Royal Belum State Park as a world heritage site

IPOH: The Perak state government is working with the National Heritage Department towards getting the recognition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) of Royal Belum State Park as a world heritage site.
Encompassing 117,500 hectares, Royal Belum which was gazetted on May 3, 2007 is believed to be in existence for more than one hundred and thirty million years, older than the Amazon rainforest in South America and Congo rainforest in Central Africa.
It is the habitat of 14 endangered wildlife species including the Malayan tiger, Sun bear, Sumatran rhinoceros, elephants and the herbivorous 'tapir'.
State Tourism, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi said if the endeavour materialised, Perak would have two world heritage sites.
"There will not only be two world heritage sites in one state but two within the Lenggong/Gerik district tourism cluster," he told Bernama here.
He said the department would officially submit an application to Unesco at the end of the year or early next year, for Royal Belum to be included in the tentative list.
"A thorough study is required, which will take time before the site can gain Unesco's endorsement. In this regard, I urge those involved to work and assist the department," he said.
Last May 9, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, while launching the second phase of Rainforest Resort in Gerik, proposed that relevant parties and agencies study the world heritage potential of the Belum-Temenggor forest complex, within which Royal Belum is located. – Bernama