CASE STUDY 11
Malaysian Case Study
The Malaysian case study focuses on forest restoration intervention. The Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia Terengganu has initiated a forest restoration programme by planting various types of Dipterocarp seedlings (mainly of Dipterocarpaceae family) to increase the biodiversity. However, we have limited knowledge on the impact of a forest restoration intervention in mitigating or increasing pathogen infection risk. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the impact of a forest restoration intervention on biodiversity and also vector- and rodent-borne diseases. In addition, we will study the role of small mammals, ticks and mosquitoes as reservoirs and vectors of zoonotic diseases. Our end result will hopefully prove that the intervention could mitigate these diseases, and continue to benefit our forest management and public health.
RESTORATION &
INTERVENTION MEASURES
Nature restoration
Reforestations
Rewilding
hawk
owl
Public health interventions
No
ENVIRONMENTAL
SAMPLES
Reservoirs
rat
Vectors
mosquito
tick
Environment
water
soil/sediment
Case Study Activities
The Malaysian case study focuses on the impacts of reforestation intervention on the biodiversity and pathogen infection risk of zoonotic diseases at Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve (GTFR) in Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia. GTFR is a mountainous protected forest located in the northeastern of Banjaran Timur with a peak elevation of 1039 m a.s.l. GTFR consists of permanent forest, logged areas that have been reforested, oil palm plantation and recreational forest at Lata Belatan Recreational Forest.
This study was conducted at three sampling sites: two reforested sites in compartments 24 and 25 (C24 and C25) and one control site in compartment 50 (C50) within the permanent forest reserve near Lata Belatan Recreational Forest. The reforested areas were logged in 2015 (C24) and 2018 (C25). After logging, the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia carried out a reforestation program in both areas by planting various Dipterocarp seedlings to enhance biodiversity. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impacts of reforestation on the biodiversity and pathogen prevalence in reservoir hosts (small mammals), vectors (mosquitoes and ticks) as well as in the environment (water and soil). Furthermore, we aim to examine the impacts of reforestation on the biodiversity of medium to big-sized mammal species in the study area using camera traps.
