As part of our ongoing efforts to monitor the health of the ecosystem of the montane forest we have used specific biological indicators over the years. Biological indicatorsare defined as species used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem. They are any biological species or group of species whose function, population, or status can be used to determine ecosystem or environmental integrity.

What began as an exercise  to record and document the biodiversity of montane flora using orchids over a 7 year period  led to the publication of the book “Wild Orchids of Cameron Highlands”in 2009. Sadly some of the forests of which the orchids were photographed have been cleared or earmarked for development. The only consolation is that at least we had the foresight to photograph them while we could. Another biological indicator used in the Community Stream Investigator (CSI) study uses macro invertebrates to determine the river water quality.

The next species group that we have begun monitoring are Birds. At the rate of habitat loss and trapping of birds we are on a fast and furious race against time. In September 2009, REACH began to officially update our birdlist  and create a photo database of Birds of Cameron Highlands; as such we have started to incorporate birdwatching into our nature walks. We have managed to get new birders interested and we wish to expand our team.

Why birds… because they are beautiful and easier to spot and identify if you tune your eyes in on them:)

Can you see the Long-tailed Broadbill here.

Birdwatching although a hobby has helped in conservation. The records kept by bird watchers have played an important role in monitoring , habitat loss, climate change and migratory patterns

Birding is an infectious hobby ... so let us infect you with it :)

Interested to know more send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and will put you on our mailing list on upcoming bird watching activities.

Birding Jargon (made easy)

On Saturday, February 18 2012, in conjunction with Valentines Day, a group of Malaysian bikers showed their love for the country by doing their bit to protect the environment.  This event, Ride for Nature, was done in collaboration with R.E.A.C.H. (Regional Environmental Awareness of Cameron Highlands), a Community Based Organization formed in 2001 by a group of Cameron Highlands residents alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating environment especially the declining forests and water quality.  R.E.A.C.H. (www.reach.org.my) aims to preserve, restore and maintain Cameron Highlands as an environmentally sustainable agriculture and hill resort within a permanent nature reserve.   This is the first time bikers have joined hands with an environmental based Community Based Organization (REACH) to ride to ride to Banjaran Titiwangsa to Gunung Brinchang (6666 feet above sea level) which is the highest point in Peninsular Malaysia accessible by road to do their part for Mother Earth.

“Many people say that they love Malaysia but what concrete steps do they take to show their love?” said Dr. Sanath Kumaran, a Conservation Biologist and one of the founders of the Big Bikers group, who call themselves Ranggi Bikers.  He further adds, “Daily large areas of forests are being cleared globally and nationally to provide for our daily needs.  On 18 February 2012, Ranggi Bikers decided to give back to Mother Nature in planting a seedling to green the earth.”

A total of 40 seedlings were planted by 18 bikers who came from Penang, Perak, Wilayah Persekutuan and Selangor.  The area which is chosen for reforestation in the highlands was once a lush stand of upper montane forests. 

Ranggi Bikers (RB), initiated by several Bikers in 2011 to ride and share their passions, promoting safe riding, convoying city to city and camaraderie amongst bikers from other bikers clubs, in all states, country and in the region.   At present, RB comprises of 155 bikers and volunteers who focus on raising awareness of doing charity rides, wedding convoys while raising money to help the unfortunate.

Ranggi Bikers (www.ranggibikers.com) is proud to collaborate with REACH in contributing to Mother Nature in carrying out tree planting (reforestation) in a patch of permanent forest reserve which was illegally cleared many years ago.  The bikers had a chance to plant a seedling in support of the efforts by REACH to carry out reforestation in Gunung Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.  This is the first time in Malaysian history that a group of Big Bikers are doing tree planting in Cameron Highlands.

After a successful Charity Ride to Raub on Christmas Eve 2011, which raised RM10,000 for the Education Welfare Research Foundation, for underprivileged school children in Raub, Pahang, the group is back with a Ride for Nature this year, on Saturday, February 18, 2012. For each sapling that was planted, a minimum donation of RM20.00 was contributed to R.E.A.C.H.

The Ride for Nature event was also publicized with live interview session on TraxxFM radio channel and also on RTM channel on Astro Channel 180 called “i-TRAXX”.  Dr Sanath Kumaran was interviewed on behalf of Ranggi Bikers about its membership, past events and future plans by Scamboy (Gary Ratnam, TV Producer and DeeJay) on Friday February 17, 2012 between 9:15am-9:45am.

~ ANCIENT CHINESE PROVERB ~

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

For more information on the event, visit www.ranggibikers.com, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 by Interns Anna & Hannah

On Thursday, the 26^th of April 2012, Carrol, Saras, Anna and Hannah went to the Special Needs Home in Tanah Rata to do Ecobag Painting with five residents of the home.

LtoR: Anna, Bo,Chee Hao,Koh Wai,Chun Yan, Rajoo, Hannah with Kuna and Simon back row

After a hearty greeting and self-introductions we began to warm up with some happy songs and started the Ecobag painting.

Anna and carrol looking over Koh Wai's abstract work of art.

Every participant got an Ecobag to personalize it according to their fancy. Together we unleshed our hidden talents and  drew  butterflies, flowers, hearts and whatever came to our minds. Afterwards we coloured in the figures with a lot of bright and shiny colours. In the end each participany had produced a great and colourful Ecobag with just a little help from us. Carrol asked them to present it to  their mums to use instead of plastic bags.

LtoR: : Bo, Rajoo, Koh Wai, Chee Hao, Chun Han

The participants, including us, had a lot of fun and enjoyed the time together. We are very thankful that we had the opportunity to experience the kindness of the residents of the home  who were very loving and who we like to see again!

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reported by Interns Anna and Hannah

In conjunction with the Earth Day last Friday, on the 20th of April 2012, the SJKT Ringlet arranged a reforestation program on a cleared area next to the road leading to Bertam Valley. All 115 pupils were involved, as well as their teachers, parents and representatives of the MDCH (around 20 people), the Forestry Department (4-5 people) and R.E.A.C.H.((7 people).

The program started at 8.30 am when the kids were carefully led along the road to the reforestation area.

While the grown-ups prepared the holes for the trees to put in, the kids were very excited and could not wait to plant them.

After a brief explanation of Mr. Rajoo on how to plant a tree properly the kids were separated into small groups to plant one or two trees on their own. It did not take long until all the Hibiscus and Geroh trees found their place in the ground.

At 11 am the work was done and everybody went back to the school.

After the closing speech and acknowledgement to all the voluntary helpers, Saras and German Interns Hannah and Anna from R.E.A.C.H. held a brief speech about the REACH – Battery Recycling Program to the pupils.

This program was formulated by volunteers Anna and Jan-Wilhelm, during their 3 week stay in the highlands, in order to make Cameron’s people aware of the danger of not properly recycled batteries. Since empty batteries mostly end up in the general garbage which is brought to local dumpsites, their poisonous substances can seep out into nature and damage the environment and human health with lasting effects.

To avoid this SJKT Ringlet, as well as other schools in the region, get a bottle to collect in their empty batteries until the end of May. The school which has been able to collect the most batteries in this period will then receive a financial reward.

Afterwards the program was closed by anice and delicious lunch.

by Anna and Genis

March 31, Cameron Highlands also held the “Earth Hour 2012”. This global world event consist on switching off the lights to send a powerful message to everybody for action on global warming and climate change. REACH members and volunteers organised some activities in Tanah Rata to invite people to join in the event. The even was officated by  local state assemblyan YB Ho Yip Kap and at the  20,30h a big and ecological bulb was symbolically switched off. 

Then all the attendees were invited to join in a flash mob, an activity that consist on  a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time and then, disperse.

Almost 80 people participated in this flash mob holding a candle and a brief message on a paper related on how we could save the world.

 After that, the world “earth” was “written” with all the participants and its candles and they could continue doing some activites with REACH members and volunteers: hand painting the fabric bag of REACH *, filling a big world map* with some tips that showed how to save the world or learning how damage can create empty batteries* in our environment and give the opportunity to recycle them. The event was a success and a contribution into the annual global event “Earth Hour”. 

 REACH's team headed by Melody Woon did an excellent job in organizing the event.

L-R : Kesav, Melody, Lithia, Elucia, Anna & Jan, Anna, Hannah, Anna & Genis.

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report by interns

Hannah and Anna

On the 28^th of March 2012 R.E.A.C.H. started a water-testing activity with the kids from  Shum Yip Leong Tamil School conducted by Melody and Carrol and assisted by Saras, Anna and Hannah.

After a brief introduction the kids had a first look around the river next to their school and were able to answer questions according to the physical assessment very well. They already knew that the main facts of river pollution are pesticides and fertilizers from the farms as well as sewage and soil erosion.  

Melody explaining how the PH and Dissolved Oxygen is tested

During the chemical testing the kids had a lot of fun shaking the samples and finding out the results which were quiet good although the river did not seem to be very clean at the first sight.

 Carrol with the students and teacher testing the temperature, total dissolved solids and electric conductivity

Unfortunately, the biological test had to be canceled because of heavy rain. For that reason the kids could only had a look on pictures with the macro invertebrates and a final result about the level of the river pollution could not be found.

Nevertheless, with Melody's explaination using the visual aids we had the kids got an insight of the CSI methods. The activity will be repeated soon, hopefully during good weather.

The students were very interested in Melody's explaination on  the macroinvertebrates and their tolerance levels.

Work at the centre is progressing well. The drainage system is being done .

The toilet tiling works and stone walls of the huts are almost completed.

Since we have decided to install ‘sunroofs’ at the extensions to the Nissen Huts, construction of the roofs has been halted until the translucent plastic roofing arrives. We plan to get the two 600 gallon water tanks into position by this weekend.

It must have been a chilling sight for the staff on duty at the Kuala Terla water treatment plant that fateful day , the 28^th of February 2012. Fishes were found floating in Sungai Terla by the hundreds. Sungai Terla is not just any river in Cameron Highlands. It is the river  which feeds the reservoir ( at Sg.Terla water treatment plant) that supplies treated water to more than two thirds of Cameron Highlands.( Sg. Terla water treatment plant with a capacity of 4.5 million gallons/day MGD currently supplies 2.2 MGD to  Kampung Raja, Kuala Terla, Tringkap, Kea Farm. Brinchang and Tanah Rata. The other main water treatment plant is in Habu which has a capacity of 2.5 MGD and supplies 1.8 MGD water to Ringlet and Bertam Valley. A smaller water treatment plant with a capacity of 0.4 MGD is in Brinchang which is used for emergencies).

The water supply from Sg Terla treatment plant was quickly shut off, the reservoirs were cleaned and the local authorities sent teams to investigate. What was the contaminant and where was it coming from? For almost a week the residents of Kampung Raja, Kuala Terla and Tringkap had no piped water supply and had to rely on water trucked in by the waterworks company.The residents of Brinchang were luckier and received water from the much smaller Brinchang water treatment plant. In a New Straits Times article dated 7^th of March 2012, district police chief Deputy  Superintendant Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu announced that police have detained a farmhand for allegedly using a fungicide, Thiodan to fish in Sg Terla. Only trace levels of Thiodan had been found The water had been tested and found safe for consumption.

For many local residents and for REACH, contamination of Sg Terla water treatment plant will continue to be a problem and probably escalate in severity so long as the root cause has not been removed .ie presence of farms and settlements in the water catchment areas. Back in 2005 when farms began to appear in the water catchment areas, REACH and the local people brought this to the attention of the authorities. Studies were done which confirmed that there were faecal and chemical contamination of the waters at the intake point. This was also highlighted in the local media on numerous occasions.

In October 2008 in a study  titled “Sanitary Survey of Cameron Highlands Water Supply” by Professor Maketab Mohamed from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia it was concluded that raw water of Ulu Sg.Terla has been compromised due to the presence of farms upstream of the Sg. Terla Water Treatment Plant. In line with the general practice of watershed management for the purpose of drinking water supply, there should not be any forms of human habitation within the Sg. Terla watershed.The study ( under section ‘Reports-water resource and water quality’ on our webpage) further recommended that farms and human settlements should be closed immediately for the good of the people and tourists visiting Cameron Highlands.

Also in 2008 the local state assemblyan YB Ho Yip Kap brought this up at the State Assembly Meeting in Pahang.( In Malaysia the management of water catchment areas is under the State authorities). But to no avail. At the ground level ,from 6 farms in 2005  there are now more than 60 farms ( mostly illegal) in the watershed and at the time of writing this article land clearing is still going on. Why are the authorities not enforcing the law? Why aren’t the farms and illegal settlements closed? Is it fair to compromise the health of 32,000 residents of Cameron Highlands and thousands of tourists for a group of 60 or more farmers who should not have been allowed into the watershed in the first place? In ten year’s time will the cancer rate of the residents, the liver and kidney failure rate increase? When fish starts to die will humans be next?