Binsuluk Forest Reserve

Binsuluk Forest Reserve
Map showing the location of Binsuluk Forest Reserve
Map showing the location of Binsuluk Forest Reserve
Binsuluk Forest Reserve
Location in Borneo
LocationSabah, Malaysia
Nearest cityBeaufort, Beaufort District
Coordinates5°28′43″N 115°40′52″E / 5.4786°N 115.6811°E / 5.4786; 115.6811
Area121.06 km2 (46.74 sq mi)
Established1984
Governing bodySabah Forestry Department[1]

Binsuluk Forest Reserve is a protected forest reserve on the Klias Peninsula, in Beaufort District of Interior Division, Sabah, Malaysia.[2] It was designated as a Class 1 Protection Forest by the Sabah Forestry Department in 1992.[3][4] Its area is 12,106 hectares (121.06 km2).[3] The reserve is mostly flat, consisting mostly of peat swamp forest, with a small area of mangroves.[1] The peat forests within this reserve, along with those in the nearby Klias Forest Reserve, are the last peat forests in Sabah.[5]

Being mostly peat forest, the reserve faces high fire risks. Large fires occurred in 1997–98, burning most of the park.[6] In 2016 large fires in peat bogs, which were caused by fires spread to Binsuluk and other forest reserves from nearby open burning, contributed to the 2016 Malaysian haze.[7][8] Over half of the reserve were burnt during this event.[5] Open burning caused yet another forest fire in 2020, this time burning 274 hectares (2.74 km2).[9]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SFD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sheldon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mybis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1984Enactment was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b "Forest fire ravages most of Binsuluk reserve". The Star. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference RafflesBernard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference SaysHaze was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference NST2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference MalayMail2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).