Located in the tropics and with a long coastline, Malaysia has an extensive area of wetlands. The Malaysian Wetland Directory lists 105 wetland sites. Mangroves, river system, tropical peat swamp forest constitute the main wetlands ecosystem found in Malaysia.
In 1994, Malaysia signed the Ramsar Convention on Protection of Wetlands. Tasek Bera was nominated as the country’s first Ramsar site. Located in southwest Pahang, Tasik Bera is the largest natural freshwater lake in Peninsula Malaysia. Situated in the saddle of the main and eastern mountain ranges of the Peninsula, it is home to the Semelai community, one of the indigenous communities in Malaysia. Tasik Bera has remained a unique and remote wetland wilderness, which is surrounded by a patchwork of dry lowland forests.
Today, Malaysia has five Ramsar sites. Johor boast the largest with three sites located at Sg. Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai. The mangrove area north of Kuching is the most recent inclusion into the Ramsar list.
Since I was a kid in the late 50's I love to roam the wetland at the backyard of my kampung.When my kids grew up in the 80's, we live in KL,3km away from KLCC.Thery will be running away if they see a pacat or belut that looks like a water snake!The built environment we live in are getting congested,dusty and hotter.A friend wrote that she could dry her laundry at night!
Now,more than 50% of Malaysians are living in the towns and cities. Our contact with the natural environment are getting less and less.Realising this,I encourage my friends and family members to walk or cycle or go picnic at the nearby gardens or wetlands.I am lucky now to be living 15 minutes away from Putrajaya and can go and visit wetland there at least once a week.
My next visit is Paya Indah Wetland,insyaAllah
assalamualikum~~
can i know the exact amount and location of natural and contructed wetkand in malaysia??
hope mr can help me
Posted by: alia yusof | Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 11:17 PM