Using circuit theory, connectivity analysis and least-cost path to model the potential ecological corridors of Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) at Chini-Bera Forest Complex in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia

In Peninsular Malaysia, the Master Plan of Ecological Linkages has proposed ecological corridors at Chini-Bera forests complex to connect the forest patches. However, the proposed corridors have been determined arbitrarily without evaluating the reliability of the landscape structure which may cause liability in conservation effort. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the potential ecological corridors by considering the reliability of landscape structure in Chini-Bera forests complex using Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) as a focal species. The tapir was chosen because it is one of the target large mammals in the master plan. In this study, three landscape structures, i.e., patch size, patch distance and landscape resistance were used as parameters in modelling the potential ecological corridors for tapirs. In the modelling, circuit theory, connectivity analysis and least-cost path were integrated using the geographic information systems and remote sensing platforms. The model has identified a total of 35 potential ecological corridors for tapir of which over 50% connect the large core areas while the other 25% connect the small core areas. Meanwhile, four corridors can be considered as priority corridor as their effective resistance below 1000 which indicate easy movement and high connectivity. The findings showed the importance to consider the reliability of the patch size, patch distance dan landscape resistance in determining the potential ecological corridors of wildlife to avoid liability in conservation effort. In addition, the integrated modelling approach contributes to a more concrete assessment of ecological corridors for effective wildlife conservation planning

A pilot study for sustainable ecotourism at Gunong Stong State Park, Kelantan using Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) management framework

Ecotourism plays a vital role in tourism industries and has become one of the effective practices towards conservation effort in the natural environment activity. Thus, it is important to know the concept of carrying capacity issues applied to the area pertaining to the visitors’ experiences, to ensure the benefits it brings to the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability of the area. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship of visitors’ experience and the protection of the natural resources at Gunung Stong State Park (GSSP) using the management framework of Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP). This approach provided a set of management framework in order to manage the sustainable ecotourism in GSSP without abandoning the good manner of visitor experiences. A total of 35 respondents have participated in this pilot study and our result showed that the tourists’ satisfaction towards the GSSP was at moderate level. Therefore, the GSSP was suitable for nature tourism attraction. However, a proper management of the park is required whilst the biodiversity there is still intact. The management of GSSP can be further improved by instilling awareness among visitors in order to sustain the ecotourism activity, and attract more tourists besides improving their experience throughout their visit

Greening Spirulina Value Chain Towards Environmental Sustainability in Malaysia

Greener methods should be implemented to encourage a transition towards more sustainable food production. The emphasis was on increasing the production of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis). This study aims to outline a holistic approach for thoroughly analysing the Spirulina production chain to create a customised development plan for sustainability. A total of eighteen respondents from six sectors (Spirulina Producers, Research and Development Institutions, Suppliers of Inputs, Processing and Packaging Companies, Distributors and wholesalers, and Retailers) that are involve with the Spirulina chain have participated in this study. The SWOT analysis was used to determine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats related to the production chain of Spirulina intended for human consumption to conduct a structured strategic planning targeting process optimisation and environmental sustainability. The findings show greening the Spirulina value chain requires commitment and collaboration among related stakeholders. The weakness of standardised production practices, limited research and development, inadequate infrastructure and technology, and limited market access and distribution channels must be addressed through stakeholder collaborative efforts. Taking advantage of the opportunities of greening the Spirulina value chain will be an excellent place to start for the business to develop sustainably and increase its competitiveness. Greening Spirulina value chains offer significant potential for environmental sustainability in Malaysia

A multistep approach to improving connectivity and co-use of spatial ecological networks in cities

Context Ecological networks are systems of interconnected components that support biodiversity, ecological processes and ecosystem services. Such structures play a crucial role for nature conservation and people well-being in anthropogenic landscapes. Assessing connectivity by using efficient models and metrics is a sine qua non condition to preserve and improve appropriately these ecological networks. Objectives This study aims to present a novel methodological approach to assess and model connectivity for species conservation (Bufo calamita; the natterjack toad) and human recreation in the city. Methods The study used a combination least cost and circuit models to identify priority corridors in the City of Liège, Belgium. Green areas, habitats and relevant movement parameters were derived based on existing studies around (i) the occurrence, ecology and biology of the natterjack toad and (ii) human behavioural studies on urban pedestrians. Combining the two models allowed the assessment of connectivity for both species via two different metrics visualised using priority corridors on maps. Results The connectivity assessments identified lack of connectivity as the potential route to extinction of natterjack toads at one of the source sites. Conclusions This study provides examples of how combining least cost and circuit models can contribute to the improvement of urban ecological networks and demonstrates the usefulness of such models for nature conservation and urban plannin

Assessment of Copper and Zinc Concentrations in Anadara granosa

Due to economic growth and increased human activities, large amounts of metal pollutants have been discharged into the aquatic environment. Anadara granosa, which is a filter feeder cockle species, can act as an indicator to evaluate the presence of metal elements. It is a prominent cockle species and an important protein source in Southeast Asia. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the distributions of metal elements in commercialised Anadara granosa sampled from Jeli wet market, and to assess the safety of consumption using Target Hazard Quotients (THQ). The concentrations of Cu, and Zn in those samples were determined using the acid digestion method, which has been verified with standard reference material. Based on the findings, metal concentrations in Anadara granosa followed the order of; Zn > Cu. The differences in metal accumulation observed in Anadara granosa were probably due to the differences in their environmental conditions. Results from preliminary risk assessments suggest that the risks posed by metals via consumption of Anadara granosa for Cu and Zn were within the tolerable region. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) of, Cu and Zn was < 1, indicating no potential human health risk. However, it is advisable to limit the intake of Anadara granosa to reduce the risk of potential health effects

Unveiling the Impact of Physical Geography on Poverty: A Comprehensive Analysis for Sustainable Development

This study examines the effects of physical geography, demographic characteristics of household heads, and poverty, with a specific focus on the number of poor household heads within districts of Terengganu. Through the utilization of a Poisson log-linear modeling approach, the research investigates the effects of physical geography and demographic factors, on the number of poor household heads for each of the sub-districts. The central concern of this research revolves around the need to comprehend the underlying reasons for differing poverty rates among sub-districts in Terengganu. To carry out the analysis, a Poisson log-linear modeling is employed for the data, leveraging SPSS and Rstudio for statistical analysis. This method enabled us to thoroughly assess how physical geography factors (including terrain and accessibility) and demographic characteristics of household heads (including age, education level, and employment status) influence poverty rates. To determine the distribution of spatial poverty, ArcMap is used to visualize the Standardised Poverty Ratio. The results of the study show that 31 sub-districts were identified as not being at risk of poverty and another 31 were labeled as having a high poverty rate. Furthermore, the Poisson regression analysis yielded several important insights into the factors influencing poverty rates. Specifically, it is found that a higher average age is associated with a decrease in poverty. Conversely, an increase in non-formal education levels, lower elevations, steeper slopes, and higher river density are linked to an increase in poverty. These findings have significant implications for policy formulation and targeted interventions in Terengganu, providing valuable guidance for addressing poverty-related challenges. The mapping of high-risk poverty areas offers crucial information for spatially targeted interventions, facilitating the implementation of more efficient poverty reduction measures. Furthermore, research findings enhance the understanding of the intricate dynamics between physical geography, demographic characteristics, and household poverty. By identifying the significant factors impacting poverty, this study provides valuable insights for developing targeted poverty alleviation strategies and formulating evidence-based policies. In conclusion, this study serves to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners about the multifaceted relationships between physical geography, demographic characteristics, and household poverty. By recognizing the critical role played by these factors, stakeholders can devise comprehensive approaches tailored to specific contexts, effectively addressing poverty, promoting inclusive growth, and improving the well-being of vulnerable populations

Visitor Willingness to Pay using Travel Cost Method at Taman Negeri Gunung Stong, Kuala Krai, Kelantan

Forest Park Recreation is a place that offers a vast experience and scenic views to visitors. However, there isn't a proper market transaction for ecosystem services, so it might not be reflected in market transactions. Therefore, it's critical to consider travel and time expenses when determining what individuals value in the absence of a market price. This study aims to estimate the visitor's willingness to pay for forest park recreation using the Travel Cost Method (TCM) at Taman Negeri Gunung Stong, Kuala Krai, Kelantan. A convenience sampling technique is employed in this study. The data was collected from 379 respondents using face-to-face interviews with the visitors who entered the park. The TCM result revealed that the recreational value at TNGS is RM 1,286,531.80 per year, with a mean of the willingness to pay value is RM4.34 per visitor. The regression analysis results indicated that gender, age, income, total travel cost and time access to the site are the variable effects on the willingness to pay and visit people to the forest park. The findings of this study could be an effective instrument for raising the standard of environmental services and enhancing the infrastructure and services in the studied area

Habitat quality assessment in the Royal Belum rainforest, Malaysia using spatial analysis

Royal Belum rainforest contains various flora and fauna species, however, the assessment of habitat quality is still lacking. This study aims to develop the habitat quality zone in the Royal Belum rainforest. The downloaded Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS CI satellite images in the year 2020 from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) were processed using supervised classification and exported into vector data in ArcGis 10.8. Land use, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), buffer, and land structure were then analyzed. The result shows that the highest percentage and density of the land use of the Royal Belum rainforest is vegetation. Buffer zone analysis identifies the risky area for habitat in the range of 1km and 5km from the built-up area. The area within the buffer ring should be protected from building and construction to ensure habitat quality in that area can be maintained. This study will give a better understanding of land use and vegetation index assessment for future planning in the Royal Belum rainforest. Therefore, habitat quality assessment is an important tool that can help to identify areas of high-quality habitat that are crucial for the survival and reproduction of target species and to prioritize these areas for conservation and management

Evolution of green space under rapid urban expansion in Southeast Asian cities

Globally, rapid urban expansion has caused green spaces in urban areas to decline considerably. In this study, the rapid expansion of three Southeast Asia cities were considered, namely, Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Metro Manila, Philippines. This study evaluates the changes in spatial and temporal patterns of urban areas and green space structure in the three cities over the last two decades. Land use land cover (LULC) maps of the cities (1988/1989, 1999 and 2014) were developed based on 30-m resolution satellite images. The changes in the landscape and spatial structure were analysed using change detection, landscape metrics and statistical analysis. The percentage of green space in the three cities reduced in size from 45% to 20% with the rapid expansion of urban areas over the 25-year period. In Metro Manila and Jakarta, the proportion of green space converted to urban areas was higher in the initial 1989 to 1999 period than over the latter 1999 to 2014 period. Significant changes in green space structure were observed in Jakarta and Metro Manila. Green space gradually fragmented and became less connected and more unevenly distributed. These changes were not seen in Kuala Lumpur City. Overall, the impact of spatial structure of urban areas and population density on green space is higher in Jakarta and Metro Manila when this is compared to Kuala Lumpur. Thus, the results have the potential to clarify the relative contribution of green space structure especially for cities in Southeast Asia where only a few studies in urban areas have taken place

Developing Urban Green Space Classification System Using Multi-Criteria: The Case of Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia

In many countries urban green spaces are stated in a set of different administrative regulatory framework. However, their definition and characteristics are inconsistent and developing a systematic classification has been recognized to avoid the inconsistency. Several efforts have been made but the approach mainly based on a few criteria and classified manually according to the types that stated in the regulatory framework. Therefore, this study developed a classification system based on multi-criteria that represents the structure and function of urban green spaces using Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia as a model. The useful of the systematic classification for urban green spaces planning and management was interpreted through landscape pattern analysis. In this study, land use map of Kuala Lumpur City was used as a based. Through field observation, information from Kuala Lumpur City Hall and satellite image interpretation, seven criteria were identified to develop the classification system. Landscape pattern was based on landscape metrics analyzed using FRAGSTAT 3.3. The analysis defined five categories of urban green spaces: conservation green space, greenway, community green space, residential green space and amenity green space. Landscape pattern analysis has allowed to interpret what category needs attention to improve their quality and quantity as well as to protect them from any land use development. It can be assumed that the multi-criteria approach can be considered as a first step to introduce a more systematic way to categorize urban green spaces and addressing the inconsistency issue which is important for the city to develop sustainably