One of the most remarkable thing about the forest trails at Kota Damansara Community Forest is that they are built by volunteers assisted by Temuan Orang Asli. The trails are at once both sophisticated and low-tech. They are sophisticated in their design and engineering and the way they are built to control the flow of water in our tropical rainforest. This helps control erosion and ensure that the trails last with minimal maintenance. They are low-tech from the point of view of our tools and approaches – we aspire to cause as little impact to the forest as possible. The trails loop around large trees and natural geological features, saplings in the path of the trail are gently relocated within the forest, and only rakes, parangs and cangkuls are used to shape the trail alignment.
Volunteer Trail-building at KDCF gives you the opportunity to share in building and ‘owning’ something that lasts for the enjoyment of our shared community. It gives you the opportunity to meet and work alongside people from all walks of life united by a love of the forest and a commitment to building something bigger than each of us could accomplish alone. This is why Volunteer-Trail building is the lifeblood of KDCF!
With that short intoduction we are pleased to announce our ambitious plans for 2014. Four more kilometers of forest trails!
KDCF Society, together with TRAKS (Trails Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor) is starting work on a new 2 km forest trail in 2014 which we hope to finish by May 2014. This is also the first of our sponsored trails, with support from the staff of IJM Land! We need volunteers to help us build the new trail which will be the first trail to commence from the Rimba Riang entrance in Section 9 (opposite Taman Rimba Riang).
To get started we have confirmed the Volunteer Trail Days for January and February 2014.
Sunday, 19 Jan 2014, 8 am – 12 pm
Saturday, 22 Feb 2014, 8 am – 12 pm
Visit our facebook group and sign up for Trail Day there or invite your friends to consider volunteering on Do Good Volunteers where the Trail Days are also posted
WHAT TO WEAR
Volunteers should be dressed in long-sleeves and long pants (mosquitoes!) and sports shoes or boots. Bring a bottle of water, garden gloves, and insect repellent. Avoid bringing a big bag as there will not be a suitable place to leave your belongings. All volunteers should be over the age of 18 and in good health. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We will provide tools (cangkuls and rakes) and also provide a briefing and guidance on what to do. Don’t worry, no special skills or training are required. Trail-building is both easy and enjoyable to pick up! We will also provide some light refreshments for all volunteers.
Here’s what to expect on a typical Trail Day:-
8.00 am – Meet at Taman Rimba Riang for a welcome from someone from the KDCF Society and a short briefing with TRAKS trail-building sifu
8.20 am – Proceed to trail site and gather tools
8.30 am – Commence work
11.30 am – Wrap up and stow tools; have refreshments
12.00 pm – Trail Day concludes
Don’t be too concerned if you do not have any experience, as we will guide you through the process. It is fun and easy to pick up! We look forward to meeting you at our next Trail Day.