In September 2021, the UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme officially recognized the Habitat at Penang Hill as a biodiversity hotspot and biosphere reserve.
The canopy walkway at Penang Hill was completed in 2017 as part of an effort to protect the 130-million-year-old Malaysian deciduous rainforest all around Penang. The walkway comprises two concrete ribbon bridges that can hold hundreds of tourists at once—an engineering feat and crucial facet, considering the more than three million tourists who visit Penang annually! Moreover, the walkway is complemented by a surrounding eco-park, where tourists can enjoy food, trails, and a variety of environmentally educational activities.
The UNESCO designation formally recognizes and protects Penang Hill’s extraordinary biodiversity. Learn more about this amazing world-class rainforest discovery center—watch The Habitat Foundation’s video below: