A Pristine Water Quality of Repeatedly Logged Forest River in Kawag Forest Area, Ulu Segama Malua Forest Reserve, Sabah

Water chemistry of Kawag Forest Area was studied based on the major ion chemistry and in-situ water quality parameters. The sampling stations were selected in two streams of Kawag Forest Area. The water quality were analysed for major cations (Ca, Mg, Na), dissolved metals, suspended solid and in-situ physico-chemical parameters: temperature, pressure, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, and pH in the rivers of Kawag Forest Area. Major cations and dissolved metals were analysed using ICP-OES while the in-situ parameters were tested using YSI multi parameters. The results show the concentrations trend of major cations in the order of Ca>Na>Mg>K. The rivers are classified between Class I and Class IIA based on the National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia (NWQSM). Despite of the forest background that it had been repeatedly logged, the water quality in Kawag Forest Area is unexpectedly in pristine condition, and much better than most of the undisturbed tropical forest elsewhere.

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