FRIM’s Selangor Forest Park named a Unesco World Heritage Site

 The 21 member states of the World Heritage Committee agree to the listing following a nomination process that began in 2013.

The tourism, arts and culture ministry said Selangor Forest Park is a unique site and represents one of the earliest large-scale tropical forest ecosystem restoration efforts through the replanting of trees in a former tin mining area. (FRIM Facebook pic)

PUTRAJAYA:

 The Forest Research Institute Malaysia’s (FRIM) Selangor Forest Park has been officially listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The tourism, arts and culture ministry said the announcement was made yesterday during the 47th session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee at the Paris headquarters of Unesco.

The ministry said the listing was decided by the 21 member states of the committee, following a nomination process that began in 2013.

“FRIM Selangor Forest Park is a unique site and represents one of the earliest large-scale tropical forest ecosystem restoration efforts through the replanting of trees in a former tin mining area.

“This initiative has set an international benchmark by successfully creating an ecosystem that closely resembles a natural tropical rainforest, rich in tree species diversity and overall biodiversity,” it said in a statement.

The ministry said the inscription of the forest park affirms Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to protecting and conserving natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value, while enhancing the country’s visibility on the global stage.

“The ministry is confident that this recognition will add significant value to FRIM Selangor Forest Park as a key tourism product in Selangor.

“In line with Visit Malaysia 2026 and Visit Selangor Year 2025, this achievement is expected to boost international tourist arrivals and contribute to Malaysia’s economy, particularly benefiting local communities,” it said.

With this latest listing, Malaysia now has six Unesco World Heritage Sites.

The other sites are Kinabalu Park in Sabah, listed in 2000; Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak (2000); Melaka and George Town (2008); the archaeological heritage of the Lenggong Valley in Perak (2012) and the archaeological heritage of the Niah National Park Caves Complex in Sarawak (2024).

To date, a total of 1,223 sites worldwide have been inscribed under the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. - FMT