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by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

Rare species of trees at the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve

The trek through Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve in Malaysia was quite exhausting going up a hill 300 metres above the sea level. Bukit Lagong is located 16 km northwest of Kuala Lumpur in Kepong town, A sprawling Forest Reserve on a 600 hectare plantation belonging to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM).

Having trekked for nearly one hour through thick green jungle cloak we reached the canopy walkway trail exhausted. The canopy walkway, located on a mountain top is connected to three pathways, one through a motorable track that takes half way up the mountain. It then falls on to a large open space connected to a foot path leading to the hill. The second route is a self guiding foot path that snakes through mountain terrain and the third path is a long one to the Canopy walkway. The pathways were constructed by the FRIM in 1992.

You require a lot of stamina to climb the hill as it takes nearly one hour to reach the Canopy Walkway. Mr. Ang Thon Bah, FRIM's guide, gave us explicit instructions not to disturb wildlife and not to litter or damage plants to minimise damage to environment. We took care and followed these instructions to the very letter.

Having trekked for 45 minutes we came across a village called "Temuan," where indigenous people lived there three decades ago. The forest realm belonged to these tribesmen earlier. Although they moved out of Temuan almost three decades ago they continue to return every year to harvest the fruit orchards.

These tribesmen were responsible for planting several rubber trees in the jungle. The old rubber trees can be easily identified by the old tapping scars on them. The plantation which was abandoned 30 year ago has now regenerated into a secondary growth. The Bukit Lagong Forest with its inky darkness is renowned for its old trees planted in the 1920 with nature providing its opulence. It is a magical sight when sunlight filters through patches of foliage in the jungle.

The building of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia

As we trekked along the path, several multi-coloured chameleons perched on trees and basking in the sun can be seen. The lizards change their colours often when provoked. There were also big iguanas prowling about in the jungle and one begins to wonder whether it's some kind of a Jurassic Park. We then heard the sound of some screeching insects emanating from the deep forest. Mr. Ang Thong Bah explained to us that an insect called Cicada was making the noise.

Most Cicadas have transparent wings but some are coloured insects. The powerful sound was made when a male Cicada's abdomen muscles vibrates and the sound was amplified by its cavity acting as a sound box.

Visitors to the Bukit Lagong Forest are drawn to the two traditional Malay houses built more than 100 years ago in Pulau Rusa in Terengganyu. The houses were relocated and re-built in the Bukit Lagong Forest as a tourist attraction.

The houses give an intriguing insight into the Malay culture. To our amazement we learnt that not a single nail had been used to build these houses and the entire houses were made of wood.

Walking towards a cluster of trees we sensed a strong odour and were told that it came from the Kulin tress. It became stronger as we got nearer the trees. The odour was similar to garlic. Our guide Ang Thon Bah tells us that Malays in the olden days used the Kilim fruit to flavour their food. The fruit is also known to have some medicinal value.

Many of the exotic plants, flowers and trees are indigenous while others have been imported to Malaysia. Mahogany, is one of the first trees to be planted in the Bukit Lagong jungle. Another common tree found all over the forest is the Durian tree. It grows up to a height of about 30 metres and is cultivated throughout Malaysia. The Durian tree with its typical pungent odour is believed to have come from the Borneo island. It is also known as the King of fruits in Malaysia. A large fruit with spikes on its outer layer and its seeds are covered by a fleshy edible layer. Natives believe that the fruit is an aphrodisiac, a panacea for many sexual disorders.

Tualang, the tallest tree in Malaysia, is also found in the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve. The tree which was planted in 1980 had reached a height of 10 metres. But the tallest Tualang tree on record in the Malaysian peninsula had grown to a height of 80 metres.

Finally we arrived at the Canopy walkway where a woman staff member from the FRIM greeted us and briefed us on the do's and don'ts. Only three persons were allowed to walk on the suspension bridges at a time. The bridges looked quite perilous though, made of steel cable, polyester ropes and polyethylene netting suspended on tree tops about 30 metres from the ground. It spans over 200 metres from tree to tree.

The platforms on the bridges offer a panoramic view of its various plants and the animals. The walkway system was designed and constructed with aid from the German Agency for Technical Cooperation in 1992.

We found that it was a nerve-racking experience crossing the suspension bridge as it shook up, as if to throw us up. We somehow held on to the steel cable tightly and managed to stay afloat. After all suspension bridges, are not for those with phobias of dizzy heights. Having experienced the Canopy Walkway we had to climb down and found the trek sloping downwards not so difficult.

After climbing down we visited the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) one of the leading institutions in tropical forestry research both within Malaysia and abroad.

FRIM's research officer Jaffar Ahamed, says that 60 percent of the land, i.e. 32 million hectares of land in Malaysia is covered by tropical rain forests. He said deterrent punishment is meted out by courts to timber pirates in Malaysia. Those convicted for illegal logging is sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The suspension bridge on the  Canopy Walkway

Statistics show that 80 percent of wooden furniture manufactured in Malaysia is exported. There are 2605 species of trees and 1260 species of plants in Malaysia. We discovered some rare species of trees and plants in the Bukit Lagong Forest. Some of them are known as "type specimen " a scientific term used to describe species for the first time.

He says that the tree found in Sarawak has reached a height of 82 metres. Sesenduk, is another tall tree found in the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve. The tree is felled for domestic consumption and its trunk is used for making matches. Match sticks made from Sesenduk are yellow in colour.

Strange enough the bamboo tree known as Buluh Betong in Malay language is one of the rare plants in Malaysia. However the giant bamboo grows in plenty in Burma and Thailand. The tress grow very tall. The tallest bamboo tree on record is 64 metres. The Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve is the only place in Malaysia where bamboo is found. The Bamboo tree generally flower at long intervals, usually between 50 and 120 years.

FRIM was founded by the colonial forest scientists in 1929. Dr. F.W. Foxworthy became its first chief research officer. It is a statutory body governed by the Malaysian Forestry Research and Development Board functioning under the Ministry of Primary Industries. FRIM is headed by the Director General Dato' Dr. Abdul Razak Mohd Ali.

FRIM forest is an ideal location for outdoor recreation. It is a popular spot for joggers, cyclists and nature lovers with activities connected to bird watching, camping, photography etc.

The grounds which began as degraded land in the form of sterile mining pools, scrubby wasteland and barren vegetable farms long abandoned, is today a leading conservation park.

It also promotes sustainable management and optimal use of forest resources by generating knowledge and technology through research and development.

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