FINAL VERSION FOR APPROVAL - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan
2. Asst. Park
Officer .
(Job Grade
G27)
3. Park Ranger
(Forest
Ranger, Job
Grade G17)
4. General
Workers
(Grade G11)
5. Drivers
(Grade R3)
2 Park Officer
(G44)
2 Asst. Park
Officer (G27)
6 Park Ranger
(G17)
2 Asst. Parks
Officers (G27)
on him. His role extends beyond the
boundaries of GSSP, especially in relation to
local community engagement and the sitesupport
groups, and promoting collaborative
research projects, and public relations and
promotion work. A well-managed protected
area provides good, positive public relations
to the Forestry Department.
There should be two Asst. Park Officers, one
for administration, and one for operations.
The administration officer is responsible for
bookings, general upkeep and maintenance
of the visitor center, while the other officer
is responsible for interpretation (education),
enforcement and monitoring of GSSP.
The administration officer works closely
with contractors in the physical development
of GSSP and the repair and maintenance of
facilities. The operations officer conducts
monitoring, as well as interpretive and
educational programmes for visitors.
The Park Ranger assists in the duties of the
Asst. Park Officer, one to each Ranger.
There should three general workers to each
section, reporting to the Park Ranger. The
general workers in the enforcement section
can combine monitoring with trail
maintenance. They could also double-up as
guides especially during occasions when
there are insufficient local guides.
Assists in the logistics and communications
of GSSP staff with the Tanah Merah Office,
Kota Bharu Office, and Federal Forestry
Department in Kuala Lumpur. Also
provides logistics support to official guests
and researchers.
Well-managed, GSSP can become a showcase of the capabilities of the Forestry Department,
in countering the negative publicity prevailing within the country, towards logging and
unsustainable development. Recognising this, then it is to the best interests of the Forestry
Department not only to provide sufficient staff to man GSSP, but upgrade the unit to the same
level as the District Forestry Offices. Though the area managed within GSSP is much less
than the area managed by the Tanah Merah Forestry District, the responsibilities and roles
differ, and are more challenging due to the direct interface with domestic and foreign visitors.
Likewise, there must be an expansion of the Silviculture and Forest Protection Unit within the
Federal Forestry Department, to anticipate the possible formation of other State Parks within
Malaysia, in response to its greater role in protected area management. Staff in the Unit
should comprise a diversity of disciplines (tourism, protected area management, wildlife
conservation, etc.), not limited to those directly related to forestry.
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