FINAL VERSION FOR APPROVAL - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan
CHAPTER 5: MAIN FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS IN
MANAGEMENT PLANNING OF GSSP
5.1 Steep Terrain of GSSP
GSSP is a granite migmatic complex, with steep slopes that are sensitive to erosion,
especially during persistent rain events (see Appendix 3). The shallow topsoil, underlain with
a granite base also mean that rainwater retention is poor, which is flushed down the mountain,
creating frequent flashfloods at the base whenever there is rain above.
Lack of flat space limits sites for development, and for areas that are already developed, there
is not much space left for expansion. The steepland, if disturbed, will increase sedimentation
of streams and rivers, and will negatively affect the water supply to communities of Jelawang
and Dabong. Disturbances on the southern slopes of the Stong massif will also impact on the
water supply to Mustaq mini-hydro dam, which provides 11 MV of power to the national
power grid.
This situation is particularly acute at Baha Camp, especially as the soil there is too shallow for
septic tanks, compounded with the risk of contamination of river water for downstream use by
overflows and leachates.
5.2 Critical Ecosystem
From the information compiled from previous surveys, we can infer that GSSP and the
surrounding forests are rich in biodiversity.
GSSP is part of a forested landscape that includes the Main Range and Belum-Temengor and
is potentially linked to the Taman Negara landscape. As part of a broad ecosystem approach,
it has been visualised that a network of protected areas be created within the country,
surrounded by production forest reserves. GSSP is part of this vision, together with Taman
Negara National Park, Endau-Rompin National Park, the proposed Royal Belum State Park,
the proposed Ulu Muda State Park, and the Perlis State Park.
As the production forest surrounding these protected areas are selectively logged, wildlife
retreats to protected areas that function as refugias, and returns when the situation normalises.
Protected areas such as GSSP also play a major role as genebanks for plants that are crucial
for repopulating logged areas and that could potentially be developed for horticulture,
pharmaceuticals, crop improvement and biotechnology.
There is relatively high level of plant endemicity at GSSP. To reduce threats to these plants, it
is suggested that only small areas within GSSP be allowed for development, and only at
certain zones created for such a purpose.
5.3 Realignment of GSSP Boundary
As described in section 2.5 above, the northern flanks of the Stong Migmatic Complex have
very steep slopes and not all are protected within the GSSP area. Since much of this area is
not suitable for logging or any kind of land development, it should ideally be included within
the GSSP area. The area concerned is currently within the Gunung Stong Utara Forest
Reserve and it is highly recommended that that GSSP boundary be realigned to include this
area. Since the Gunung Stong Utara Forest Reserve is already under the management of the
Kelantan State Forestry Department, there are no major management issues if the area
concerned is gazetted as part of GSSP.
If it is not feasible to increase the size of the GSSP area, perhaps the southeastern portion of
GSSP to the east of the Dabong-Gua Musang road (which bisects the park) could be excluded
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