Bera - Wetland Wonderland

Tasik Bera, or Lake Bera, in the southwest of Pahang, is Malaysia’s first Ramsar Site. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance recognised through a UNESCO treaty and named after the Iranian city where the treaty was signed. In other words Tasik Bera is a globally important wetland. Malaysia’s largest freshwater swamp-lake system is surrounded by forests and agricultural estates, which are the traditional lands of the Semelai Orang Asli people. Tasik Bera is one of the Malaysia’s seven Ramsar wetland sites, and the country’s second-largest wetland with a protected area of 38,446 ha.

The lake is a shallow and seasonal river system that flows into the Pahang River at Kuala Bera. While the actual lake only forms a small part of the total river catchment, it has huge ecological and economic importance. Its catchment covers 60,000 ha and supports four different wetland types - Pandanus- Lepironia swamp, peat swamp forest, freshwater swamp and secondary swamp. Fishing for some 100 species is important to the locals and a popular activity among the tourists. There are a total of 200 birds and 50 mammal species have been identified here. Tasik Bera is less than five metres deep, and thick clumps of pandanus plants thrive in and around the lake. Pandanus leaves are harvested by the Semelai and used in many ways, from building materials to handicrafts.

Visitors can get close to the lakeside vegetation by hiring a boat from the Semelai. The local people traditionally fished and hunted here, but now most of them are farmers. However, some still source forest products with one important commodity being oleo-resin from the native Keruing tree. The Semelai cut the bark and use fire to allow the resin to flow from the cut. Known as minyak keruing, it is used for caulking boats, lighting, medicines as well as an essential oil for perfumes. Access to the lake is restricted to a few locations, with Jeti Sudin on the lake’s northern perimeter being the best site and venue to enjoy the basic facilities offered at Pengkalan Sudin Homestay. The homestay especially appeals to those who enjoy fishing.

Tourist Centre Directories In Bera