Trail Routes of PNP

There are many trekking trails; some are very remote found along the ridges. They are not well used and they were previously marked by the former Forestry Department. New markings have been put up by the present authority, namely the Wildlife Department. Since the transfer of authority to the Wildlife Department, many new changes were being developed. Below were the trails used during the expedition in 2000. Trail 1 runs along the coast from Teluk Bahang until Teluk Duyung passing through Pasir Pandak, Sungai Tukun, Tanjung Pandang, Teluk Aling, Tanjung Duyong, Teluk Duyong and ending at Muka Head. It was subdivided into 5 sectors, namely Trails 1A till 1E Trail 2 is the trail starting from Teluk Duyong cutting across the valley to Teluk Ketapang. Trail 3 is the ridge trail and the longest trail in the park that transverses from the north to the south ending at Kampung Pantai Acheh. It was subdivided into Trails 3A till 3I. Trail 4 is the trail that branch out from between 3A and 3B. It passes to the highest peak in the north at Bukit Telaga Batu and slope down to the coast in the west. Trail 5 is a short trail branching from trails 1B and 1C to join trail 6A. Trail 6 leads from Teluk Bahang to Pantai Kerachut cutting Trail 3B and 3C at the highest point of the route. Trail 7 starts from the back of the flats at Teluk Bahang to join the ridge trail at 3C and 3D. Trail 8 centres around Tanjung Kerachut. It joins trail 6 at Pantai Kerachut and trail 9 that joins to trail 10 and ending at the ridge trail. Trail 9 starts from trail 6D and 6E at Pantai Kerachut and going south ward on another ridge that late curves south west to Tanjung Kalok between Teluk Kampi and Pantai Mas. Trail 10 is the shortest trail in the park that join the two ridge trails of 9 and 3. Trail 11 is from the United Hokkein Cemetery going uphill and cutting trail 3 and descend to Pantai Mas. Trail 12 branches off from trail 3G and 3I and runs north east to United Hokkien Cemetery. Trail 13 branches off between trail 3F and 3G and runs down to Pantai Mas and Tanjung Gemeroh. Trail 14 branches off between trail 3H and 3I and runs down to join trail 15B and 15A. Trail 15 is the coastal trail from Pantai Acheh to Pantai Mas.

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Answer to comment by Peter:

1. To enter PNP you need a permit. Pls ask the officer in charge of the permit.

2. The trail to Ketapang is overgrown and difficult to find. Unless you are adventurous enough, I would suggest you stay away from that route.

Trail Map of Penang National Park

This trail map was used during the Scientific Expedition in 2000.

Background Information

Geographically, Penang National Park is situated on the northwest corner of Penang Island. The park is considered to be the smallest national park in the world. It covers an area of 1462 ha of which 1181 ha on land and 1381 ha in the marine zone. It was the first national park to be gazetted under the National Parks Act of 1980. Part of the park had been logged between the late 1910s and the late 1930s. The area has seen been silviculturally treated (Ong and Dhanarajan, 1976). Despite being logged previously, however, there are currently about 72 ha of virgin jungle reserve left in the park and these areas are floristically rich (Leong, Undated).

Despite its small size, Penang National Park processes some unique characteristics. Among them, its diversity of ecological habitats, the rich fauna and the number of unique flora found. The Penang National Park is one of the few remaining areas on Penang Island which still comprises natural rainforest and small mammals. It offers a wide variety of ecosystem from mangrove to sandy beach, rocky coastal lowland and dipterocarp hill forest.

In 1959, the then Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve was first proposed to be gazetted as a national park or state park initiated by a group known as Committee for the Preservation of Areas of Natural Beauty, Pulau Pinang (Quek, 1998).

In an official memorandum in 1976, the MNS, Penang Branch requested the state government of Penang to elevate Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve to that of a national park.

Between October to November 1978, the MNS, Penang Branch with the collaboration with School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia(USM) conducted a natural resources survey on the park. In that brief survey; 25 species of mammals, 53 species of butterflies, 46 species of birds and considerable variety of marine life (such as sea anemones, corals, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms and sea turtles) were recorded. This list is, however, far from being comprehensive (Quek, 1998).

Again in November 1985, the – MNS, Penang Branch in a memorandum to the Structure Plan Unit advocated that Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve be designated as a national park in the Penang Island Structure Plan (Quek, 1998). Although the state government did nothing about the memorandum, it did recognize the importance of the conservation of PAFR by commissioning two comprehensive studies on “The Penang Environmental Conservation Strategy” and “The Balik Pulau Drainage Study”.

In 1999, the MNS Penang Branch’s executive committee in the monthly meeting proposed to follow up with the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve proposal of 1985. A fundraising campaign was organized. Programs were organized to collect fund. Finally, in 2000, a scientific expedition was organized at the park.

Photo showed the expedition team.

Abstract

Penang National Park was declared on 4th April, 2003 and gazetted under the National Parks Act on April 10, 2003. It is a timely step towards the protection of Penang’s conservation and natural resources. The increasing population density and the advancement in modern infrastructures will continue to contribute to the increase of stress to nature resources. The creations of National Parks are related to the philosophy of conservation and natural resources. It has been accepted that the original thought of National Parks was as recreational forests. Today, they are much more than that. They are concerned with the protection of our natural resources including water catchments areas, forestry, natural heritage, and management of wildlife, educational and scientific research interest and tourism. They are essential for a quality life of Malaysians. In Malaysia, the National Parks Act 1980, National Parks (Amendment) Act 1983 (NPA) developed to protect and assure the natural heritages are well defined for the well being of Malaysia. As human population and food resources become increasingly sacred and more critical, the future of our national parks to protect the natural habitat of the flora and fauna are being challenged. Although it is unrealistic to assume that these places will provide sufficient refuge, it warrants the intervention of proper management system on policing and enforcement of the National Parks’ acts.

Satellite Photo of Penang National Park

Satellite Photo of Penang National Park. It is the smallest National Park in the World. Note the perimeter of 1.5 km of sea incorporated into the National Park.