Sabah Forestry Centre publishes journal showcasing plant discoveries
The latest SANDAKANIA journal was presented to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, by Dr Arthur Chung, witnessed by others from the Forest Research Centre, Sepilok.
SANDAKAN (April 29): The Forest Research Centre of the Sabah Forestry Department in Sandakan has published SANDAKANIA, a journal dedicated to plant systematics, morphology and natural history.
The recently printed Volume 25, was made possible through financial support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. The online version was available earlier in December, 2024.
In this latest volume, four scientific papers were contributed by botanists and one write-up in memory of the late Datuk Anthony Lamb. The first paper features the discovery of two new species of tropical blueberry from central Sabah, by researchers from the United States in collaboration with Dr Joan Pereira of Sabah Forestry Department.
The second paper highlights the new locality records for the rare and Sabah's endemic Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, by John Sugau and Alviana Damit.
A provisional checklist on seed plant diversity and its conservation status in Mount Sinsing of the Trusmadi Range in Tambunan, was provided by Jonathan Lucas and researchers from the Sabah Forestry Department.
Mount Sinsing is the third highest mountain in Malaysia. Andi Maryani together with other researchers from Sabah Forestry Department and Universiti Malaysia Sabah focused on ferns and lycophytes of Mount Sinsing. The last paper was a write-up by Datuk C.L. Chan to remember the late Datuk Anthony Lamb, who contributed significantly to botany and nature in Sabah.
Behind the SANDAKANIA journal stands the editorial committee, led by Dr Arthur Y.C. Chung as Chairman, John B. Sugau as Editor, Dr Joan T. Pereira as Assistant Editor and Alviana Damit as Layout and Copy Editor. There are also four advisers, namely Dr Wong Khoon Meng and Timothy M.A. Utteridge (Singapore Botanic Garden), Todd J. Barkman (Western Michigan University, USA) and Elliot Gardner (Case Western Reserve University, USA).
The committee under the Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, actively seeks publications to enrich the scientific understanding of the flora in Sabah and Borneo. SANDAKANIA continues to be a beacon for the dissemination of botanical knowledge, fostering a deeper appreciation for the rich biodiversity of this region.
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'Siput' is descriptive of the snail-like exudations of resin (damar) which are common on the bole of this species. This is unique and one of the chief diagnostic characters of this species. It is an indigenous species of Borneo. The distribution of the species also includes Southeast Peninsular Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. It is widespread and frequent in mixed dipterocarp forest on well-drained clay and sandy clay soils, at altitudes to 1000 m. 'Seraya Kuning Siput' is a large emergent tree, to 100.8 m tall, to 2 m diameter, with straight bole and dense hemispherical crown; buttresses to 1.5 m tall, stout. Bark fawn-brown, vertically cracked and thinly oblong flaky; damar coxcombs present, dark greyish brown. Twigs c. 1 mm diameter apically, slender, rugulose lenticellate. Stipules hastate, to 4 x 1.5 mm. Leaves coriaceous, drying greyish green, fugaceous puberulent below; blade elliptic to oblong-lanceolate or ovate, 7-12 x 3-5 cm. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, 20 cm long, doubly or trebly branched, branchlets bearing up to 8 flowers; bracteoles small, fugacious. Flower petal cream. Fruits calyx sparsely puberulent, lobes unequal, 3 longer lobes to 6 x 1.2 cm, tapering to 2.5 mm above the tuberculate saccate base, 2 shorter ones to 4.5 cm long, narrower, otherwise similar. Nuts narrowly ellipsoid to obovoid, acute, to 1.5 x 0.5 cm. This species is assessed as Endangered (EN) globally under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is, however, not threatened regionally, which is only Near Threatened (NT) for Sabah and Least Concern (LC) for Malaysia. It is a locally common species, with wide scattered distribution in Sabah from lowland up to 1100 m and occurs in many totally protected areas (TPAs). For management, regional assessments are preferred over global assessments when available, as they offer a more specific and tailored understanding of the species' status within the region. Global assessments provide a broad overview of a species' risk of extinction globally, while regional assessments delve into the specific threats and vulnerabilities the species faces within a particular area, making them more relevant for local conservation efforts. 'Seraya Kuning Siput' as an Iconic Tree In view of its prominence and significance as a natural wonder of the state, the Sabah Forestry Department highlighted the 'Seraya Kuning Siput' as the iconic tree of Sabah during the state level International Day of Forests (IDF), held on 24-26th of April 2025, at the Tropical Forestry Faculty of Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The ceremony was officiated by the State Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, Datuk Phoong Jin Tze, representing the Chief Minister of Sabah. During the launching, a souvenir in the form of a framed photo of 'Menara' (100.8 m tree) was presented to the guest of honour. Information pertaining to 'Seraya Kuning Siput' was also disseminated to the public during IDF through exhibition at the SFD booth. A group photo with Datuk Phoong during the International Day of Forests celebration at UMS, Kota Kinabalu. Prior to this, on 29th of December, 2020, a first day cover was issued by Pos Malaysia to highlight and commemorate 'Menara' as the tallest tropical tree in the world, as well as to further enhance the awareness and protection of this tree species, together with other iconic species found in Sabah, such as the Orang Utans, Proboscis Monkeys and Pygmy Elephants. Earlier in 2019, 'Menara' was featured in the world-renowned National Geographic magazine. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, highlighted that such iconic natural wonder has placed Sabah in the world map and should be given due attention in conservation. This giant tree species exemplifies the extraordinary biodiversity and ecological richness of Borneo's lowland dipterocarp forests. These Dipterocarp trees, which dominate Southeast Asian rainforests, play vital roles in carbon storage, forest canopy formation, and habitat provision for countless species. The discovery highlights both the wonder of tropical ecosystems and the urgent need to protect them, as such forests face growing threats from deforestation, land use changes, and climate change. The immense height and survival of these trees also raise important questions about forest dynamics, tree physiology, and how these giants can thrive in environments that are increasingly under pressure from human activities. As the custodian of Sabah's rainforests, the Sabah Forestry Department has put much efforts and priorities in biodiversity conservation towards sustainable forest management, in line with the Sabah Forest Policy 2018. The First Day Cover of 'Menara' issued by POS Malaysia in December, 2020. Next Article IEM Young Engineers Section Sabah elects new committee
