Latest news with #FRIM
Tatler Asia
3 days ago
- Tatler Asia
8 Asian destinations added to the Unesco World Heritage List
Once degraded by tin mining, Forest Research Institute Park (FRIM) near Kuala Lumpur now hosts rehabilitated rainforest, scientific labs and public trails. It stands as Unesco‑recognised evidence of ecological restoration as heritage. 3. Mount Kumgang, Diamond Mountain from the Sea, North Korea A mixed cultural‑natural entry, Mount Kumgang combines soaring granite peaks with historic Buddhist hermitages and living traditions dating to the fifth century. Its designation emphasises intangible spiritual value within a dramatic landscape. 4. Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream, South Korea Rock engravings from circa 5,000 BCE to the 9th century CE by Ulsan's prehistoric communities were inscribed under the Unesco criteria for pre‑history. The pictorial whales, human shapes and abstract symbols reveal a multi‑millennial visual tradition. 5. Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal, Tajikistan The Ancient Khuttal sites span 11 locations across Tajikistan's Khatlon region. These include the palace of Qalai Hulbuk, the Buddhist site of Ajina‑Teppa with its reclining Buddha, caravanserais, mausolea and fortified towns like Kafyr‑Kala. Once a key hub on the Silk Road from the 7th to 16th century, Khuttal reflects centuries of cultural exchange through its architecture, planning and religious diversity. 6. Xixia Imperial Tombs, China Above China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially added to the Unesco World Heritage List on July 11 during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. (Photo: Yuan Hongyan / VCG / Getty Images) Nestled in the Helan Mountain foothills in Ningxia, an autonomous region in northwestern China, these necropolises were built by the Tangut rulers of the Xixia Dynasty (1038—1227 CE). The site includes nine imperial mausolea, 271 attendant tombs and flood‑control works, illustrating buried dynastic ritual and Silk Road cultural fusion. 7. Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex, Vietnam Encompassing 20 sites across forests and rivers, this complex is the birthplace of Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhism, rooted in 13th‑century Tran Dynasty devotion. Temples, shrines and hilltop pagodas remain active pilgrimage destinations, merging spiritual and historical significance recognised by Unesco. 8. Maratha Military Landscapes, India Twelve forts across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, including Raigad, Vijayadurg and Gingee, have been inscribed as Unesco cultural heritage. Dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, they reflect Maratha military planning and architectural innovation, now India's 44th Unesco listing. Each addition reflects Unesco's evolving definition of heritage. The Cambodian memorials confront recent atrocities head-on within Unesco's frameworks, usually reserved for ancient sites. The Indian forts reframe military infrastructure as cultural storytelling. Meanwhile, Korea's petroglyphs, China's mausolea and Vietnam's Zen landscape underscore intangible cultural continuity tied to place. Unesco appears intent on expanding its remit beyond classical beauty into lived history and landscapes shaped by belief or resistance.
The Star
3 days ago
- General
- The Star
Johor next in reforestation effort
THE Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme has begun its next chapter in reforestation with a new initiative in Segamat, Johor. The initiative, announced by Aeon during a ceremony at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), will see 30,000 trees planted across 36ha over three years from 2025 to 2027. This announcement also marked the completion of the programme's first phase in Bidor, Perak, where 30,000 rainforest trees were planted between 2014 and 2023 on a 22.75ha former tin mining site. A symbolic tree planting session with species including meranti temak nipis, meranti tembaga and sesenduk at Padang 44 in FRIM Kepong marked the start of the Segamat phase. At the ceremony, Aeon managing director Naoya Okada and FRIM director-general Datuk Ismail Parlan exchanged a letter of intent (LOI) to formalise the collaboration. Okada (right) and Ismail (second right) planting a tree at the ceremony. The exchange was witnessed by FRIM deputy director-general (Research) Norwati Muhammad, and Aeon deputy managing director Tsugutoshi Seko. 'The Bidor project is a testament to what can be achieved when corporate responsibility combined with scientific expertise,' said Okada. 'We are proud to carry this legacy forward in Segamat.' He added that since 1991, Aeon had planted over 557,000 trees nationwide as part of its environmental initiatives. The initiative in Bidor also contributed to the 100 million tree planting campaign by Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry. Ismail said the Bidor site would be maintained as a research and seed production plot, adding that the reforestation efforts have successfully attracted various species of fauna, including migratory birds. 'FRIM welcomes the collaboration with Aeon in conserving and protecting the environment. 'We are also open and ready to explore other areas of collaboration in the future,' said Ismail.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Science
- New Straits Times
FRIM —a testament to Malaysia's innovative green approach
DEEP in the verdant heart of Malaysia lies an environmental miracle most of the world has never heard of — the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). This 544-hectare research forest stands as living proof that humanity can repair what it has destroyed. While world leaders debate abstract carbon targets, FRIM demonstrates what actually works on the ground. Its success stems from rejecting quick fixes in favour of meticulous, science-driven restoration that understands forests as complex living systems rather than simple collections of trees. The implications for global climate policy are profound. As nations from Brazil to Indonesia struggle with deforestation, FRIM's model proves degraded lands aren't lost causes — they're opportunities waiting for the right intervention. Unlike failed tree-planting campaigns that prioritise quantity over quality, FRIM's approach emphasises native species selection, long-term monitoring, and understanding how to recreate the intricate relationships between plants, animals and soil that make a forest truly functional. What makes FRIM particularly relevant today is its demonstration of human-led restoration as the missing middle path between simply protecting old-growth forests and planting new trees. With over two billion hectares of degraded land worldwide, an area larger than South America, the potential impact of applying FRIM's methods globally could be transformative. FRIM charts a third way: intentional, science-based restoration that accelerates nature's healing while avoiding the pitfalls of monoculture plantations. Following decades of ecological restoration, FRIM achieved a historic milestone in July 2025 — its official inscription as the world's first man-made tropical forest Unesco World Heritage Site. The very notion that a human-created forest could merit such recognition speaks volumes about how far this experiment has come — from barren mining land to a biodiversity hotspot that now informs Malaysia's national climate policies and serves as a living classroom for sustainable forestry practices. The afternoon sun filters through FRIM's canopy as researchers document growth rates and carbon sequestration data that could shape reforestation projects worldwide. As the world scrambles for climate solutions, FRIM stands as a testament to what's possible when we combine human ingenuity with ecological wisdom. As Malaysia marks this milestone, FRIM is no longer just a national achievement but a diplomatic gesture carved into the landscape. Its inscription as a World Heritage Site signals a shift toward environmental sovereignty, where scientific stewardship becomes the backbone of global credibility. FRIM stands as a living treaty: a quiet assertion that ecological dignity can be cultivated, not imposed. This is green diplomacy in action. While climate summits echo with abstract targets, Malaysia has rooted its commitment in regenerative soil. FRIM doesn't just sequester carbon — it sequesters epistemic possibility, proving that the Global South can lead with models grounded in cultural wisdom, ecological integrity, and scientific precision. It serves as a pivot from technical success to symbolic and diplomatic significance. As climate debates too often sideline the Global South, Malaysia offers a living countertext — one inscribed in bark, soil, and science. The principles behind FRIM's success echo Madani values of sustainability, compassion, and intellectual sovereignty, charting a path where policy is not merely performative but regenerative. Through FRIM, Malaysia stakes its place not as a passive recipient of climate solutions, but as a moral architect of restoration narratives — reframing forestry from resource extraction to epistemic enrichment. Its legacy is not only environmental but symbolic: a national testament that development can be ecological, equitable, and deeply Malaysian. In an age of geopolitical dissonance, Malaysia's green diplomacy doesn't clamour — it cultivates. One tree, one species, one ecosystem at a time.
The Star
12-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Global recognition of a green lung
Past and present: The hills of Kepong were terraced for vegetable farming at the turn of the 20th century (photo courtesy of FRIM), before they were transformed and became an ecosystem closely resembling a natural tropical rainforest where FRIM's Selangor Forest Park is located. FRIM's Selangor Forest Park now a Unesco World Heritage Site PUTRAJAYA: The Forest Research Institute Malaysia's (FRIM) Selangor Forest Park has been officially listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan said the recognition affirms FRIM's pioneering and crucial role in forest research, rehabilitation and sustainable management. Although FRIM was only officially set up and named in 1985, the herculean restoration of the site stretches way back more than a hundred years ago to the 1910s. 'It feels like a gift, as we are celebrating FRIM's 40th anniversary this year. We are very pleased that our collective hard work has paid off,' he said when contacted yesterday. Ismail said this marks a significant achievement not only for FRIM but Malaysia as a whole. 'It is a reflection of Malaysia's leadership in tropical forest conservation, and showcases our commitment to conserve, restore and protect degraded forest ecosystems through science and innovation. 'It strengthens our motivation to work harder to protect and ensure the sustainability of our country's forests and biodiversity resources for generations to come,' he said. He said FRIM's forest stands as a living testament to hope, resilience and transformation from a barren, degraded land to a lush green landscape now recognised on the global stage. Ismail expressed hope that the recognition would set a new benchmark, further strengthening FRIM's credibility and reputation as a leading institution in tropical forestry research. nowInterview officers from Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) for the recently tree inccident cases in town. — SIA HONG KIAU/The Star 'This can broaden our impact, serve the nation more effectively and inspire the replication of our success stories well beyond Selangor Forest Park,' he said. The announcement was made on July 11 during the 47th session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee, held from July 6 to 16 at the Paris headquarters of Unesco, said the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry. 'FRIM Selangor Forest Park is a unique site and represents one of the earliest large-scale tropical forest ecosystem restoration efforts through the replanting of trees in a former tin mining area,' the ministry said in a statement. 'This initiative has set an international benchmark by successfully creating an ecosystem that closely resembles a natural tropical rainforest, rich in tree species diversity and overall biodiversity.' It also said the listing was decided by the 21-member states of the World Heritage Committee, following a nomination process that began in 2013. The inscription of the forest park affirms Malaysia's ongoing commitment to protecting and conserving natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value while enhancing the country's visibility on the global stage, the ministry added. 'The ministry is confident that this recognition will add significant value to FRIM Selangor Forest Park as a key tourism product in Selangor. 'In line with Visit Malaysia 2026 and Visit Selangor Year 2025, this achievement is expected to boost international tourist arrivals and contribute to Malaysia's economy, particularly benefiting local communities,' the statement added. With this latest listing, Malaysia now has six Unesco World Heritage Sites. The other sites are Kinabalu Park (2000), Gunung Mulu National Park (2000), the Historic Cities of the Strait of Malacca – Melaka and George Town (2008), the Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (2012), and the Archaeological Heritage of the Niah National Park Caves Complex (2024). To date, a total of 1,223 sites worldwide have been inscribed under the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage.
BusinessToday
12-07-2025
- BusinessToday
FRIM Selangor Forest Park Named Malaysia's Sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Forest Research Institute Malaysia's (FRIM) Selangor Forest Park has been officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it the sixth site in Malaysia to receive the prestigious designation. The announcement was made during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, currently taking place from July 6 to 16 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The listing follows a nomination process that began in 2013 and was unanimously endorsed by the committee's 21 member states. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the inscription recognises FRIM Selangor Forest Park's unique status as one of the world's earliest large-scale tropical forest ecosystem restoration projects, successfully converting a former tin mining site into a thriving and biodiverse rainforest. 'FRIM Selangor Forest Park is a unique site that exemplifies how degraded land can be restored into a rich, functioning ecosystem. This recognition sets an international benchmark for ecological restoration and underscores Malaysia's long-standing commitment to environmental conservation,' MOTAC said in a statement. The restored forest, located just north of Kuala Lumpur, features high tree species diversity and a carefully managed ecosystem that closely mirrors a natural tropical rainforest. It is also a centre for research, education and eco-tourism, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience a reconstructed rainforest environment. MOTAC noted that the World Heritage listing is expected to significantly boost the park's appeal as a tourism destination, particularly in the lead-up to Visit Selangor Year 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026. The ministry expressed confidence that the designation will attract more international visitors while providing sustainable economic benefits to local communities. With this recognition, FRIM Selangor Forest Park joins five other Malaysian sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list including Kinabalu Park (2000), Gunung Mulu National Park (2000), Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca – Melaka and George Town (2008), Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (2012) and Niah National Park Caves Complex (2024). The park is now among 1,223 sites worldwide protected under the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Related
