KUALA BERANG: The Terengganu Forestry Department will gazette part of the Tembat Forest Reserve, in Jenagor near here, in an effort to preserve the habitat of the Rafflesia, or Pakma flower.
Its director, Roslan Rani, said the department would submit the related papers to be studied by the state government for the purpose.
"If everything goes smoothly, the move to gazette the area will be implemented this year in accordance with Section 10 (1) of the National Forestry Act 1984.
"This is to ensure the sustainability of the habitat and ecosystem of this special Pakma flower,” he told Bernama.
Roslan said the Rafflesia was first found in the Tembat Forest Reserve in 2019 and since then, it has proliferated in abundance.
He said the type of flower that grows in the forest is the Rafflesia cantleyi species, which is the largest, most beautiful and rarest one.
"Its existence naturally attracts the interest of many nature lovers including climbers to see the Pakma flower, which is normally found in Sabah and Sarawak.
"However, visitors who want to enter the Tembat Forest Reserve area need to apply for a special permit from the Hulu Terengganu district forest officer, failing which they could be charged with trespassing,” he added. - Bernama
