On 15 August 2026, the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), launched the Brunei Forest Guardians (BFG) Programme, a biannual outreach initiative designed to bring people closer to Brunei’s forests and biodiversity through immersive, hands-on experiences.
BFG aims to increase public awareness and appreciation of Brunei’s forests while providing participants with opportunities to experience ecological research methods first-hand. By connecting researchers, government agencies and the public, the programme encourages greater participation in biodiversity conservation, environmental stewardship and citizen science.
What makes BFG distinctive is its approach to bridging research and public engagement. Rather than learning passively, participants step into the role of researchers by exploring forests, using field equipment, observing organisms and contributing biodiversity observations through citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist. Each session introduces a different theme, ecosystem or biodiversity focus, offering fresh perspectives on Brunei’s natural heritage.
The inaugural pilot, Brunei Forest Guardians: Bug Blitz, brought 18 participants to the Tropical Biodiversity Centre in Sungai Liang, in collaboration with the Forestry Department. Focusing on insects, one of the most diverse yet often overlooked groups in our forests, the programme encouraged participants to see the forest through a different lens.
The day began with welcoming remarks by Hazimah Haji Mohd Din, Assistant Lecturer at IBER and Project Lead for BFG, who reminded participants that “You don’t have to be a scientist to be a forest guardian.” The message captured the programme’s ethos: conservation can begin with curiosity, awareness and a willingness to explore.
Participants learned about insect biodiversity before venturing onto the forest trails. Equipped with sweep nets, pitfall traps and aspirators, they experienced how researchers collect and document insects and gained insights into their important roles in nutrient cycling, pollination and ecosystem processes. Back in the laboratory, microscopes and iNaturalist turned their discoveries into opportunities for identification, documentation and knowledge sharing.
The programme reflects UBD’s sustainability priorities by integrating education, research and community engagement, while supporting IBER’s mission to advance knowledge, education and outreach in biodiversity and environmental studies.
Future sessions for Brunei Forest Guardians will explore themes including forest-floor biodiversity, mangrove ecosystems, peat swamp forests and youth-focused nature programmes. Each session will continue to build a growing community of Forest Guardians: people who are curious about nature, committed to conservation and inspired to contribute to Brunei’s sustainability journey.
Bug Blitz was more than a day of insect exploration. It was an invitation to look closer, learn together and recognise that every observation can be a step towards protecting Brunei’s forests for generations to come.
For updates and information about future Brunei Forest Guardians events, follow the IBER Forest Ecology Group on Instagram at @peatswamp.iber and @ubd.iber.kbfsc.
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