Assessment on recreational impacts in Malaysia recreation forests

Noor Azlin Yahya, . (2000) Assessment on recreational impacts in Malaysia recreation forests. [Proceedings Paper]

A study was conducted at three Recreation Forests near Kuala Lumpur to access impacts of recreational activites on the natural resources of the area. This paper mainly reports the results of the study and suggests a management action to be taken. Recreation Forests in Malaysia are usually scenic forests with rivers where the most popular activities conducted are picnicking swimming and relaxing under the forest shade. Camping trekking and photography are also carried out but to a lesser extent. As owner of the Recreation Forests the Forestry Department usually manages the areas. However some areas are fully or partly privatised where the management of certain facilities or the whole area is given to private concessionaires. Visitors to Recreation Forests have been shown to in be great numbers especially during weekends and school holidays. Studies showed that visitation to each Recreation Forest often exceeds 100 000 a year. The majority of visitors to the Recreation Forests are the Malays who are also the major ethnic group in Malaysia from the middle and the lower income group and with highest education attainment of secondary education. Impacts of recreational activities on the natural resources of the three Recreation Forests namely Sungai Chongkak Lentang and Sungai Tua were assessed for soil and vegetation parameters. From this study it was found that soil compaction is always higher at recreation sites compared to control sites for all three Recreation Forests. For vegetation parameters it was found that vegetation cover is greater and there are more mother tree species at the control sites. It was also found that there is a domination of forest species at the control sites whereas vandalism signs were found to be more common at the recreation sites. The results on soil and vegetation parameters show that areas used for recreational activities are losing their natural conditions whereas similar control areas along the river that was not used by visitors shows better regeneration and in more natural conditions. Visitors opinion on problems of the Recreation Forests was also evaluated to assess perceptions on the conditions of the natural resources. Out of several parameters tested it was found that many visitors to the recreation forests are aware of the litter problem and many perceived it as a big problem. The conditions of tree vandalism and soil erosion are also considered as a big problems to visitors.

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Abstract

A study was conducted at three Recreation Forests near Kuala Lumpur to access impacts of recreational activites on the natural resources of the area. This paper mainly reports the results of the study and suggests a management action to be taken. Recreation Forests in Malaysia are usually scenic forests with rivers where the most popular activities conducted are picnicking swimming and relaxing under the forest shade. Camping trekking and photography are also carried out but to a lesser extent. As owner of the Recreation Forests the Forestry Department usually manages the areas. However some areas are fully or partly privatised where the management of certain facilities or the whole area is given to private concessionaires. Visitors to Recreation Forests have been shown to in be great numbers especially during weekends and school holidays. Studies showed that visitation to each Recreation Forest often exceeds 100 000 a year. The majority of visitors to the Recreation Forests are the Malays who are also the major ethnic group in Malaysia from the middle and the lower income group and with highest education attainment of secondary education. Impacts of recreational activities on the natural resources of the three Recreation Forests namely Sungai Chongkak Lentang and Sungai Tua were assessed for soil and vegetation parameters. From this study it was found that soil compaction is always higher at recreation sites compared to control sites for all three Recreation Forests. For vegetation parameters it was found that vegetation cover is greater and there are more mother tree species at the control sites. It was also found that there is a domination of forest species at the control sites whereas vandalism signs were found to be more common at the recreation sites. The results on soil and vegetation parameters show that areas used for recreational activities are losing their natural conditions whereas similar control areas along the river that was not used by visitors shows better regeneration and in more natural conditions. Visitors opinion on problems of the Recreation Forests was also evaluated to assess perceptions on the conditions of the natural resources. Out of several parameters tested it was found that many visitors to the recreation forests are aware of the litter problem and many perceived it as a big problem. The conditions of tree vandalism and soil erosion are also considered as a big problems to visitors.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Summary only En
AGROVOC Term:	RECREATION
AGROVOC Term:	NATURAL RESOURCES
AGROVOC Term:	FORESTS
AGROVOC Term:	SOIL COMPACTION
AGROVOC Term:	VEGETATION
AGROVOC Term:	RECREATIONAL AREAS
AGROVOC Term:	DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR
AGROVOC Term:	HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
AGROVOC Term:	EROSION
AGROVOC Term:	MALAYSIA
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16526

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