KUALA LUMPUR – The cabinet, at a meeting yesterday, agreed to the nomination of the Endau Rompin National Park in Johor as an Asean Heritage Park (AHP), said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
If approved, he said, it will be the fourth AHP in Malaysia, after Taman Negara in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu; Kinabalu National Park in Sabah; and, Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak.
“The nomination of the Endau Rompin National Park will, among others, enhance its image as an important conservation area in the state and the second national park in the peninsula, strengthening its management based on ‘best management practices’ on a par with the management of protected areas in the region and internationally.
“Apart from that, it will also enhance networking and cooperation on protected areas between Malaysia and other countries,” he said in a statement today.
The AHP initiative aims to manage the networking of protected areas in Asean.
The Endau Rompin park comprises more than 90% tropical rainforests, and is home to 80 globally endangered plant species.
It is also an important habitat for endangered mammals, especially the Malayan tiger, Malayan tapir, sun bear and Asian elephant.
The ministry will submit the nomination to the AHP secretariat in the Philippines for consideration by Asean working groups and approval by Asean ministers next year. – Bernama, December 12, 2020
