Malaysia is a country in south-east Asia. It is made up of Peninsular Malaysia and Eastern Malaysia, which is part of the island of Borneo. Along with neighbouring countries, the natural vegetation in Malaysia is tropical rainforest. Nearly 63% of Malaysia is forest and commercial tree crops, primarily rubber and oil palm. Trees and forest cover an area equivalent to the whole of the UK. In the past most of the country was covered by primary (virgin) rainforest. In Peninsular Malaysia most of this has now gone and little is left on Borneo. Today an estimated 18% of Malaysia's forest is virgin forest. Malaysian rainforests support over 5,500 species of flowering plants, 2,600 species of tree and over 1,000 species of butterfly. Of the 203 species of mammals, 78% live only in forests. Primary (Virgin) Rainforest: Rainforest that represents the natural vegetation in the region unaffected by the action of people. Deforestation: The cutting down and removal of forest. |