Predicting connectivity between Main Range Forest Complex and Taman Negara

Mohd Taher, Taherah and Abdullah, Nur Izzati and N. A., Tajul Arifin and M. A., Mustapha and T., Lihan and Abdul Patah, Pazil and Razali, Siti Hajar Atiqah and Ismail, Adnan and M.N., Shukor (2017) Predicting connectivity between Main Range Forest Complex and Taman Negara. [Journal / Magazine]

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Abstract

Taman Negara National Park represents the largest protected area gazetted for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity in Malaysia. Main Range Forest Complex (FC), located at the west of Taman Negara National Park consist of several permanent forest reserves managed by the respective State Forestry Department. Infrastructure development, including several network of roads have resulted in the increase in forest fragmentation, including between the Main Range FC and Taman Negara, thus disrupting the movement of wildlife between them. This study aims to identify potential linkage between the Main Range FC and Taman Negara to ensure that the wildlife can continue roaming between the two habitats in Peninsular Malaysia. Occurrence data of Malayan gaur (Bos gaurus), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus) and Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris) within the study areas that were collected by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks since last 5 years were used to ascertain their distribution. These distribution data and other environmental parameters such as topography, elevation, forest types, soil types, distance from river and roads were used to delineate potential habitat (or habitat suitability) for these four wildlife species using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling. The modeling produces patches of wildlife’s predicted habitat at the main range. However, different species produces different potential habitat but majority of the area consists of lowland forest. The patches were connected to the Taman Negara National Park by using corridor modeling with the main linkage at Sg. Yu. Identification of potential connectivity between fragmented forests allows effective conservation at the selected area.

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