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Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan 6.9.3 Buffer Areas Within Alienated Land This category of buffer is found mainly along the eastern boundary of GSSP. This is to minimise human-wildlife conflicts and encroachment. The inclusion of alienated land within the buffer zone of the park does not require a change in land-ownership from private landowners to the state government. The land ownership status may remain unchanged but activities on alienated land within the buffer zone will have to be regulated so as to minimise negative impacts on GSSP. For example, if the alienated land is under tree cover, such as rubber or oilpalm plantation, then it should remain as such. The use of chemicals such as pesticides and artificial fertilisers should also be minimised. Activities that have major and long-lasting impacts on the environment such as mining, large-scale land development and quarrying, should be strictly prohibited within buffer areas. 6.10 Physical Development If the Perlis State Park model is to be adapted, there are ample provisions for development in GSSP, as articulated in the legislation for Perlis State Park. For instance, in the Forest (State Park) Rules 2002 of Perlis, under section 8(2): “The Director, subject to directions that may be issued by the State Executive Committee, with the approval of the Chief Minister, by order published in the Gazette may appoint any person or company: (a) to build, manage, or maintain any building, facilities; or infrastructure; or (b) to undertake the provision of services within the state park.” Section 8(4) also states: “…the Director may within the state park: (a) construct such trails, interpretive displays, signage, buildings, and fences, and provide water supplies and refuse disposal facilities as he considers necessary; (b) provide such accommodation, amenities, facilities and service within designated zones as are likely to attract visitors to the state park and are not prejudicial to the proper care, control, and management thereof.” However, Section 8(5) states that: “Before any approval is given under subsection (4), the Director shall be satisfied that: (a) the construction of such infrastructures, facilities or buildings is essential and in the interest of the public; and (b) an environmental impact assessment of such infrastructures, facilities, or buildings has been undertaken and that all conditions and measures to mitigate against any adverse environmental impact have been complied with, or implemented to the satisfaction of the director.” However, to prevent any undesirable effects to wildlife, their interests, as provided in the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972, are safeguarded in Section 9 of the Forest Rules. Development in GSSP must be compatible with its primary purpose and objectives of conservation, which must not be compromised by unsustainable tourism, and as such, must be consistent with the protected area setting. Construction of physical facilities for tourism within protected areas is one of the prescribed activities under the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Under the Order, the activities listed below (relevant to GSSP) that would require an EIA are: 84
Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan • Airstrip development in state and national parks. • Development of tourist or recreational facilities in national parks. • Hill station resort or hotel development covering an area of 50 hectares or more. • Logging or conversion of forest land to other land use within the catchment area of reservoirs used for municipal water supply, irrigation or hydro-power or in areas adjacent to state and national parks and national marine parks. In addition projects involving land clearing where 50% of the area or more have slopes exceeding 25˚ (except quarrying) would require a Detailed EIA. As a protected area established based on IUCN principles, development in GSSP must follow basic guidelines that include the following (Ceballos-Lascurain, 1996): • Physical planning must be consistent with the setting, and must not be incongruous. Thus, loud entertainment outlets must not be allowed within protected areas, nor are large, luxurious resorts, that cater for the leisure market segments. Accommodation must be modest, comfortable, clean and unpretentious, and therefore, much cheaper than conventional resorts. • The design must be sustainable, and incorporates and improvises on the available local materials and designs. As a showcase, there must be an emphasis on energy conservation, with greater usage of solar panels (or hybrid systems) for light and heating, and elimination of motor vehicles within the area. There is also emphasis on recycling, re-use, and reduction of waste products, and this includes an efficient wastewater treatment facility. • There must be reduction of on-site and off-site development impacts (adequately covered by the EIA), and there must be an inherent purpose within the design and planning, which is to educate visitors on conservation, sustainability, and cost and energy savings. • Designs for facilities within protected areas must be disabled friendly, to provide opportunities for the disabled to experience nature, to allow for their greater participation in activities previously denied to them. Physical development within GSSP is limited to the specific areas as described in Table 6.8 below. Table 6.8: Sites of Physical Development in GSSP No. Location Description of Development 1. Stong Resort area The room capacities of existing facilities are sufficient for the current volume of visitors to GSSP. What is needed is the maintenance and general upkeep, cleanliness, upgrading of existing facilities, an operational restaurant, introduction of interpretive trails, signposts, and information on nature education and interpretive center, warning signs, and a trail map of GSSP. The information centre should have displays of specimens and publications on <strong>Malaysia</strong>’s natural history, history and culture, especially of GSSP and the state. Instead of increasing the facilities, what is needed is creative promotion of the resort, coupled with the right packaging and pricing mix that targets the right market segment. Only when demand increases beyond room capacity should there be ideas for expansion, provided development impacts are mitigated. Expansion of resort facilities when there are no signs that demand has increased, may turn it into a white elephant instead. Under no circumstances should there be development at the base of 85
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