THE Negri Sembilan government has set up its central forest spine (CFS) ecological corridor to serve as the backbone of a network of environmentally sensitive areas, as part of efforts to safeguard its biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun said the CFS project aimed to conserve forests segregated or fragmented by development, such as building of highways and establishment of plantations.

“The fragmentation of these forests has led to wildlife being forced out of their natural habitat and this can be seen with the increased conflicts between the wildlife and humans, also an increased of wildlife roadkill cases,” he said today in a speech at the launch of the Negri Sembilan CFS Roadshow at Ulu Bendul Eco Park, near Seremban.

“For Negri Sembilan, there are two ecological corridors that have been identified, namely, the Secondary Linkages 6 (SL6) in the Triang forest reserve, and the SL7 located between the Angsi and Simpan Berembun forest reserves.

“These two areas are selected following the segregation of the forest reserves (Angsi and Simpan Berembun) due to the existence of Jalan Bukit Putus and Jalan Seremban-Kuala Pilah.”

Negri Sembilan, he said, has a total forest reserve area of ​​155,549ha, 40% of which was classified as protected forest and the state government was fully committed to implement sustainable forest management.

“Also, the development and management of the CFS ecological corridor will be enhanced through the establishment of the state technical working committee of the central forest spine chaired by state Economic Planning Unit director Muhamad Nahar Mohd Sidek and the state Forestry Department as the implementing agency.

Aminuddin said rare tree species planting efforts were carried out annually in the CFS areas while integrated enforcement operations were carried out periodically to detect encroachment and poaching activities.

“The installation of the camera trap in the CFS areas has successfully recorded 15 species of wildlife including tapir, panther, sun bear and others.

“I hope that the CFS Roadshow will create more awareness among members of the public on the existence of wildlife especially when using roads in the CFS area,” he said, adding that tapir involved in most wildlife roadkill accidents recorded along Jalan Seremban-Kuala Pilah. – Bernama, October 21, 2019.