**4. Research methods**

A qualitative design was employed. Ref. [10] describe qualitative research as involving "… an interpretive naturalistic approach to the world". The researcher chose this design as it enables one to get quality look at a phenomenon.

Ice Ages when most of the Earth was covered with immense glaciers. For many of the planet's tropical rainforests, their evolution only begun at the point when the glaciers receded. Due to this, the Taman Negara is said to be far older than the Amazon or the Congo equatorial forests. Its uniqueness lies on the fact that Taman Negara has been the home of nomadic forest people, and treasured ancient civilisations that have been flourished as well as disappeared in its wilderness. Along with its mystiques, stories and legends, already archaeologists have just developed their interests here. Simultaneously, genetic biologists who study the wealth of life that Malaysia's forest can offer also have made exciting discoveries about new medicinal plants with potential cure for AIDS, cancer, and related illnesses. Standing tall with Gunung Tahan – the country's highest mountain in Peninsular which resides in Taman Negara, this is a homegrown to more than 10,000 species of plants, 300 species of mammals such as the Sumatran Rhinoceros, the Asian Elephant,

Policy and Related Issues Pertaining Community Participation in the Management of Protected…

tigers, sun bear and tapirs; 300 species of fish and over 380 species of birds [2, 11, 12].

, followed by Taman Negara Kelantan at 1043 km2

**5.1. Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)**

at 2477 km2

at 853 km2

In terms of legislation, due to its geographical location sharing by the three states in Peninsular – Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, the Taman Negara is governed by those three state's legislation. The Taman Negara Enactment (Pahang) No. 2 of 1939 is enforced in the state of Pahang, the Taman Negara Enactment (Kelantan) No. 14 of 1938 in the state of Kelantan and the Taman Negara Enactment (Terengganu) No. 6 of 1939 in the state of Terengganu. However, the contents of the legislations are rather generic. In terms of size, Taman Negara Pahang is the largest

Negara requires all visitors to obtain permits to enter the area. Beside Gunung Tahan, which is accessible through Kuala Tahan or Merapoh as the entry point [13], visitors can enjoy several other geological and biological spots available in the park. Canopy walkway was erected as one of the iconic symbol of the park - that fast becoming a must visit ecotourism destination in Taman Negara. With regard to richness of flora and fauna, National Park is home ground to some rare mammals, such as the Malayan tiger [13], crab-eating macaque, Malayan gaur (seladang) and Indian elephant. Bird species such as the great argus, red junglefowl, and the rare Malayan peacock-pheasant are still found here in some numbers. Tahan River has been

preserved to protect the Malaysian mahseer (ikan kelah in Malay), a type of game fish.

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) or PERHILITAN is an agency tasked with the management of national parks and wildlife reserves in Peninsular Malaysia. The management of these areas is aimed to the long-term conservation of PA while mitigating or reducing conflicts between human and the environment orientated around the planning and implementation of various activities. To ensure optimum benefit to human and prosperity to the environment for the present and future generation, the development of PA was done sustainably [7]. The swiftness of the response to the concern over the loss of biodiversity, in providing for the conversation agenda has been overwhelming. What is now important is how the rebuilding efforts are sustained. PERHILITAN has played a central role in the empowering communities to those living in the vicinity of Taman Negara through the provision of aid for immediate basic needs and also through the actions of many small community based NGOs. Along with other agencies such as Department of Orang Asli Development Malaysia (JAKOA),

. PERHILITAN as the body entrusted with the responsibility to manage the Taman

and Taman Negara Terengganu

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Data was generated through unstructured interviews, covert observation and analysing documentations on Malaysia's National Park. An unstructured interview is an interview without any set format but in which the interviewer may have some key questions formulated in advance. In this research, local villagers as well as indigenous communities from Taman Negara Pahang were interviewed to establish circumstances that led them to feel engaged in the development of PA. In this study, the researcher assumed a quasi-covert observation as he mingles in the villages among the communities without status revelation. Seven respondents among local communities and researchers from the area near Taman Negara were purposively sampled for this research as they were the ones residing close to the vicinity.

## **5. Case study: Taman Negara Pahang**

Taman Negara was established in 1938/1939 covering the area of Titiwangsa Mountains, Malaysia, as the King George V National Park. After independence, it was renamed to Taman Negara which means 'national park' in Malay. With standing reputation as one of the world's oldest deciduous rainforest, Taman Negara is estimated to be more than 130 million years old covering a total area of 4343 km2 [1, 2].

Deforestation not only affect seriously people's health but bring tumultuous impact to environmental ecosystem, contributes to global soil erosion, climate change, drought and flooding [1]. More than half of plants species are found in the rainforest even though it only comprises less than 10% from total forest in the world, As a matter of fact, the native plants and animal species in the world's tropical rainforests are becoming extinct due to deforestation and agricultural expansion. Taman Negara is heralded as the most extensive protected area of pristine, lowland, evergreen rainforest in Malaysia. Thus, Taman Negara foresees the aim 'to utilize the land within the park in perpetuity, for the propagation, protection and preservation of indigenous flora and fauna'. Regarding the legislation of the Taman Negara, in retrospective, during the 1970s the importance of environmental legislation became more recognised at the federal level. The Protection of Wildlife Act, for example, was passed in 1972. Currently most environment-related legislation is sectoral based, meaning that conservation and protection responsibilities cross cut several departments. For example, the National Forestry Act (1984) is concerned with forestry conservation only. Concomitantly, wildlife and national parks management is the responsibility of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Under the Federal Constitution, land, water and forests fall under the jurisdiction of each state. Biodiversity conservation requires forests and land to be protected [8].

The history of Taman Negara can be traced back from as far as 130 million years ago, far earlier than of Africa and Latin America. Its location was far enough away from the ice during the ancient Ice Ages when most of the Earth was covered with immense glaciers. For many of the planet's tropical rainforests, their evolution only begun at the point when the glaciers receded. Due to this, the Taman Negara is said to be far older than the Amazon or the Congo equatorial forests. Its uniqueness lies on the fact that Taman Negara has been the home of nomadic forest people, and treasured ancient civilisations that have been flourished as well as disappeared in its wilderness. Along with its mystiques, stories and legends, already archaeologists have just developed their interests here. Simultaneously, genetic biologists who study the wealth of life that Malaysia's forest can offer also have made exciting discoveries about new medicinal plants with potential cure for AIDS, cancer, and related illnesses. Standing tall with Gunung Tahan – the country's highest mountain in Peninsular which resides in Taman Negara, this is a homegrown to more than 10,000 species of plants, 300 species of mammals such as the Sumatran Rhinoceros, the Asian Elephant, tigers, sun bear and tapirs; 300 species of fish and over 380 species of birds [2, 11, 12].

**4. Research methods**

180 National Parks - Management and Conservation

one to get quality look at a phenomenon.

**5. Case study: Taman Negara Pahang**

covering a total area of 4343 km2

A qualitative design was employed. Ref. [10] describe qualitative research as involving "… an interpretive naturalistic approach to the world". The researcher chose this design as it enables

Data was generated through unstructured interviews, covert observation and analysing documentations on Malaysia's National Park. An unstructured interview is an interview without any set format but in which the interviewer may have some key questions formulated in advance. In this research, local villagers as well as indigenous communities from Taman Negara Pahang were interviewed to establish circumstances that led them to feel engaged in the development of PA. In this study, the researcher assumed a quasi-covert observation as he mingles in the villages among the communities without status revelation. Seven respondents among local communities and researchers from the area near Taman Negara were purpo-

sively sampled for this research as they were the ones residing close to the vicinity.

[1, 2].

Taman Negara was established in 1938/1939 covering the area of Titiwangsa Mountains, Malaysia, as the King George V National Park. After independence, it was renamed to Taman Negara which means 'national park' in Malay. With standing reputation as one of the world's oldest deciduous rainforest, Taman Negara is estimated to be more than 130 million years old

Deforestation not only affect seriously people's health but bring tumultuous impact to environmental ecosystem, contributes to global soil erosion, climate change, drought and flooding [1]. More than half of plants species are found in the rainforest even though it only comprises less than 10% from total forest in the world, As a matter of fact, the native plants and animal species in the world's tropical rainforests are becoming extinct due to deforestation and agricultural expansion. Taman Negara is heralded as the most extensive protected area of pristine, lowland, evergreen rainforest in Malaysia. Thus, Taman Negara foresees the aim 'to utilize the land within the park in perpetuity, for the propagation, protection and preservation of indigenous flora and fauna'. Regarding the legislation of the Taman Negara, in retrospective, during the 1970s the importance of environmental legislation became more recognised at the federal level. The Protection of Wildlife Act, for example, was passed in 1972. Currently most environment-related legislation is sectoral based, meaning that conservation and protection responsibilities cross cut several departments. For example, the National Forestry Act (1984) is concerned with forestry conservation only. Concomitantly, wildlife and national parks management is the responsibility of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Under the Federal Constitution, land, water and forests fall under the jurisdiction of

each state. Biodiversity conservation requires forests and land to be protected [8].

The history of Taman Negara can be traced back from as far as 130 million years ago, far earlier than of Africa and Latin America. Its location was far enough away from the ice during the ancient In terms of legislation, due to its geographical location sharing by the three states in Peninsular – Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, the Taman Negara is governed by those three state's legislation. The Taman Negara Enactment (Pahang) No. 2 of 1939 is enforced in the state of Pahang, the Taman Negara Enactment (Kelantan) No. 14 of 1938 in the state of Kelantan and the Taman Negara Enactment (Terengganu) No. 6 of 1939 in the state of Terengganu. However, the contents of the legislations are rather generic. In terms of size, Taman Negara Pahang is the largest at 2477 km2 , followed by Taman Negara Kelantan at 1043 km2 and Taman Negara Terengganu at 853 km2 . PERHILITAN as the body entrusted with the responsibility to manage the Taman Negara requires all visitors to obtain permits to enter the area. Beside Gunung Tahan, which is accessible through Kuala Tahan or Merapoh as the entry point [13], visitors can enjoy several other geological and biological spots available in the park. Canopy walkway was erected as one of the iconic symbol of the park - that fast becoming a must visit ecotourism destination in Taman Negara. With regard to richness of flora and fauna, National Park is home ground to some rare mammals, such as the Malayan tiger [13], crab-eating macaque, Malayan gaur (seladang) and Indian elephant. Bird species such as the great argus, red junglefowl, and the rare Malayan peacock-pheasant are still found here in some numbers. Tahan River has been preserved to protect the Malaysian mahseer (ikan kelah in Malay), a type of game fish.

#### **5.1. Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)**

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) or PERHILITAN is an agency tasked with the management of national parks and wildlife reserves in Peninsular Malaysia. The management of these areas is aimed to the long-term conservation of PA while mitigating or reducing conflicts between human and the environment orientated around the planning and implementation of various activities. To ensure optimum benefit to human and prosperity to the environment for the present and future generation, the development of PA was done sustainably [7]. The swiftness of the response to the concern over the loss of biodiversity, in providing for the conversation agenda has been overwhelming. What is now important is how the rebuilding efforts are sustained. PERHILITAN has played a central role in the empowering communities to those living in the vicinity of Taman Negara through the provision of aid for immediate basic needs and also through the actions of many small community based NGOs. Along with other agencies such as Department of Orang Asli Development Malaysia (JAKOA), this are orientated towards longer-term objectives in providing both a voice as well as practical assistance to specific segments of the population affected by the development. Through a cooperative approach, university researchers can also work along with communities more efficiently than in the past. In the case of nearby villages, the highly satisfactory results are in information for planning, improved local community consultation, improved enforcement and improved stakeholder engagement through the operationalising of formal governance mechanisms. Consequently, these are the strengths of the Taman Negara Pahang.

IK is tacit knowledge traditionally held by communities rather than individuals and is commonly embedded in community practices, institutions, relationships and rituals and therefore, difficult to codify' [15]. Generally, (1) the indigenous system is not well connected among various sectors of the economy including universities, private enterprises, government agencies and grassroots innovators. Owing to the inadequacy of scientific and technological research, low investment expenditures and poorly trained labour, the linkage of the traditional knowledge system with the modern knowledge system is inadequate to generate high backward and forward linkages. (2) Because of duality of the economic structure, indigenous peoples have remained isolated from modern sectors of the economy in which most modern technologies are employed. Under such circumstances, building technological capacity to foster growth is limited by lack of skilled labour capable of using, and access to training in, modern technology. (3) The modern knowledge system practised in developing countries is not well integrated into the global knowledge system. In these countries, inadequacy of international standards does not permit rapid improvement in the quality of technology and, therefore, engenders poor quality in products outputted in these countries. (4) The traditional knowledge system is disconnected from the educational and learning systems in developing countries. Accordingly, traditional knowledge systems to continue relying on traditional ideas and primitive practices with little input from modern knowledge. In isolation, the traditional knowledge system cannot promote global competitiveness. Only modern knowledge facilitates productivity through more efficient utilisation of IK. (5) It is not easy to codify and record IK and, therefore, sharing this kind of knowledge among communities and cultures becomes difficult [16, 17]. Most of these ideas are in the form of tacit knowledge stored in the mind of people who live in a given environment influenced by unique features related to their worldview. Some of these ideas have been in existence for thousands of years, which could

Policy and Related Issues Pertaining Community Participation in the Management of Protected…

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further be developed in the light of the new knowledge and technologies [18].

Orang Asli in Taman Negara engage in predominately around the tourism industry and other activities that are inter-connected with this important industry such as fresh water fisheries. In developing countries, typical traditional rural communities benefits from a large number of species for medicinal purposes. This localised knowledge has been used by pharmaceutical companies in their search of new drugs, with high biodiversity and long tradition of the use of plants for medicinal purposes [2]. Biodiversity forms an essential part of the cultural life of Malaysia's indigenous people, including food and medicine from plant and animal species. For instance, both the availability of trees, rattans and aquatic plants as well as other natural offer motifs for carving and traditional weaving. The Dayak and Orang Asli, for example, incorporate designs of leaves, seed pods, tendrils, buds and flowers in their traditional carvings of houses. In echoing the cultural consciousness of the value of biodiversity to local community, towns and villages are named after important and useful plants, animals and characteristics found in nature, such that modern-day built-up environments persist [2]. A review conducted into management of PA in Taman Negara Pahang found that communities would show greater commitment to the Park's objectives if they were involved in the management process. The review recommended that all stakeholders should be engaged regularly to discuss decisions that will affect them. Further, PERHILITAN officer should continuously build relationships with all stakeholders, to establish a platform for dialogue, cooperation, and information sharing. Other studies have shown that a strong conservation ethic will arise from the community's

The networking of community and stakeholder engagement initiatives addressing multiple need of stakeholders including a diversity of communities - are significant achievements. The inclusion of various stakeholders is prerequisite for the project's success, improved technical and logistical capabilities coupled with more effective coordination on the ground have contributed to improvements in the overall park management [8].
