WWF-Malaysia recently launched a coffee table book titled Jewel of Kedah: Ulu Muda Forests under its Peninsular Malaysia Terrestrial Conservation programme. It is produced for the ‘Investing in Our Natural Capital through the Ulu Muda Conservation’ project, which is supported by CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad from July 2017 to June 2022.
The book, which is available online, represents the beauty, uniqueness and significance of the Ulu Muda Forest Complex by highlighting its magnificent flora and fauna; its role as a major water catchment area for Kedah, Penang and Perlis; and the local community that relies on it.
Sprawling over 160,000 hectares, Ulu Muda is an ancient lowland forest that is home to an impressive community of biological diversity, which is captured in the book through fieldwork photos of wild plants and animals. The book also features beautiful landscape images of flatlands that flank the Muda river, salt lick areas that are essential to the health of wildlife and awe-inspiring limestone caverns.
Tunku Temenggong Kedah, Yang Teramat Mulia Datuk Seri DiRaja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Binti Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah lauded the publication, which she said portrays the beauty and splendour of Ulu Muda, enticing both past and potential visitors alike to experience the lush forests first-hand.
“Through its stunning imagery and interesting facts shared in the captions, I hope this coffee table book will inspire us all to appreciate Ulu Muda and support its conservation so that it may remain a part of Kedah’s proud heritage for generations to come,” she added.
WWF-Malaysia has been championing the conservation of Ulu Muda for over two decades. Though much has changed within and around the forest complex over the years, Ulu Muda remains the linchpin behind the prosperity and security of the country’s northern region, said its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sophia Lim.
“WWF-Malaysia has been working together with various state agencies in Kedah, while our relationships with the local community have strengthened throughout the years of working in the landscape.
“From becoming our river and forest guides, they have become trusted friends with invaluable insights into the wondrous wilderness that is Ulu Muda. This coffee table book also serves as a tribute to the people that call Ulu Muda home,” she added.
CIMB Islamic’s CEO Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff said CIMB Islamic has always been cognisant of the need for corporate citizens to play an active role towards contributing positively to the environment.
“We believe conservation efforts must be shouldered by all parties involved to achieve a collective impact, especially in the corporate sector so that we have something to leave behind for future generations. Actions by the business community are crucial in the quest for sustainable development, not only due to its social and environmental impacts, but also its transformative influence and financial power,” he added.
Ahmad Shahriman hopes the partnership with WWF-Malaysia generates considerable positive and sustainable impact on the local economy, community, and the environment.
“We are happy to have partnered with WWF-Malaysia and to see this project come to fruition since its inception in 2017. The launch of this coffee table book certainly reinforces our commitment towards economic conservation and preservation, especially for environments like the Ulu Muda Forest, a prime jewel of Kedah,” he elaborated.
Download the coffee table book as well as a pamphlet and a booklet about Ulu Muda here. To check out digital snippets of the coffee table book as well as a special mini-documentary, visit this microsite. – The Vibes, May 14, 2022
