Analyzing ecological roles and functions of Virgin Jungle Reserves (VJR) in biodiversity hotspot area

Abstract

The VJRs were established in 1950 mainly, to serve as permanent nature reserves and natural arboreta,control for disturbed and silviculturally treated forest as well as ecological and botanical studies of fundamentalimportance. The initial formation of VJRs had taken into consideration the diverse forest formations in the Peninsular of Malaysia and the threats that they would encounter. Accordingly, all types of forest formations had been represented in the VJR network all over the Peninsular of Malaysia. However, the roles and functions of VJRs in the modern days have gone through several successional evolutionary principles and with new discoveries in ecology and plant conservation, the original roles and function of these type of forest protection need to be reviewed. Among the ecological dimension that require special attention are species endemicity and rarity, biomass, soil characteristics and current conservation status. Moreover, the roles and functions of VJRs in areas of biodiversity hotspots such as the Perak Phytogeographical Province are even more important. The Perak Phytogeographical Province which has been recognized by many botanists as a major element of plant distribution and geography in the Peninsular of Malaysia. This area alone harbour many endemic species compared to any other areas in the Peninsular of Malaysia,thus, prompted many botanists to recognize this area of special interests. Interestingly, in plant distribution and geography, the different forest formation in Peninsular Malaysia also overlap at certain areas with the phytogeographically elements of other parts of Peninsular Malaysia. Therefore, this paper attempts to discuss the current ecological roles and functions of VJRs in the areas of biodiversity hotspot.