FINAL VERSION FOR APPROVAL - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan
Location of Park Headquarters
The headquarters for GSSP could be located for the time being at the present Kuala Balah
Forestry Office, though preferably, it should be at Dabong or Jelawang.
Siting of Control Posts
Certain campsites could be utilised as control posts, where park staff can do patrols and
monitoring work.
Field Office
There should be an office within the grounds of the Stong Resort for purposes of visitor
registration, cash collection of permits, emergency response, and as a base for patrols.
Biological Monitoring
This is basically a rapid assessment of impacts on wildlife and the general ecology by visitors
and physical development at GSSP. Such an assessment, carried out periodically, may be
based on the presence or absence of indicator species that can be detected through direct
observations or indirectly through droppings, tracks and sounds. A general assessment can
also be made of the overall environmental condition along trails and other sites frequented by
visitors.
Capacity-Building
Capacity-building of park staff is needed to fill gaps in their existing set of skills and the areas
or topics relevant to the management of protected areas and include communications, guiding,
rescue and emergency response, map reading, basic ecology, and computer skills.
Collaboration and Networking with other PAs
GSSP should actively network with other protected area managers, to share experience,
information, and solutions on certain problems common to all. Opportunities for crossmarketing
should also be looked into, as different protected areas have their own niches and
positioning strategies.
Planning and Reporting
Different types of reports need to be prepared on a regular basis and submitted to State
Forestry headquarters by GSSP staff, for analysis and planning purposes. These include
reports on visitor profile and numbers, park finances, patrols and complaints.
Integrated Research Program
It is crucial that research is continuously carried in GSSP as the results of research activities
can be used to enhance the management of effectiveness of the park. Furthermore, new
discoveries will benefit the park in terms of marketing and promotional opportunities. Priority
research areas should be identified and these may include studies on wildlife conservation
(e.g. using camera-trapping or satellite tracking particularly to understand migration patterns),
carrying capacity, cost-benefit analyses, forest regeneration, etc.
Procedures on Specimen Collections
Procedures on specimen collections must be tightened, to safeguard against bio-piracy and
loss of patent rights, and to promote the sharing of benefits from the biodiversity capital of
GSSP. As GSSP does not have its own herbarium, it is recommended that duplicates of plant
specimens be deposited at the Forest Research Insitute of Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong.
vi