Background

Ulu Muda Forest Complex is threatened by several pressures including logging – which also impacts river water quality – and the conversion of natural forest to plantations. WWF-Malaysia has been working with local communities and state authorities in the landscape for 20 years. This project helps accelerate Kedah state’s preparedness in tackling threats to national food and regional water security, alongside mitigating climate change impacts, by improve the management of both production and protection forests – thus strengthening the biodiversity and resilience of the Ulu Muda landscapes.

Scope of Work

To conserve and effectively manage the Ulu Muda Forest Complex, the project will focus on enhancing forest governance and improving forest management. This includes: advocating for an improved protection status of a water catchment forest, improving local knowledge of ecological processes, strengthening relationships with stakeholders operating in the forest, and focusing on improving the management of production forest and protected areas. WWF will also develop recommendations to ensure the intactness of the forest within a recently expanded ecological linkage between Ulu Muda and a neighbouring forest complex. The project also strengthens WWF’s engagement with local people to help reduce poaching activities and incidences of human-wildlife conflict.