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Ask any Malaysian about FRIM and you'll probably hear fond memories of school trips, tree canopies, and the earthy forest scent after the rain
But now, that familiar forest has a new title — one that puts it on par with Mount Kinabalu and the ancient caves of Niah.
As of July, FRIM is officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it the sixth in Malaysia and the first ever for Selangor.
FRIM was once an old tin mine.
Image via Selangor.travelLocated just outside Kuala Lumpur in Kepong, FRIM now gives Selangor a seat at the global heritage table
Until now, all of Malaysia's UNESCO-listed natural and cultural wonders were located outside the Klang Valley, namely Kinabalu Park, Gunung Mulu National Park, Melaka, George Town, the Niah Caves complex, and the Lenggong Valley.
FRIM's listing in July changes that.
Its inscription was approved by 21 member states at the 47th World Heritage Committee session in Paris on 11 July, after a nomination process that began way back in 2013.
With FRIM now recognised globally, the goal is to create more immersive and responsible tourist experiences, including nature trails, research hubs, and educational tours that benefit both the environment and local communities
According to Selangor.travel, there's also talk of putting the Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark up for UNESCO status by 2028. If successful, that would be another major boost to Selangor's green credentials.
For now, FRIM stands tall (literally — it has some of the country's oldest trees), as a living monument to what Malaysia can achieve when science, policy, and nature work hand in hand.
