Ulu Muda Forum 1 - Role of Ulu Muda Forests in Climate Change Control and Provision of Ecosystem Services

The Greater Ulu Muda Forest, comprising 160,000 hectares in Kedah State, is a carbon sink that traps a huge amount of carbon. Trees and other plants in the forest absorb carbon dioxide, reducing atmospheric concentrations of the gases driving anthropogenic climate change. The Greater Ulu Muda Forest also forms the main water catchment forest for the supply of drinking water to more than 4 million people in Kedah, Perlis and Penang. The Greater Ulu Muda Forest supports the vital industries of Kedah and Penang as well as the MUDA Irrigation Scheme, which enhances Malaysia’s food security. It supplies many ecosystem services, such as providing oxygen, medicines, pollination of crops, clean air, control of extreme weather, flood control, and biodiversity conservation. 

Speakers:

• Prof Dr Chan Ngai Weng, Water Watch Penang, “Role of Ulu Muda Forests in Climate Change Control and Provision of Sustainable Water Resources”
• Norizan binti Mohd Mazlan, WWF–Malaysia, “Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts in Kedah”
• Surin Suksuwan, Member, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, “Payment for Ecosystem Services”
• Meenakshi Raman, President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), “Financing Mechanisms”