KUALA LUMPUR: The Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia together with the state Forestry Departments of Johor, Pahang and Perak are bringing the people closer to nature through a four-day long exhibition at Central Market here.
Titled 'Improving Connectivity in the Central Forest Spine (IC-CFS) Serangkai: Expresi Hubungan Insan dan Alam', which ends tomorrow highlights the interconnectedness between humans and nature through the sharing of physical, audio and visual information.
IC-CFS national project director Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said the exhibition aims to provide exposure and raise awareness about the Central Forest Spine.
"IC-CFS is a collaborative effort between the government and international bodies to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services in three critical landscapes (Perak, Pahang and Johor) of the Central Forest Spine.
"These locations are also crucial tiger conservation sites identified in the National Tiger Action Plan (NTCAP).
"The Orang Asli communities residing around the IC-CFS Ecological Corridor also benefitted from this project," he said when met after the launching of the event on Friday.
Present were Malaysian Timber Industrial Board former chairman Datuk Baharuddin Ghazali, IC-CFS Pahang State Coordinator Muhammad Syafuan Ismail, Johor State Coordinator Shazrul Azwan Johari and Perak State Project Coordinator Dr Agkillah Maniam.
IC-CFS national project manager Dr Samsuddin Musa said the country houses one of the world's richest forest.
"In fact, our nation ranks 12th in the world for megadiversity and fourth for the diversity of tree species," he said.
Central Forest Spine head section Rusli Tahir said there are more than 130 agencies involved with the project.
"The project will be a chain of green highways that stretches throughout the peninsular Malaysia.
"Some RM3.1 billion will be allocated for the project (2022-2040).
"We also welcome contributions from the people as non-governmental organisations who wish to support this project," he said.