The Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) collaborated with the Forestry Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) to co-organize a Community Outreach Programme entitled “Biodiversity Watch”.
The pilot programme was launched on the 25th of September 2023 at the Tropical Biodiversity Centre (TBC), Forestry Department, Sg Liang in the Belait District.
The programme is aimed at the participation of members of the public, particularly those in government and non-government agencies as well as higher education institutions. The pilot programme which was facilitated by members from UBD and Forestry Department included the participation from MPRT officers and staff, as well as university students.
Biodiversity Watch employed the “Citizen Science” approach where a public community voluntarily collaborates with scientists to preserve nature and conduct scientific research. Citizen scientists do not necessarily need to have a professional scientific background but must be curious and motivated to participate in designing experiments, collecting data, analyzing results, and making new scientific discoveries.
Among the mission and objectives of Biodiversity Watch are to connect and engage various groups of the public community to promote increased awareness and understanding of Brunei Darussalam’s biodiversity and instil values of biodiversity conservation, aligning with the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). The programme included a presentation from the Forestry Department which highlighted Brunei Darussalam’s forest resources and governance. Participants also took part in a biodiversity survey, which was focused on fern diversity within the forest trails of TBC. A lecture on ferns was also delivered in the afternoon session of the pilot programme.
Biodiversity Watch aspires to strengthen the linkage, collaborations and commitment towards biodiversity conservation with an aim to foster stronger connections and cooperation among stakeholders, propelling Brunei Darussalam towards a more sustainable and biodiverse future.