Sustainable Tourism - Irene Millar

IRENE MILLAR WENT TO THE TOP OF PENANG HILL TO DISCOVER THE HABITAT PENANG HILL IS TOP OF THE WORLD.

Perched at the top of Penang Hill (PH) with panoramic views of a 130 million years old virgin rainforest, Penang Island and beyond, The Habitat Penang Hill (THPH) is an absolute must visit. This is a hidden gem, a world-class ecotourism facility offering a convenient and comfortable way to experience the magnificence of a rainforest.

TIMELESS STILLNESS

Arriving at the top of PH you encounter a myriad of commercial activities, either walk or take a buggy to the entrance to THPH. You can sense the deepening of the forest surrounding you and as you enter the grounds you are wrapped in the tranquil and timeless stillness of the rainforest. The path leads you to the ticket office which houses the gift shop that sells educational and ethically produced merchandise and a café.

THPH is a research and discovery centre and was originally designed as a canopy walk to showcase Malaysian heritage. It has evolved into much more. Immersing yourself into the surroundings provides unrivalled opportunities to reconnect with nature and enhance your appreciation of the appreciation of the grandeur of a rainforest.

A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

It impressed me the ease with which people with low fitness levels or mobility issues can engage with this environment and experience the thrill of being cocooned within the serenity of the rainforest.

Encouraging all visitors, The Habitat Rainforest Explorer Programme utilises the rainforest as an outdoor classroom and provides a stimulating environmental programme that complements STEM for children between 4 to 17.

During your visit, slow down and take time to encounter unscripted nature. Explore the 1.6km nature trails, climb to the awe-inspiring tree top walk to enjoy the highest viewing point in Penang with 360º views. Savour the canopy as you walk across the world’s longest and highest altitude twospan stressed ribbon bridge. I hadn’t seen a ‘giant swing’ before this visit. Wow! Sit on this and soar through the air! Relish a unique guided experience of the canopy by gliding through the air like a flying lemur on the Flight of the Colugo. Naturalists are on hand to explain the flora, fauna and topography.

COMPLIMENTARY ORGANISATIONS

I met with Justine, GM of The Habitat Foundation (THF), the non-profit sister organisation of THPH. The organisations complement each other in their overall mission to connect people to this ancient rainforest, promote biodiversity conservation, and support meaningful solutions through education, research and sustainable initiatives.

During my meeting, I learned there are many layers to the rainforest, and it is much more than just a tourist experience. The vision is to establish a rainforest research centre on the hill which would provide a base for local and international researchers to study biodiversity, ecology, and climate change in conjunction with other programmes.

SUPPORT NOMINATION

The government of Penang is currently nominating the block of intact ecosystems in the island’s northwest, an area of 12,481 ha under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. This initiative, which is being funded by The Habitat Foundation, celebrates the distinctive natural and cultural heritage of this area and emphasises a future where conservation and human use are well-balanced.

Penang Island has a rich heritage of natural heritage exploration, with numerous rainforest species described from Penang Hill itself in the 1800s. If you want to gain access to beautiful areas while contributing indirectly to biodiversity conservation, then add THPH to your list of places to visit this year. Funds generated by The Habitat Penang Hill are channelled towards urgent efforts to conserve biodiversity and safeguard nature through The Habitat Foundation.