Taman Negara, Pahang

Eventhough rainforest  only constitute  less than 10%  from total forest  in the world, more  than half

of plants species are found there. However, the native plants and animal species in the world's tropical

rainforests are  becoming  extinct due  to  deforestration  and  agricultural  expansion.  Deforestration 

increases the  level of  greenhouse gases, contributes to  global  climate change, soil erosion, drought

and flooding.

Taman  Negara  is  the  most  extensive  protected  area  of pristine, lowland, evergreen  rainforest  in

Malaysia. The stated purpose of Taman Negara is "to  utilise the land within the park in  perpetuity,  for

the propagation, protection and preservation of indigeneous flora and fauna".

Dating  back  over  130  million  years,  Taman  Negara  is  one  of  world’s  oldest  tropical  rainforest.  

During the Ice Ages, much of the Earth was  covered by immense glaciers that  kept the global climate

cool. Consequently, many  of  the planet's  tropical rainforests  had to wait  until  the glaciers  receded

before they could evolve. Taman Negara  rainforest, however, was blessed with a  location far enough

away  from the ice  that it developed  130 million years ago - far earlier than those of Africa  and Latin

America.  The  forest   itself is  one of  the most  ancient on  the planet,  far older  than the  equatorial

forests  of  the  Amazon  or  the  Congo.  It  has  for tens of  thousands of  years been  the home  of

nomadic forest people, and ancient civilizations have flourished as well as disappeared in its vastness.

Legends abound &  archaeologists have only just begun  their efforts here. Equally exciting discoveries

are now  being made by genetic biologists, who  have begun  searching the wealth of life in Malaysia's

forests for  new  medicines  with which  to  combat  AIDS, cancer,  and many  other illnesses.  Taman

Negara is also  a home to  Peninsular Malaysia's  highest peak ie. Gunung  Tahan as well as a home to

more than 10,000 species of plants, 300 species of mammals such as the Sumatran Rhinoceros,  the

the Asian Elephant, tigers, sun bear and tapirs; 300 species of fish and 250 species of birds.

With so much to see and to do, a trip to Taman Negara is a must on your itinerary.