i. Training on community forest patrolling and eco tourist guide

The half day training was conducted on 13th October 2019 with aim to introduce and empower the Orang Asli community on the concept of Eco-tourism as part of alternative livelihood as well as forest monitoring initiatives. The training was organized in partnership with Perak State Forestry Department.

ii. Small scale skill training for selected communities

Two small scale trainings were conducted to empower the Orang Asli community. The first training was on 27th January 2019 focusing on setting up nursery and tree planting mechanism. While, the second training was on 10th November 2019 aims to empower the skill and knowledge of the Orang Asli community on the bamboo nursery establishment and management.

iii. Support community based initiatives

2 main community-based initiatives were completed under this project, establishment of the community nursery at Kampung Makmur and river monitoring activities. Community nursery established in Kg Makmur through this project now upgraded and supporting forest saplings for tree planting project under Yayasan Petronas (until 2023).

This is good example on additional and sustainable livelihood option for Orang Asli community. On the other hand, community also carried out their regular river monitoring. Eco-tourism initiatives also promoted but follow up activities which are Kampung Tonggang Mountain Bike Eco Trail and eco trail to Mount Korbu involving Kampung Makmur supported through Hasanah Special Grant (HSG2020) under the PRIHATIN package provided by Ministry of Finance (MoF). Although these initiatives is yet to be open for public due to Movement Control Order (MCO), they will be a platform to ensure sustainable livelihood for the Orang Asli communities.

iv. Community based participation plan

The community based participation plan or better known as CBP is another initiative under this project. CBP is a customized engagement plan for Orang Asli’s forest and river protection mechanism in UKB with alternative livelihood such as eco-tourism, community based forest rehabilitation, and forest-based products are some of the aspects highlighted. This CBP is also as part of UKBMaS. The CBP also has been uploaded in the RIVER Ranger website. Currently, some of these proposed action plans are already being carried out.

i. RIVER Ranger training

The training was conducted on 28th July 2019 aims to empower the community on river monitoring through water quality testing and pollution reporting.

iii. Community Monitoring and Initiatives (Mitigation Measures)

5 communities actively implementing the initiatives especially on river rehabilitation, clean-up programme, pollution management, community garden as well as tree planting activities. As part of appreciation of their initiatives, hard work, effort and cooperation, Ipoh City Council has presented Certificates of Appreciation to these communities during the launching of KRT Klebang Selatan Tapioca Chips Processing and Selling Centre on 10th April 2021. The certificates were given by Mayor of Ipoh, YBhg. Dato’ Haji Rumaizi bin Baharin @ Md Daud. Furthermore, as an acknowledgement and support to the communities, all the attended project key stakeholder’s VIP; Mrs. Zuraina binti Kamarul Ariff (City Secretary of Ipoh), Mrs. Anita Ahmad (Yayasan Hasanah), Mr. Faizal Parish (GEC) and Mr. Sharifudin bin Jamil (DID Kinta), visited the stretch of Sg Klebang, adopted by KRT Klebang Selatan. During the visit, community demonstrated river monitoring in front of the VIPs and later on allowed them to update the river monitoring signboard with latest data.

a. KRT Taman Tasek Jaya: Mini Eco-Park and Recycling Corner

KRT Taman Tasek Jaya has established a recycling corner and mini eco-park in January 2020. This is to encourage residents at Taman Tasek Jaya to start segregate their solid waste especially recyclable materials. Other than that, it is to improve waste management in their neighbourhood through upcycling activities too and eventually reduce waste that will end up into the Kinta River. The collected recyclable such as bottles, plastics and tin will be sold to an authorized vendor on monthly basis and the revenue will be used for the maintenance of the mini eco-park. Furthermore, the community has also started a small-scale community garden in the mini eco-park compound. There are a few types of vegetables that have been planted such as eggplant trees, chilies, okra tree and others.

KRT Klebang Selatan community garden has been established since March 2020. There are two community garden sites been established by the community, first site (Site 1) is besides the Bilik Gerakan KRT and another site (Site 2) located near the river. There are many types of vegetables and plants that been planted by the communities at Site 1. Among them are: sugarcane, bean tree, God’s crown (buah mahkota dewa), groundnut and many more.

The community garden located near the river is initiated as part of their river adoption and monitoring programs.

This benefitted the communities directly as they able to grow their own food. So far, harvest from the community garden which are mainly sugarcane juice and tapioca chips sold outside for markets. The business model, especially on production as well as marketing of food products (tapioca chips), was supported by a Hasanah Special Grant (HSG2020) under the PRIHATIN package which started in June 2020.

Several initiatives under this project carried out in KRT Kampung Pengkalan Gate focuses on regular river monitoring, river rehabilitation and clean-up program as well as tree planting activities. The first programs was carried out by KRT Pengkalan Gate community is My Drain Day and Community River Monitoring Programme which was in conjunction with World Clean-up Day and World River Day 2019. The event was held on 21st September 2019 aimed to empower and increase the awareness among the local communities on environment sustainable management and pollution reduction initiative especially through best management of their drainage system. It’s also part of the community initiative to adopt the nearby river stretch.

SSecond program was River Clean Up and Tree Planting Programme in Conjunction with World Habitat Day 2019. The programme was conducted as part of QIU Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project to plant 1 million trees around riverbank and forest in Perak through collaboration with the Forestry Department of Perak. The programme was organized by Quest International University (QIU) Perak and Global Environment Centre (GEC) on 6th October 2019 (Sunday) at Kinta River side. The project also aimed to raise environment awareness among their students by having them directly participate in tree planting and clean-up activities. These are some of the good example of clean-up programme by communities.