Page 38 - WIS

A pre-requisite to the Wildlife Impact
support the identification made from the
obtaining all information relating to the
secondary sources.
habitats and wildlife in the construction area
Quantitative plant assessments and

and its surroundings. The floral and faunal
composition in the area must be recognised
habitat profiling are needed for impact
for impact assessment.
prediction, including the identification of
plant
and
their
species,
distribution
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
surveys
20 m) or quarter representative methods are
undisturbed
within
biodiversity
commonly used in floral assessment.
forests and those areas that have been logged
previously. The presence of endemic, unique,
altitudinal
The
range,
vegetation
rare, and endangered flora, fauna, and
growth and relative abundance of non-woody
medicinal plants within the construction and
plants such as herbaceous flora, climbers,
surrounding areas should be highlighted.
palms, bamboos and ferns, and litter layers
shall be considered.

Further consideration in habitat and
and
management plan and understanding the
flora
sampling
Identification
to
the
techniques
refer
relevant
can
specific requirements for an area should be
publications. Several institutions such as
carefully planned to develop methodologies
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
Habitat survey and profiling would

the plant species that are expected to occur. A
give an idea of the possible range of fauna
useful technique in measuring possible
presence in the proposed area and its
adverse impacts of logging areas is surveying
surroundings. Faunal assessment includes
adjacent areas that have been logged
identifying
species,
common
rare,
the
previously.
conservational
endangered,
endemic,
the
significance, migratory, and sensitive species.
Forestry
from
Information
Department would provide additional data on
the composition of the tree species.

Wildlife is more practical to act as
indicators that reflect the land use and
Furthermore, examination of forest types,
topographic maps, aerial photographs (e.g.,
development change. A detailed wildlife
population study and assisting wildlife
unmanned aerial vehicles) and possibly
remote sensing images may provide an
authorities in relocating certain wildlife
Reference to the conservation status (e.g., totally protected or protected) and economic
Study for land conversion for development is overview of the area. A rapid survey would
use of Malaysian plants can be obtained from the Forestry Department (Peninsular Malaysia,
Sabah and Sarawak) and the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM). Removing certain tree
species could disrupt the food supply or nesting grounds of many wildlife species (e.g., hornbills
and eagles).
6.3.2 Evaluation of the Wildlife
Detailed fauna assessment allows potential impacts to be predicted and tell us how
damage arises from habitat loss and alteration. All wildlife affected by the ongoing development
within areas should be aware. One can get additional information and advised from the
PERHILITAN. A mechanism by which these impacts on wildlife can be quantified and formulated
at the project level and the species range.
When predicting the impacts, it is important to recognise the conservation status of all
vertebrate species present in the area. In general, there are three categories of conservation status:
Endangered or threatened
01 species.
Species protected by national
legislation (e.g., Wildlife
Conservation Act, 2010) or 02
international agreements (e.g.,
TRAFFIC).
03 Endemic species.
These significant species presence in the area should be highlighted and evaluated in more
detail. For example, if certain species require special habitats for survival, the wildlife management
and rescue plan should be modified or redesigned to meet those requirements.
34 GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON WILDLIFE
IMPACT STUDY FOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)