NON-INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN CAMERON

HIGHLANDS AND THE IMPACT TO THE

ENVIRONMENT

PREPARED BY ; SITI HAJAR BINTI AHMAD

MATRIC NO. ; A102528

DATE ; 30th JUNE 2006

SUPERVISOR ; DR. LIAU TAI LEONG

UNIVERSUTY ; UNIVERSITY KEBANGSAAN

MALAYSIA (UKM)

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 1

 CONTENT

1.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3

2.0 ORGANISATION REVIEW 3

3.0 INTRODUCTION

3.1 BACKGROUND OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS 4

3.2 BACKGROUND OF STUDY 4

4.0 OBJECTIVES 4

5.0 METHODOLOGY 5

6.0 RESULT 5

7.0 DISCUSSION

7.1 INTRODUCE PLANTS IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS 5

7.2 IMPACT OF THE INTRODUCE PLANTS IN 6
CAMERON HIGHLANDS

8.0 CONCLUSION 10

9.0 REFERRENCES 11

10.0 APPENDICES

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 2

1.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The study is a part of the assignment project of Industrial Training and R.E.A.C.H
organization is where I was attached to for the training. This training is an essential part of the
course in University Kebangsaan Malaysia. I thank to my lecturer Prof Madya Dr. Kamaruddin
Md Salleh, for introduce the organization to me and help me a lot with the procedure. The
project; Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the Environment
is only possible with the help, cooperation and encouragement of large number of people and I
would like to thank all these people.

I wish to extend my grateful thanks to the R.E.A.C.H committee, Mr. Ramakrishnan

Ramasamy A.M.N the president, to Dr. Liau Tai Leong the Vice President and also my
supervisor who is always concerned about the project, Mr.Zulkifli, Mr.Amran, Mr.George, Dr.
Vijendra and Dr. Cheam who made nice yam cake; thank you for making the training so
enjoyable in this family-like atmosphere. I also thank Mr. Kaliyannan for all the good briefings
about invasive plants in Cameron Highlands, Mr. Francis, Mr. Kumar, Mr. Sathiya and Mr.
Morgan; a group of great nature guide who help me in my treks and made them so interesting.

My great appreciation to Mr. Balu Perumal who help me with all the information and
books. Thank you Mr. Balu for making the study of Botany so interesting and enjoyable. To Mr.
Yazid, an officer of MARDI Cameron Highlands thanks for all the help in identification of the
plants. Not to forget Mr. Zuhairo from Agricultural Department who help me a lot with the
weed.

To my faithful friends; Azeyla, Zarina and Dilip, thanks for your encouragement and
help.I wonder how my life would be without all you guys. Not to forget Koi and Peng my friends
from Thailand and Renata from Holland who accompany me during my training. Last, but no
means least, my grateful thanks to my family who always my biggest supporter and everybody
who has helped me in this project directly or indirectly by providing me with information,
assistance and pleasant company during the field trip.

The project was done in less than 2 months and I think there is certain part that is
uncompleted. I hope the study will be continued because this is a very good project for the
organization and the community. I more than willing to recommended my junior to do their
training here as they can gain a lot of experience just like me.

2.0 ORGANISATION REVIEW

R.E.A.C.H stands for Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands. This is a

non-profit organization, set up by the resident of Cameron Highlands who are willing to take
action in the conservation of Cameron Highlands as it has a deep impact to the quality of the
environment. As the aims of the organization is “to conserve Cameron Highlands as an area of
natural resources, as a natural heritage, a highland resort surrounded by permanent forest reserve
and sustainable agriculture with quality drinking water”. The organization is officially registered
on 6th September 2001.

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 3

3.0 INTRODUCTION

3.1 BACKGROUND OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS

Positioned at the main range of Peninsular Malaysia, Cameron Highlands is well known as
an agro-tourism and eco-tourism destination. The area, which is the smallest district in the state
of Pahang, is located in the northwestern corner of the state. At 5000 feet above sea level the
western part of Cameron Highlands is one of highest area on the mainland. The cool climate with
temperature averaging at 23 ºC during the day and seldom dropping below 16 ºC at night turns
Cameron Highlands to be a very popular tourist attraction.

This outstanding place was first discovered by William Cameron; a government surveyor
when he was on a mapping expedition in 1885. Later the area was named after Cameron
Highlands after him.

3.2 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

As the introduced plants are so common and accepted in Cameron highlands people
nowadays have problems in differentiating the plants, whether it is indigenous or not. People
enjoy planting for many reasons, but they do not really know the origin and the impact of these
plants on the environment. The plants may look beautiful but some of them have the ability to
thrive and spread aggressively outside its natural habitat.

The introduced plants can develop into invasive species. They may colonize a new area
aggressively and may gain an ecological edge since the local insects, diseases, and foraging
animals that naturally keep its growth in check in its native range are not present in this habitat.
These plants may cause damage to our environment if we are not careful as it can overcome our
native plants and colonize the forest. So, the idea of this study is to discover the origin of the
plants,to create a database on these plants. The effects of these plants will also be discussed.

4.0 OBJECTIVES

4.1 To introduce non-indigenous plants of Cameron Highland to the local residents

4.2 To educate residents on non- indigenous plants in a scientific way.
4.3 To show the impact of non-indigenous plants on the environment
4.4 To encourage more research on the non-indigenous plants especially its impact on the
local species

5.0 METHODOLOGY

5.1 Selection of study areas.

The trekking trails and the roadside are potential areas where introduced species will first
colonize due to its proximity to gardens and farms.

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 4

 5.2 Identification of species
The plants are identified at the nurseries, parks and the wayside. Pictures of these species are
taken and identification are based from the labels on the plants, and confirmed by an expert.
Besides that, the information is gathered from books and the Internet.
5.3 Comparison of invasive plants done in other countries through books and the Internet.
These previous studies are very helpful as a guide to the impact of non-indigenous plants on
the environment.

6.0 RESULT

Refer to the table 9.1

7.0 DISCUSSION

7.1 NON-INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS

Cameron Highlands has an area 670 square kilometers (260 square miles) and is famous
for its cool climate. The place is different from the lowland by temperature, humidity and
amount of ultra violet light. This happens as with increasing elevation, the temperature fall 1° C
per 100 meter. As a result condition become cooler and moister as the cloud line is at 1200m
above sea level.

Since the weather is almost like the temperate region and the hilly terrain makes it perfect
for many of the plants brought here. In fact at more than 1000m above sea level many plants
from the lowlands produce better-coloured flower and the colour appear much brighter. The
hibiscus and the morning glory remain open the whole day whereas in the lowlands they close at
noon or earlier

The history of these introduced plants start during the colonial era. In 1920an the
Camellia sinensis (tea) was introduce when John Archibald Russell, a British administrative
officer’s son started a tea plantation which is now known as the Boh Tea Plantation. Besides tea
the colonialist also introduced many garden plants such as roses and gerbera and these plants
grow luxuriantly.

With the development of the agricultural sector in Cameron Highlands more species are
introduce for landscaping, as garden plants, windbreaker, as vegetables, cut flowers and to
prevent the soil erosion. The turf grass was introduced when the golf site was built in Cameron
Highlands together with the pain tree (Pinus sp.) as the windbreaker The ornamental species
especially annuals like Cleome hassleriana and the perennial such as Impatients walleriana are
planted extensively as the garden plants. With the thriving tourist industry more nurseries are
opened and these leads to more introduce plants being brought in. A lot of them are sold as cut
flower such as chrysanthemum, lilies (Lilium sp.) and Anthirrium sp. As an example the
Chrysanthemum that is the most popular temperate flower grown in here since 1986 nowadays
has become a big commodity and Cameron Highlands is the world largest producer of cut
chrysanthemums.

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 5

 There a lot of introduce vegetables in this area such as capsicum ( Capsicum sp.) and the
tomato (Solanum sp.) and they are planted extensively by the farmer in the Cameron Highlands.
The Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), is introduce by the government to prevent the soil
erosion. The plants which is natives in India have do some special characteristic like strong root,
fast growing, deep penetrating root and do tolerant to adverse growing condition such as extreme
sol pH, temperature and heavy metal toxicities.

7.2 THE IMPACT OF NON-INDIGENUS PLANTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

These non-indigenous plants have blended very well into the local gardens and people do
not know that they are introduced. Species such as Lantana camara, the morning glory (Ipomeae
purpurea), Cobaea scandens and Ageratum houstonianum are often confused by people as they
assume these plants are ‘local’. In fact they may be shock to know that the Lantana camara is
actually from Africa and the morning glory are natives to Mexico and Central America.

Once these plants are introduced they do give many impact to the environment. Some of
them give a good impact as they play their role. Plants like vetiver grass make good jobs with
preventing the soil erosion along the highway in the Cameron Highlands. Some introduce plants
also can lives tolerant with other native’s plants as we can see along the roadside many of pines
tree (Pinus sp.) is introduce as landscaping.

These invasive plants are superior competitor to the natives plants and they have some
special characteristic which make them are so successful.

The characteristic that make these invasive plants so successful are:-

• Early maturation
• Profuse reproduction by seeds and/or vegetative structures
• Long life in the soil
• Seed dormancy ensures periodic germination and prevents seedling from sprouting
during unfavorable condition
• Adaptation for spread with crop seeds by natural agents, and by humans
• Production of biological toxins that suppress the growth of other plants
• Prickles, spines, or thorn that can cause physical injury and repel animals
• The ability to parasitize other plants
• Seeds that are the same size and shape as crop seed, which makes make cleaning
difficult.
• Roots or rhizomes with large food reserves
• Survival and seed production under adverse environmental conditions
• High photosynthetic rates

(*from Westbrooks, R..1998. Invasive Plants, Changing the Landscape of America: Fact book,
Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW
),Washington, D.C.109 pp)

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 6

 These plants turn to be invasive plants since their natural enemies are not here to limit their
production and spread together with better adaptation to the habitat. As a consequence they may
monopolize resources such as light, nutrient, water, and space to the detriment of other species.
Further more some species do inhibit the nearby plants by producing toxin and act as a vector to
other pest. The effect on the eco-system can be severe and change the composition, structure, or
even the ecosystem function.

In Cameron Highlands these invasive plants can easily be spotted along the main road where
the morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea) is growing over the trees. As a consequence many of the
trees are already died, as they cannot receive enough sunlight. The situation is worst along the
Moonlight Cottage when the Cobaea scandens covered most of the trees there.

Ipomoea purpurea (morning

glory) such a beautiful plants
natives at Mexico and Central
America, spot growing over the
tree at the Arcadia Cottage. The
plants used for lanscaping the
garden and covering the fence
nowadays grows wild in the
forest

Morning glory which can be

easily spot along the road side.

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 7

 The Cobaea scandens, natives to
Mexico, cause serious problems
in the forest as it overtaking the
tree and block the sunshine.
Picture is taken along the road to
Moonlight Cottage

Datura suaveolens the night-scented

flower that is natives at Southeast
Brazil nowadays can be spotted at
the entrance of the forest of Mount
Brinchang.

The leguminosae plants which

also an invasive plants grows
wild along the road side. This
plant is also can be also can be
spotted at the peak of Mount
Brinchang!

Close up the flower of the legumiosae

plants

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 8

 These ivy (Hedera helix) natives
in England have a lot of potential
to be an invasive plants if they
are not controlled.

This unidentify grass grows wildly in its new habitat and colonized the area.
These grass is not native in Cameron Highlands. The picture is taken at Parit
Waterfall.

Some of these non-indigenous plants are also considered as weed since

they germinate and become pest that takes water, nutrient, sunlight and space of
garden plants. The gardener has to spend their time and money to controlled them.
As example of these weeds you may consider mile-a-minute (Mikania micrantha)
and the Chick weed (Ageratum conyzoides), touch-me-not (Mimosa pudica),
Dandelion sp., and Lantana camara. Moreover absence of some native’s plants
may indicate certain soil problems such as deficiencies, pH changes and soil
compaction. This leads to bigger problems in the garden and in the farms.

On the other hand some of them are beneficial as they are good source
of nitrogenous compounds especially the nitrogen fixing leguminous plants when
such plants are pulled and turn into compost they become a rich source of
fertilizer. Moreover they are beneficial to the organic farming. This weed provide
the habitat to the predator of pest that cause a problems in the farm.

In fact some species can be invasive, they are here with the several
uses like as a herb like Ocimum basilum (basil), Rosmarinus officinalis
(rosemary), Tropaelum majus (Nasturtium) which is very good for medical
properties. However some of the non-indigenous plants are very dangerous as
they are very poisonous. Species such as Brugmansi suaveolens, Hedera helix,
Lantana camara and tegetes sp.are very toxic.They can cause severe discomfort
and people must be very carefull in dealing with these plants. So in addition to the

Non-indigenous plants in Cameron Highlands and the impact to the environment 9

 new species people must be alert and knowledgeable in order they dealing with
the plants everyday.

8.0 CONCLUSION

From the study it is obvious that are a lot of non-indigenous plants in

Cameron Highlands and they are introduce for many reasons. These plants spread
widely and become accepted as people assumed that they are natives while they
are not.

Some of them have turn to be invasive plants and they slowly replace our
native’s plants. If we are not careful and take this for granted, one day they may
replace the native plants. By that time we may regret as once they gain a foothold
they are costly and time consuming to control. These invasive plants pose a
serious threat to the native’s species in the natural area. In the long term, they
pose a threat to the ecosystem stability and the balance of nature on which all
species depends on.

The government together with private organization should start to look at

the situation since it will potentially become a serious environmental problem as
shown by the road leading to the Moonlight Cottage. It has become a serious
invader. One of the way to overcome the problem is to increase the protection of
the area of natural biodiversity and make them more resistant to invasion by
introduce plants Any potentially invasive plants introduce to Cameron Highlands
should be monitored and early detection of the plants spread should be controlled.
If they are already a major problem we must restrict the size and spread, and
prevent them from establishing new populations. Finally people must be
responsible in returning our natives vegetation to area where the invasive plants
have been eradicated. In addition to support the idea people should consider
landscaping their garden with native’s plants and informs others of the problems.

9.0 REFERRENCES

9.1 Christopher Brickell, Encyclopedia A-Z of garden plants, The Royal

Horticultural Society
9.2 Randy G. Westbrooks. 1998. Invasive Plants: Changing the Landscape of
America, Fact book, Federal Interagency Committee for the Management
of Noxious and Exotic Weeds.
9.3 R.E. Holttum, Ivan Enoch. 1991. Gardening in the Tropics, Times Edition.
9.4 Richard Rosenfeld. Conservatory and Houseplants, DK.
9.5 Francesco Bianchini, Azzura Carossa Pantano. Simon and Schuster’s
Guide to plants and flower, Simon and Schuster Inc.
9.6 Species, Landscape and Islands; Perspectives in Tropical Botany, Vol 55
part 1 & 2 June 2001, Malaysian Nature Society.

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