Page 36 - WIS
P. 36
A pre-requisite to the Wildlife Impact overview of the area. A rapid survey would
Study for land conversion for development is support the identification made from the
obtaining all information relating to the secondary sources.
habitats and wildlife in the construction area
and its surroundings. The floral and faunal Quantitative plant assessments and
composition in the area must be recognised habitat profiling are needed for impact
for impact assessment. prediction, including the identification of
plant species, their distribution and
The consultants must decide the level community, and their importance (e.g.,
of depth and time in undertaking the medicinal plants). Sample plots (e.g., 100 m x
biodiversity surveys within undisturbed 20 m) or quarter representative methods are
forests and those areas that have been logged commonly used in floral assessment.
previously. The presence of endemic, unique,
rare, and endangered flora, fauna, and The altitudinal range, vegetation
medicinal plants within the construction and growth and relative abundance of non-woody
surrounding areas should be highlighted. plants such as herbaceous flora, climbers,
palms, bamboos and ferns, and litter layers
shall be considered.
Further consideration in habitat and
management plan and understanding the Identification and flora sampling
specific requirements for an area should be techniques can refer to the relevant
carefully planned to develop methodologies publications. Several institutions such as
that are most suitable to assess the impacts. herbaria at Forest Research Institute of
Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong, Sarawak Forestry
6.2.1 Wildlife Habitat Assessment Department in Kuching, Forest Research
Centre in Sepilok, Sabah and universities
The type of habitat found in the would serve as useful reference centres for
project area must be recognised for further species confirmation.
floral assessment. The identification and
description of habitat types (e.g., hill or 6.2.2 Wildlife Assessment
lowland forest) offer a general indication of
the plant species that are expected to occur. A Habitat survey and profiling would
useful technique in measuring possible give an idea of the possible range of fauna
adverse impacts of logging areas is surveying presence in the proposed area and its
adjacent areas that have been logged surroundings. Faunal assessment includes
previously. identifying the common species, rare,
endangered, endemic, conservational
Information from the Forestry significance, migratory, and sensitive species.
Department would provide additional data on
the composition of the tree species. Wildlife is more practical to act as
Furthermore, examination of forest types, indicators that reflect the land use and
topographic maps, aerial photographs (e.g., development change. A detailed wildlife
unmanned aerial vehicles) and possibly population study and assisting wildlife
remote sensing images may provide an authorities in relocating certain wildlife
32 GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON WILDLIFE
IMPACT STUDY FOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
