LAND USE CHANGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE OF THE CAMERON HIGHLANDS, PAHANG, MALAYSIA

Abstract‐ The study area is located at the southern part of Cameron Highlands or located exactly at longitude from 101°20' to 101°35' E and latitude from 4°19' to 4°31΄ N. Objective of this study is to determine land use change categories based on 1984, 1995 and 2002 land use maps, the percentage of land use changes and their impact to climate change. There are at least six categories of land uses and their distribution, during period of 18 years of observation; forests (reduced by 7615ha), tea farms (reduced by 657ha), water bodies (reduced by 61ha), urbanization (increased by 125ha), agricultural area (increased by 2488ha), and neglected areas (increased by 5719ha). Four climatic parameters such as rainfall, evaporation, temperature and relative humidity were determined and analyzed. Total of 18 hydrological sampling stations were selected along Sg. Bertam. Results showed that catchment behavior of Sg. Bertam has influenced by climate pattern. Velocity and discharge of Sg. Bertam during first sampling (dry season) range from 0.33 m/s and 0.079 m³/s to 0.90m/s and 2.619 m³/s, and from 0.38 m/s and 0.096 m³/s to1.44 m/s and 2.709 m³/s during the second sampling (rainy season). Flow data of Sg. Bertam and Sg. Lemoi increase synchronizely by increase of rainfall pattern from 1970 to 2005 and from 1985 to 1995. Logging, urbanization, agriculture and new roads construction near to the river were identified as sedimentation resources due to potential soil erosion in the study area. In the future strategic plan, the Local Government should be prevented any land use change in the Cameron Highlands area.

Keywords:

–Sg. Bertam Catchment , climate , discharge , land use change