IPOH: About 50% of the land left barren owing to widespread deforestation at Mount Brinchang has been restored.
Cameron Highlands Environmental Awareness Association (REACH) president A. Dilip Martin said reforestation efforts conducted over 10 years saw about 5ha of the affected 10ha area filled with greenery again.
"Concerned that continued deforestation would have a significant impact on the future of Cameron Highlands, REACH took the initiative to replant trees," he said after a tree-planting programme with 34 pupils and four teachers from SK Brinchang at the Gunung Brinchang Biodiversity Centre on Thursday (Sept 5).
"Even more exciting is the return of various insects, migratory birds and rare animals to the forest," he added.
Dilip said a few other areas on the mountain need to be restored, including part of the Batu Gangan Forest Reserve.
"It will take five to 10 years to restore this area.
"We are collaborating with the Sime Darby Foundation to replant trees at the highland.
"We received a two-year grant to replant 20,000 endemic tree seedlings on Mount Brinchang," he added.
Dilip said the lack of trees caused by deforestation had raised the temperature at the highlands, causing it to no longer be as cool as before.
He mentioned that the average daily temperature here has now risen to around 24°C during the day compared to 20°C-21°C previously.
"That is why replanting trees is necessary to restore the cool climate.
"If development is not controlled, it can lose its identity as one of the cooler highland areas in the country," he said.
Mount Brinchang, also known as Mount Batu Brinchang, is the second-highest mountain in the Cameron Highlands area with its summit at 2,032m above sea level.
