The Global Environment Centre (GEC) established the Community Sustainable Peatland Centre (GEC-CoSPeC) in 2018 under the Forest & Coastal Programme with support from the HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd.
Strategically located 15 km from Kuala Selangor and Bestari Jaya towns, GEC-CoSPeC serves as an integrated learning and innovation hub focused on sustainable management of forests and wetlands ecosystems with special emphasis on their crucial role in carbon sequestration and storage.
The centre empowers the public with essential knowledge about the complex carbon dynamics of forests and wetlands ecosystems, highlighting how these natural carbon sinks play a pivotal role in climate change mitigation.
GEC-CoSPeC champions evidence-based policies and on-the-ground practices for enhancing carbon stocks in forests and wetlands through collaborative conservation and restoration. Embodying the principle of “think global, act local,” this strategically positioned village-based centre demonstrates practical approaches to protecting carbon-rich ecosystems like the adjacent North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF).
OBJECTIVES
- To increase awareness, knowledge, and understanding of forests and wetlands ecosystems as natural carbon sinks that provide multiple environmental and socioeconomic benefits.
- To promote sustainable ecotourism and enhance local livelihood options while supporting carbon-smart management practices and wise use of forests and wetlands resources.
- To create a platform for local community groups to actively participate in carbon monitoring, forest protection, and wetlands rehabilitation activities
- To build capacity among individuals, communities, and organizations in carbon-positive forest and wetland management techniques.
- To strengthen collaborative efforts among government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities to combat forest degradation and enhance natural carbon sequestration mechanisms.
CORE VALUES (3C's FRAMEWORK)
Connection
Connecting people, places, culture, and environment of the area
Conservation
Creating long-term sustainability of forests and wetlands ecosystems management at the local level with global impact
Community
Creating a cohesive relationship between protected forests and wetlands ecosystems and local communities through active involvement
FOUR MINI CENTRES
Centre for Education
- Provides resource units, discovery units, multi-galleries and CEPA (Communication, Education, Public Awareness) programmes.
- Offers environmental education programmes for schools, communities and the general public.
- Features exhibit on peatland biodiversity, importance, global distribution and restoration methods.
Centre for Experiential Learning
- Offers nature trails, boarding activities and indigenous activities.
- Provides field visits to rehabilitation sites and tree planting activities.
- Organises community programmes including visits to agricultural sites and peat swamp forest trail trekking.
Centre for Training
- Serves as a training hub for the public, local communities, and technical personnel.
- Focuses on preservation, conservation and restoration of forests and wetlands.
- Provides livelihood options training and internships for universities.
Centre for Research
Facilitates studies on forests and wetlands ecosystems as well as restoration techniques.
Supports research on utilising peat soil for agriculture or agroforestry.
Serves as a field base for scientific investigations.