Gelam Or Also Known As Melaleuca Forest Is So-Name..

Gelam or also known as Melaleuca forest is so-named for its dominant trees species, Melaleuca cajuputi. This little-known gelam forest is one of the rarest types of wetlands in Malaysia.

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Some interesting facts about gelam forest:

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▪️Not widespread with the only sizeable gelam forest found between Kemaman to Besut in Terengganu in East Coast Peninsular Malaysia. The previously abundant gelam forest in Setiu is progressively declining due to clearing and conversion.

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▪️Two types, wet and dry gelam. The wet gelam or Melaleuca swamp occurs in low swampy and seasonally flooded coastal plains, often behind the true mangrove zone. The dry gelam, characterized by small and stunted Melaleuca trees, grow on dry sandy soil on beach ridges in the coastal plain.

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▪️The Melaleuca cajuputi is remarkably resilient, with an ability to withstand frequent flooding, acidic and low nutrient soils and mild fires. This tree sheds its papery bark, has showy flowers that produces honey and leaves containing fragrant oils that can be distilled and used for medicinal purposes.

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#WetlandBiodiversityMatters

#WorldWetlandsDay2020

#amazingwetlands #setiuwetlands

Source: https://www.facebook.com/wwfmy/photos/a.159457438241/1015933..

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WWF-Malaysia is a national conservation trust that currently runs conversation projects covering a diverse range of environmental protection & nature conservation in Malaysia. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

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