KUALA SELANGOR, Oct 31 — The state government's sustained efforts to prevent fires and conserve the Raja Musa Forest Reserve are bearing fruit, with no peatland fires reported in the area since 2012.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry secretary-general Datuk Wira Anis Rizana Mohd Zainuddin commended the achievement, praising Selangor's commitment to implementing preventive measures to protect the forest reserve.
“From 2012 until now, I have been very impressed by the concerted preventive efforts undertaken by the state government, which have yielded results,” she said.
Anis was speaking during a visit to the Raja Musa Forest Reserve last Tuesday (October 20) to review the implementation of forest conservation and management programmes in the area.
Also present were Selangor Forestry Department director Azhar Ahmad and Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation) or MBI group chief executive officer Dato' Saipolyazan M Yusop.
The Raja Musa Forest Reserve forms part of Selangor’s peat swamp forest, which plays an important role in absorbing carbon, maintaining biodiversity, and reducing the risk of forest fires.
Conserving this ecosystem also supports efforts to address climate change and Malaysia's target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Commenting on preventive measures, Azhar said the reserve covers approximately 35,656 hectares, while Selangor’s total peat swamp forest area spans about 83,147 hectares.
The department has implemented various mitigation measures to reduce fire risks, including constructing check dams, maintaining drainage systems, and establishing firebreaks.
“These measures are important because excessively dry peat is highly flammable, potentially leading to fires that are difficult to control and affecting air quality,” he said.
Besides serving as a carbon store, the peat swamp forest is also a habitat for various flora and fauna species. Wildlife previously recorded in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve includes sun bears, tapirs, and leopards.
Meanwhile, Saipolyazan said the reserve is also an important component of the proposed recognition of Selangor’s Northern Gateway (Anjung Utara Selangor) as a Biosphere Reserve under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere programme.
The initiative, which covers Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam, and Hulu Selangor, aims to balance environmental conservation with local socioeconomic development, including agriculture and sustainable tourism.
“The nomination document, prepared since 2024 in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), has been submitted to UNESCO for evaluation, with recognition targeted for July 2027,” he said.
The public has also been urged to help protect green spaces and avoid encroachment and open burning to ensure these natural assets are preserved for future generations.
The state government, through the Selangor Forestry Department and in collaboration with federal agencies, will continue its conservation efforts to safeguard forest sustainability and maintain ecological balance.
