This sight is located in Perak, Malaysia. Your base to visit it is Ipoh, the capital of Perak. Read the Ipoh for useful information about Ipoh. For more background about Perak, read Perak. To prepare for a trip to Malaysia, read also Malaysia. Looking for accommodation? Find good, clean rooms at Budget Accommodation Guide
The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve is the largest mangrove forest reserve in Malaysia. I explored it with some members of AsiaExplorers when we also visited Maxwell Hill. Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve forms a crescent strip along the northern coast of Perak state, stretching 51.5km from Kuala Gula to the north to Bagan Panchor to the south, with a maximum width of 13km. Covering an area of more than 40,000 hectares, the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve is one of the best managed tract of mangrove forest in the world.
View of the 300m stretch of walkway at the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve.
The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve is the oldest in the country. Matang was gazetted a permanent forest reserve way back in 1906. 80% of the forest is still used for the production of mangrove woods including Bakau minyak and Bakau kurap, on a sustainable yield basis. The Matang forest is watered through the daily flooding brought in by the tide. Major rivers that flow through the Matang forest include Sungai Gula, Sungai Kelumpang, Sungai Selinsing, Sungai Sangga Besar, Sungai Sepetang, Sungai Jaha, Sungai Terung and Sungai Jarum Mas. The estuaries within the Matang forest range in width from 2 to 4 km. They include Kuala Gula-Kuala Kelumpang, Kuala Selinsing-Kuala Sangga Besar, Kuala Larut-Kuala Jaha, Kuala Trong and Kuala Jarum Mas.
The Matang Mangrove Forest is an important site for coastal migratory waterbirds as well as a portion of migrant forest birds. According to the Malaysian Nature Society, as many as 43,000 to 85,000 birds may be using the forest during migration. According to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in 1995, species of birds in the Matang mangrove forest number 75. The 255 hectare Pulau Kelumpang and 129.4 hectare Pulau Terong support a viable breeding population of the Milky Stork, which is endangered, and approximately 50% of the Lesser Adjutant in Malaysia.
How to go to the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve
The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve is located in the Larut Matang District, in Perak, Malaysia. To get there, exit the North-South Expressway at Exit 146 Changkat Jering for members coming from Kuala Lumpur, and Exit 148 Kamunting/Taiping for members coming from Penang. Take the road towards Kuala Sepetang (Port Weld). Ask for directions if necessary. The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve is about 2 km from the pekan of Kuala Sepetang.
(top) Acrostichum aureum, also known as Pakis Bakau Gergasi, can grow to 3-4 metres in height. (left) New shoots ensures sustainable harvest of the mangrove in the Matang Mangrove Forest. (below) Mangrove shrub looking like Christmas holly.
(above and right) The mangrove trees support a variety of fungal growth. (below) Fungus growing on the fallen trunk.
(above) Thorns on a forest trunk. (below) Sunlight illuminating the undergrowth.
(above) Members of AsiaExplorers visiting the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve.
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