Hill Forests

Hill forests on the craggy limestone hills and outcrops are striking landscape in many parts of Malaysia, and are rich in plant species. In Peninsular Malaysia, 1,216 species have been found on just 0.3 per cent of the land surface occupied by limestone hills.

In most cases similar to the lowland dipterocarp, hill dipterocarp is distinguished by seraya (Shorea curtisii) trees. Lower dipterocarp forests are found at an altitude of 300-750 metres, while upper dipterocarp forests grow at 1200 metres. Together, the Malaysian lowland and hill dipterocarp forests rank among the world’s most species-rich terrestrial ecosystems. The tropical tree families found here include the Bombacaceae, Clusiaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myristicaceae and Myrtaceae.