FRIM Selangor Forest Park Listed As UNESCO World Heritage Site

PUTRAJAYA, July 12 (Bernama) -- The Forest Research Institute Malaysia’s (FRIM) Selangor Forest Park has been officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In a statement today, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) said the announcement was made yesterday during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held from July 6 to 16 at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO. 

MOTAC said the listing was decided by the 21 member states of the World Heritage Committee, following a nomination process that began in 2013.

“FRIM Selangor Forest Park is a unique site and represents one of the earliest large-scale tropical forest ecosystem restoration efforts through the replanting of trees in a former tin mining area.

“This initiative has set an international benchmark by successfully creating an ecosystem that closely resembles a natural tropical rainforest, rich in tree species diversity and overall biodiversity,” the statement added.

According to MOTAC, the inscription of the forest park affirms Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to protecting and conserving natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value, while enhancing the country’s visibility on the global stage.

“The ministry is confident that this recognition will add significant value to FRIM Selangor Forest Park as a key tourism product in Selangor.

“In line with Visit Malaysia 2026 and Visit Selangor Year 2025, this achievement is expected to boost international tourist arrivals and contribute to Malaysia’s economy, particularly benefiting local communities,” the statement added.

With this latest listing, Malaysia now has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The previous sites are Kinabalu Park (2000), Gunung Mulu National Park (2000), the Historic Cities of the Strait of Malacca—Melaka and George Town (2008), the Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (2012) and the Archaeological Heritage of the Niah National Park Caves Complex (2024).

To date, a total of 1,223 sites worldwide have been inscribed under the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

-- BERNAMA