FINAL VERSION FOR APPROVAL - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan
Duplicates of animal specimens could be deposited at the Institute of Biological Conservation
at Bukit Rengit, Krau, or other relevant local academic institutions.
Promotion of GSSP to Scientists
GSSP should be aggressively promoted as a destination for research among local and
international researchers. GSSP must link with certain local universities especially those
conducting research and development related to horticulture and plant propagation, crop
improvement and pharmaceuticals, in order to obtain the greatest returns on investments in
conservation.
Tourism Promotion and Marketing
One or more icons should be selected to represent GSSP, and used for product branding.
These icons could be incorporated into an official logo for the park and subsequently used on
letterheads, park signage and publications. It is suggested that the endemic fanpalm Licuala
stongensis be used as an icon that represents GSSP. Promotional efforts should be targeted at
ecotourists, and partnerships should be formed with the relevant media that support this target
market.
Management and Maintenance of the Stong Resort
If the Stong Resort is not under the management of the Kelantan State Forestry Department,
arrangements must be made with the resort operator to accommodate space for the park’s
field office. Capital funding is required for repairing the existing infrastructure at the Stong
Resort, upgrading of campsites and the huts at Baha Camp, and the placement of different
kinds of signposts at appropriate locations.
Signposting
Signposting serves a number of purposes – as a navigational tool, as a method for informing
visitors of pertinent information concerning the park (including codes of conduct), as well as
to educate visitors (e.g. through the use of interpretive signage). To reduce confusion,
warning notices, navigational signs and interpretive signs, should be separately color-coded.
Co-option of BAT Guides
The BAT Guides are synonymous with GSSP, being responsible for promoting eco-tourism in
the area, with little institutional support. BAT guides also carry out trail maintenance, rubbish
clearance, and emergency rescue. Their strong network of local and international visitors
could be capitalised for promotion purposes. Strategic partnerships could be formed between
the park management and the BAT Guides. This could be through privatising the operations
of Baha Camp (which could be upgraded using development allocations), and the guiding
services, to them. This would allow GSSP staff to focus on enforcement and issuing of
permits. There have been incidences where unguided groups enter GSSP, and unsupervised,
they are the biggest culprits in the indiscriminate dumping of garbage. BAT Guides could be
trained to advise offenders and apprehend them if necessary while waiting for law
enforcement officers to arrive.
Formation of School Nature Clubs
The love for conservation must be inculcated with the young, as conservation is a life-long
passion, and the surrounding schools must be the primary target in the nature education
courses, which will be expanded to other areas upon success with the initial areas.
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