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Title:	Ecological integrity of wildlife protected areas in the state of Selangor, peninsular Malaysia
Authors:	Mohammad Imam Hasan Reza (P43576)
Supervisor:	Saiful Arif Abdullah,Professor Dr.
Keywords:	Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia-Dissertations Dissertations Academic-Malaysia Ecological integrity-Malaysia-Selangor Ecology-Malaysia-Selangor Wildlife research-Malaysia-Selangor
Issue Date:	11-May-2012
Description:	Ecological systems around the world have been degraded and diminished at an appalling rate due to anthropogenic activities. Protected areas are the only hope to conserve the remnants from further degradation. Nevertheless, there rises a question of how ecological integrity of protected areas can be evaluated for biodiversity conservation at the regional scale. A composite index of ecological integrity is believed as a useful tool to evaluate and measure ecological condition at the large scale. Thus, the main objective of this study is to examine the ecological integrity of wildlife protected areas by quantifying the compositional, structural and functional components of ecological system of the state of Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. In this study, Landsat TM satellite images of the year 1988, 1996 and 2005 of Selangor were used and, GIS and remote sensing technologies were applied in various analyses. A Regional Index of Ecological Integrity (RIEI) is proposed to evaluate the ecological condition of this region. Four major components of ecological aspects, i.e. representativeness of protected area system, forest fragmentation, habitat sensitivity of wildlife, and landscape connectivity were considered in the index. Ecosystem maps of 1988, 1996 and 2005 of the State of Selangor were developed for systematic analysis of ecosystem representativeness. Natural ecosystems are very poorly represented in the protected areas (4.1%). Only four of the 19 identified natural ecosystems are well-represented in the protected areas but their proportions are fairly low. Many vital ecosystems were found very poorly represented in the protected areas. The natural ecosystems including inside the protected areas have a high degree of fragmentation. Results of sensitivity analysis revealed that valuable species of wildlife have become sensitive due to the changes of spatial pattern. Analyses also indicate a clear influence of anthropogenic activities on the connectivity of remnant habitat patches. Forested zones at the high elevation showed higher landscape connectivity but it is significantly low at the low elevation zone. Finally, RIEI was examined in the entire extent of the study area as well as in nine wildlife protected areas studied. Ecological integrity in the entire extent of Selangor was found poor. Fraser s Hill and Sungai Dusun were found maintaining excellent ecological integrity while Bukit Kutu has been maintaining a good ecological integrity. Templer Park and Klang Gate wildlife protected areas showed a fair ecological integrity, whereas the rests have a poor level of ecological integrity. While policy trends for better management of maintaining ecological integrity of protected areas, these findings could help land managers and policy makers to evaluate the ecological conditions inside the protected areas as well as the whole extent of the region. Moreover, this approach can be examined and tested in many part of the world for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources,Certification of Master's/Doctoral Thesis" is not available
Pages:	249
Call Number:	QH541.15.E245R449
Publisher:	UKM, Bangi
Appears in Collections:	Institute for Environment and Development / Institut Alam Sekitar dan Pembangunan (LESTARI)

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