A GIS approach in evaluation of metropolitan green area : a case of Sungai Pulai Wetland

Abstract

Wetlands are among the most important ecosystems on Earth as it improve water quality, control floods, regulate global carbon levels, have significant cultural and recreational values, and also provide habitat for plants and animals uniquely adapted to living in the wet conditions. However, through progressive management, wetlands have been modified from their natural state by the influence of man. Chapter 22 in the 9th Malaysian Plan cater for environmental resource protection which shows the government’s concern on environmental aspect in the future development. Therefore, any type of development planning in wetland areas should present serious consideration on planning guidelines as well as elements that may possibly threaten the natural condition in order to conserve the environmental and ecological attributes of the wetlands for the benefit of future. One of the basic problems in planning for the management of mangrove and other natural resources is to correctly evaluate the environmental, economic, legal and social issues existing on the resource. As integrating all these datasets required for wetland and mangrove management is usually difficult, there is a need for an approach to speedily identify the types of suitable development. A study on Ramsar area involving Sungai Pulai in the state of Johor was done using the GIS application, with emphasis on sustainable wetland issues. This paper will discuss the appropriate wetland management guidelines and suitable tourism activities for these areas as identified in the study based on the use of the multi criteria analysis approach.