Page 32 - FDS Annual Report 2012
P. 32
ANNUAL REPORT 2012
30 FOREST DEPARTMENT SARAWAK
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
The Research, Development and Innovation Division comprises various research units, namely wood
anatomy, botany, conservation, ecology, entomology, pathology, plantation and soil studies. Some of
the facilities available are the herbarium, fungal reference collections, insect reference collections, soil
laboratory and other biological collections including wildlife specimens. Details are shown below.
Anatomy Unit
The Anatomy Unit collected 59 wood specimens in 2012.The activities of the Unit were as follows:
1. General collections of wood specimens were carried out at Ulu Rayu, Matang and Bau areas
focusing on the clear-off land; and
2. Wood identification for Malaysian Pepper Board.
Conservation and Plantation Unit
Six (6) field trips were made in 2012 to collect living plants, seedlings, wild fruits and seeds for the
germplasm collection. The families of plants targeted for the germplasm collections were the Araceae,
Orchidaceae, medicinal plants, Palmae and Zingiberaceae. Meanwhile, herbarium specimens were
also collected during the field trips. Most of the activities were carried out in the following areas:
1. Banjaran Kelingkang, Sri Aman for seedlings collection;
2. Sabal Forest Reserve for assessment of research plantation plots;
3. Pantu, Simunjan, Serian & Sebuyau for wild fruits survey & living collection;
4. Krokong & Serikin, Bau for wild fruits survey & living collection;
5. Taman Negara Lambir for wild fruits survey;
6. Kubah National Park for assessment of medicinal plants;
7. Matang/Kubah National Park expedition in March 2012; and
8. Ulu Mentawai, Mulu National Park expedition in Sept 2012.
Ecology Unit
The Ecology Unit collected a total of 651 specimens. The activities of the Unit were as follows:
1. R&D Scientific Expedition to Kubah National Park from 5 to 11 March 2012. (8 plots 147 trees
assessed);
2. Aglaia collection activity at Pulong Tau National Park, collaborative research with Sarawak
Biodiversity Centre from 9 to 14 April 2012. (3 Aglaia stellatopilosa seedlings collected);
3. Botanical survey activity at Ulu Arur Dalan, Pulong Tau National Park from 7 to 22 May 2012.
(95 trees assessed consisting of 32 families, 56 genera and 80 species);
4. Assisted two researchers from New York Botanical Garden, namely Dr Douglas Daly and Mr
John Mitchell in carrying out fieldwork at Lambir National Park from 22 to 28 June 2012.
5. Ecological field work to G. Kuali and Lundu area from 23 July to 6 August 2012. (Established
10 plots and 275 trees assessed); and
6. Scientific expedition to Ulu Mentawai, Limbang from 3 to 17 September 2012.(Collected 134
specimens consisting of 44 families and 52 genera).
Entomology Unit
1. The year 2012 saw the continuous collaboration between the State Government and the
Japanese counterpart in the study on Biological Resources-Diversity and Abundance of
Predators and Pollinators in the surrounding areas of Primary Forests in the Tropics: As
31 | P a g e
30 FOREST DEPARTMENT SARAWAK
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
The Research, Development and Innovation Division comprises various research units, namely wood
anatomy, botany, conservation, ecology, entomology, pathology, plantation and soil studies. Some of
the facilities available are the herbarium, fungal reference collections, insect reference collections, soil
laboratory and other biological collections including wildlife specimens. Details are shown below.
Anatomy Unit
The Anatomy Unit collected 59 wood specimens in 2012.The activities of the Unit were as follows:
1. General collections of wood specimens were carried out at Ulu Rayu, Matang and Bau areas
focusing on the clear-off land; and
2. Wood identification for Malaysian Pepper Board.
Conservation and Plantation Unit
Six (6) field trips were made in 2012 to collect living plants, seedlings, wild fruits and seeds for the
germplasm collection. The families of plants targeted for the germplasm collections were the Araceae,
Orchidaceae, medicinal plants, Palmae and Zingiberaceae. Meanwhile, herbarium specimens were
also collected during the field trips. Most of the activities were carried out in the following areas:
1. Banjaran Kelingkang, Sri Aman for seedlings collection;
2. Sabal Forest Reserve for assessment of research plantation plots;
3. Pantu, Simunjan, Serian & Sebuyau for wild fruits survey & living collection;
4. Krokong & Serikin, Bau for wild fruits survey & living collection;
5. Taman Negara Lambir for wild fruits survey;
6. Kubah National Park for assessment of medicinal plants;
7. Matang/Kubah National Park expedition in March 2012; and
8. Ulu Mentawai, Mulu National Park expedition in Sept 2012.
Ecology Unit
The Ecology Unit collected a total of 651 specimens. The activities of the Unit were as follows:
1. R&D Scientific Expedition to Kubah National Park from 5 to 11 March 2012. (8 plots 147 trees
assessed);
2. Aglaia collection activity at Pulong Tau National Park, collaborative research with Sarawak
Biodiversity Centre from 9 to 14 April 2012. (3 Aglaia stellatopilosa seedlings collected);
3. Botanical survey activity at Ulu Arur Dalan, Pulong Tau National Park from 7 to 22 May 2012.
(95 trees assessed consisting of 32 families, 56 genera and 80 species);
4. Assisted two researchers from New York Botanical Garden, namely Dr Douglas Daly and Mr
John Mitchell in carrying out fieldwork at Lambir National Park from 22 to 28 June 2012.
5. Ecological field work to G. Kuali and Lundu area from 23 July to 6 August 2012. (Established
10 plots and 275 trees assessed); and
6. Scientific expedition to Ulu Mentawai, Limbang from 3 to 17 September 2012.(Collected 134
specimens consisting of 44 families and 52 genera).
Entomology Unit
1. The year 2012 saw the continuous collaboration between the State Government and the
Japanese counterpart in the study on Biological Resources-Diversity and Abundance of
Predators and Pollinators in the surrounding areas of Primary Forests in the Tropics: As
31 | P a g e
