Latest news with #ForestResearchCentre
The Star
07-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
Rainforest trip sprouts climate awareness
Empowering the next generation: Mary (fourth from left) and Chung (third from left) with organisers and participants at the launch of the Youth Camp on Climate Change 2025 in Sandakan. KOTA KINABALU: Climate change education took a meaningful turn for 40 youths as they stepped into the rainforest during a three-day experiential learning camp in Sandakan. The Youth Camp on Climate Change 2025 brings together participants aged 17 to 25 from five institutions: Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Politeknik Sandakan, Kolej Komuniti Sandakan, Kolej Vokasional Sandakan II and Kolej Komuniti Lahad Datu. Participants were randomly assigned into five groups and given tasks related to climate issues. These tasks will be presented at the end of the camp to encourage teamwork, critical thinking and leadership skills. About 70% of the activities are held outdoors, with support from members of the Sabah Environmental Education Network, including the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, along with researchers from the Forest Research Centre in Sepilok. To deepen understanding of climate impacts, the youths also visited a landfill operated by the Sandakan Municipal Council, gaining insights into the relationship between waste management and environmental sustainability. The event was launched by deputy permanent secretary of the state youth and sports ministry Mary Paul Mijong Dagul, on behalf of Minister Datuk Ellron Angin, at the Rainforest Discovery Centre yesterday. It is organised by the Sabah Forestry Department and sponsored by the state Youth and Sports Ministry. Mary said the camp was a reminder that learning can happen beyond the classroom. 'Knowledge can also be shared in the field, amidst nature, and within communities struggling with the impacts of climate change. 'Camps like this give youths the chance to see, understand and take action,' she said. Also present was Forest Research Centre head Dr Arthur Chung, who represented chief conservator of forests Datuk Frederick Kugan. According to Chung, climate change is not just an issue for experts, adding that it is a matter that everyone should understand. The organisers said early education is vital to building future leaders who can respond to climate challenges and drive long-term solutions. By empowering participants to share what they have learnt with their peers and communities, the programme aims to expand its reach beyond the three-day camp.
The Star
30-04-2025
- Science
- The Star
High hopes among the branches
IN the heart of Borneo's rainforest, a quiet revolution in conservation is under way – one wooden box at a time. What began in June 2017 as a focused effort to save Sabah's dwindling hornbill population by installing artificial nests has since evolved into a broader initiative benefiting a range of forest-dwelling species. 'This project is like my baby,' said Pengiran Mohd Sahlan Salam, 32, head of the Wildlife Research Unit at the Forest Research Centre in Sepilok. Mohd Sahlan spearheaded the initiative under the Sabah Forestry Department soon after he joined the team that year. Inspired by conservation pioneer Dr Robert Ong, the project was initially aimed at addressing the habitat loss of hornbills, which rely on large, mature trees with natural cavities to breed. 'We needed to find a way to increase their chances of breeding. The idea was to replicate these natural cavities through artificial nests,' Mohd Sahlan explained. So far, 26 nest boxes have been installed specifically for flying squirrels, and 16 for hornbills, with encouraging results. All squirrel-designated nests are now occupied, while five hornbill boxes have been successfully used by Asian Black Hornbills, Bushy-crested Hornbills and Oriental Pied Hornbills. Mohd Sahlan ascending a 30m high Parashorea malaanonan tree at the centre in Sepilok, Sabah. 'A strong indicator of success is when a female hornbill seals herself inside a box to nest, remaining inside for months while the male feeds her. 'This tells us the boxes are working. 'We have even observed nesting cavity shapes and seen baby squirrels, confirming breeding cycles,' he said. Beyond hornbills, the project revealed that the nest boxes also attract other small forest birds and flying squirrels, some even taking over spaces intended for hornbills. This interspecies rivalry, while natural, highlights the delicate balance within forest ecosystems. 'Understanding each species' behaviour is crucial. 'Once flying squirrels dominate a nest, it is difficult for hornbills to use it. An artificial hornbill nest ready for installation. 'That is why we conduct year-round behavioural studies, camera trapping, and habitat assessments to fine-tune placement,' Mohd Sahlan noted. The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sepilok remains the project's core site, but expansion plans are in the pipeline. 'We are looking at Tawau, Lahad Datu and Kinabatangan next,' Mohd Sahlan revealed, though these are still in the planning stages. Each artificial nest costs about RM3,000 to build and install, a modest investment considering its impact on conservation and ecotourism. Visitors to RDC now get a rare glimpse into the lives of some of Sabah's most elusive species, turning the area into a research hub and a public education platform. Yet, it has not all been smooth sailing. Curious orang utan have been known to dismantle some of the boxes, while limited data on pre-project population sizes makes it difficult to draw firm statistical conclusions, for now. The Red Giant Flying Squirrel looking out from its box. 'We cannot declare full success just yet. More data is needed. But the signs are promising,' Mohd Sahlan cautioned. Beyond his role as a wildlife researcher, Mohd Sahlan is also a passionate environmental advocate. Growing up in a coastal village surrounded by Sabah's natural beauty, he was deeply affected by the deforestation and pollution he witnessed. He has since founded various environmental efforts, from tree-planting and beach clean-ups to educational workshops focused on waste management and marine conservation. One of his proudest contributions is working with indigenous communities to encourage eco-friendly practices that align with traditional knowledge and bring economic benefits. 'For me, conservation is not just about saving animals or trees. It is about ensuring a better future for our children. Every small action matters,' he said. A pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills enjoying their nest. His dedication has earned recognition from both local and international organisations, but Mohd Sahlan measures success in the impact he sees in communities and ecosystems. Whether it is a child learning to recycle or a hornbill nesting in a wooden box high in the canopy, every moment fuels his mission. He has even personally scaled trees up to 38m tall to install the nests. 'It is exciting... but also extremely tiring,' he laughed. Ultimately, his goal is simple yet profound, to become a driving force for wildlife conservation and to inspire others to care for nature. And so, from a modest wooden box, a much larger story takes flight, of hornbills, squirrels, and small birds, yes, but also of human hope, ingenuity, and the enduring power of one person to make a difference.
Borneo Post
29-04-2025
- Science
- Borneo Post
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.
