' programme run by JPNP who supplied the Merbau tree saplings.

"The department provided training and the equipment for the nursery. All they needed to do was to find the Merbau tree seedlings and that of a few other species to be sown. The saplings that reach the age of between four to six months old will be bought by JPNP to be planted in selected areas," she said here yesterday.

Nurfazliza added that the department prepared a special allocation for the rehabilitation and revitalisation of the Picnic Forest Reserve and the Chini Forest Reserve.

The replanting activity in the designated area will be carried out in stages.

Nurfazliza said that after Tasik Chini, the "Buy Back Guarantee Programme" would be expanded to Cameron Highlands involving Kampung Terakit and Kampung Rening which will have 30 participants.

For Khadri Awang, 31, who lives in Kampung Cendahan, Tasik Chini, the project of planting trees at the Chini forest reserve will enable the locals to add to their income.

"I hope that the tree planting project will continue after this. Apart from helping to restore and rejuvenate the Chini forest reserve, it also allows the Orang Asli community to have an additional source of income.

"We took less than two days to plant about 1,080 Merbau and Keruing saplings including petai, where we also moved saplings from the hilly area," he said.

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories