By Danial Dzulkifly
BESTARI JAYA, June 25 — The Raja Musa Forest Reserve has been recognised as a model for peatland conservation in the region, with Asean delegates visiting the site to observe long-term rehabilitation efforts and discuss cross-border strategies for environmental resilience.
The visit was part of the 10th Asean Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP) meeting, chaired by Malaysia and organised by the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES).
ATFP chairman Siva Kumar Solay Rajah said Raja Musa was selected for the field visit due to its accessibility and long-standing restoration record.
[caption id="attachment_405297" align="alignleft" width="398"]
Asean Task Force on Peatlands chairman Siva Kumar Solay Rajah speaks to the press during a site visit to the peat swamp forest rehabilitation area at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve in Bestari Jaya, Kuala Selangor, on June 25, 2025. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
“Raja Musa has been under active restoration since 2012. It was once a heavily logged area, and its recovery has taken over a decade.
“Efforts by the Selangor government and the Forestry Department have shown real progress," he told the press on the sidelines of the visit today.
Siva Kumar, who also serves as the NRES’ Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division secretary, said the site offers a practical demonstration of Malaysia’s integrated approach to peatland conservation, especially in balancing environmental management with surrounding agricultural land use.
The Raja Musa Forest Reserve previously received international recognition under the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative, establishing it as one of the region’s most successful examples of community and government-driven peatland restoration.
During the field visit, delegates, comprising policymakers and scientists from seven Asean member states, were briefed on Selangor’s forest management strategies, fire prevention measures, and biodiversity protection efforts.
Siva Kumar also stressed the global importance of peatlands, which act as vital carbon sinks by storing a significant share of the planet’s carbon.
He added that Raja Musa, along with other peat swamp forests in Tanjung Karang and Kuala Langat, plays a critical role in national and regional climate resilience.
ATFP's mission is to raise awareness, exchange knowledge, and build a unified strategy for regional peatland conservation.
