Developing sustainable management model for Tanjung Piai, Johor national park Rramsar site)

Abstract

Wetlands are among the most important ecosystems on earth. Mangrove wetlands play a vital role in the ecological balance of the world. The mangrove ecosystem is particularly vulnerable to human activity and to environmental change because its development only occurs under very specific conditions. The mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia will always continue to decline or threatened to extinction by human activities if necessary measures to protect them are not implemented. Water pollution, aquaculture development, boating/shipping, siltation and other coastal development are examined as threats to the mangrove wetlands area. To ensure effective management of the mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia, an integrated management plan for wetland area should be prepared. Malaysia had joined Ramsar Convention and declared 6 areas as Ramsar sites (2008). This study intended to develop sustainable management model for one of the Ramsar site in Malaysia; Tg. Piai, Johor National Park. The management plans were developed to maintain the biological diversity and productivity of the wetlands and to allow wise use of their resources by human beings. The structure of the plans was developed according to the acts, policies and guidelines related to mangroves development and RAMSAR Convention and will be used as indicators to determine management zones of the site. This will ensure that conservation measures and sustainable development can be implemented. In this study, a Geographical Information System (GIS)-based tool will be applied by using Multi Criteria Analysis in ArcGIS application. The GIS database had been constructed to develop model for sustainable management plan. The weighted overlay analysis will be implemented to calculate the weightage of the criterias related to the management plan development. The weightage (score) will be calculated using Analythical Hierarchy Process referred to the importance of the criteria. The result of this study is the sustainable management plan for Tg. Piai which consist of three zones; park services zone, natural environmental zone and special conservation zone. The outcome of this study will help the Johor National Park organization in managing the sustainability of Tg. Piai Ramsar site.