SHAH ALAM, Aug 1 (Bernama) — The proposed development of an international ecotourism centre in Kuala Selangor National Park (KSNP) is still being studied, said Selangor Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian.
Speaking at the Selangor State Assembly today, Hee said the study involved the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN), the Selangor Forestry Department, Tourism Selangor Sdn Bhd, and other technical agencies on a land area of 84.13 hectares (ha) or 28 per cent of the entire area of the KSNP.
Hee said although there are plans to develop the ecotourism centre, the entire area is still within the Permanent Forest Reserve (HSK) because we have never degazetted an inch of the forest land.
“The area still has permanent forest reserve status. We will allow it (to be developed as an international ecotourism centre), but we (state government) will only give a permit for use,” he said at the roll-out session of the First Selangor Plan Proposal (RS-1) 2021-2025 today.
Hee said to date HSK, in Selangor, covers an area of 250,250.33 ha.
“From the area covered, 148,590.41 ha or 59 per cent represents terrestrial forests; 82,661.92 ha or 33 per cent is peat swamp forest, and eight per cent of the entire HSK comprises sea swamp forests measuring 18,998 ha,” he said.
Hee said KSNP’s gazetting process is being implemented and is currently at the stage of preparing the gazette plan.
“Of the total area, 148,590.41 ha or 59 per cent is land forest; an area of 82,661.92 ha or 33 per cent is peat swamp forest; and eight per cent of the entire HSK is sea swamp forest which covers an area of 18,998 ha.” he said.
At the same time, he also said that KSNP’s gazetting process is being implemented and is currently at the stage of preparing the gazette plan.
He added that the gazetting process was following the state government’s decision through the state executive council meeting (MMKN) in 2018 to gazette the KSNP as an HSK.
The Selangor state assembly session continues tomorrow.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency