Informative, interactive conservation trail at Bukit Larut's foothill for visitors

TAIPING - A conservation trail at Maxwell Base Camp located at the foothill of Bukit Larut is being built to give visitors an informative and interactive tour of the location.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar said the first section of the trail over 220 metres was built last August after receiving approval from the Perak government and was opened on June 17 and the trail will be extended in stages.

He said the conservation trail was developed on the initiative of Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival (MMTF), a sports event management company, and it is a sustainable project which prioritises biodiversity, natural environment preservation, carbon reduction, and a sustainable environment.

"Visitors going through the conservation trail could obtain information on the diverse species of flora and fauna found here by just scanning the QR code displayed on the signboard along the path.

"I understand 5,300 trees were planted at Maxwell Base Camp over a 1.6-hectare site since November last year,” he told a media conference after launching the conservation trail here today.

Also present was Tourism Perak chief executive officer, Nurmalis Musa.

Meanwhile, Ammar said among the species of flora found in the conservation trail are sentul, pulai and leban trees and bamboo while fauna species are banded broadbill, magpies, deer, leaf monkeys and areca squirrels.

Elaborating further, he said there are two campsites apart from four trails used for training, running, climbing and leisure activities.

He said the area around Bukit Larut is also one of the focal locations for bird-watching enthusiasts.

"One of the trails will be used as a route for the 'vertical kilometre' running challenge in the organisation of The North Face Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival (MMTF) involving 2,500 participants from home and abroad which will take place from November 2 to 5.

"Tourism Malaysia fully supports the conservation project at Maxwell Base Camp which is seen to be able to give new life in addition to harnessing the presence of visitors to Taiping, especially Bukit Larut," he said.

He said the move was not only in line with the direction of the industry towards sustainable tourism, but the current trend showed the tendency of tourists to explore recreational tourism activities including climbing. - Bernama