Community
participation in the conservation of tropical fruit trees is one approach taken
by the Tropical Fruit Trees Project funded by
UNEP/GEF carried out at six sites in Malaysia. Three conservation approaches were implemented at
the sites that are diversity block, heritage block and common block. A total of 1550 fruit trees mainly from the genera Mangifera, Garcinia and Nephelium were planted. At Kampung Kakeng, Serian, Sarawak a 5 ha diversity block was
established. 110 fruit trees comprising species from the genera Mangifera, Nephelium, Garcinia, Durio, Artocarpus, Anonna, and Musa were planted in the diveristy block. An orchard consisting of
many species of old fruit trees at Sibuti was identified as a Heritage Block
for conservation and education purposes. A Mangifera pentandra tree aged more than 100 years from the Heritage
Block was used as a source of seeds for new plantings. While in Kota Belud, a
few binjai (Mangifera caesia) trees
50 - 100 years old were labelled as heritage fruit trees for public awareness
as well as for conservation in the Heritage block. At other sites Yan, Papar
and Bukit Gantang, fruit trees within the genus Mangifera, Garcinia and Nephelium were planted in the
homegardens, orchards and public places such as playground compounds or near
riversides.
Cite this paper
Salma, I. , Shariah, U. , Pearlycia, B. , Wong, W. W. , Shukor, A. , Norhayati, H. and Camellia, N. A. N. (2015). Community Contribution towards Conservation of Tropical Fruit Trees in Malaysia. Open Access Library Journal, 2, e1146. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1101146.
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