05DISCOVER UBDPrince ‘Abdul Mateen ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah graced ‘A Celebration of Brunei’s Rainforests’ which was held in the RGS Office in London. At the event, His Royal Highness shared Brunei’s efforts in protecting its environment through conservation policies and the management of forest reserves. With an estimated 75 percent of the Sultanate’s total land area is currently under forest cover, at least 55 percent of Brunei’s total land area is officially declared as national forest estate under its domestic laws. “This will ensure that our rainforests are preserved for decades to come,” His Royal Highness said in a sabda during the event.The protection of the fauna comes with the conservation of its flora. A number of critically endangered species inhabit Brunei’s rainforest such as the Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) and Malayan Pangolin (Manis javanica). And Brunei Darussalam is establishing a wildlife sanctuary on its forest reserves as well enforcing stronger penalties for the illegal capture of wild animals.Transnational projects such as the Heart of Borneo initiative which involves Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia aims to conserve the biodiversity of this part of the island where forests remain intact. This unique government-led and NGO-supported programme was initiated in 2017 and continues to benefit people who rely on these forests through a network of protected areas, sustainable management of forests and other sustainable land uses.UBD collaborated with King’s College London, University of London to explore the biodiversity of headwater streams in Ulu Temburong. Photo: Courtesy of Hanyrol Ahmad SahBiodiversity research is one of UBD’s priority research themes, contributing towards sustainable use and conservation of tropical biodiversity and ecosystems. Records of new plant, animal and microbial species discovered in the Sultanate continue to expand significantly. UBD collaborates with international partners such as King’s College London, University of London. UBD’s Rodzay Haji Abd Wahab and Siti Rafhiah Haji Abd Kahar along with Dr Michael Chadwick, Dr Robert A Francis, Dr Thomas Smith, Dr Daniel Schiellereff, and Kate Baker from King’s College London explored the biodiversity of headwater streams in Ulu Temburong. An extension of Baker’s earlier work and activities associated with the International Consortium of Universities for the Study of Biodiversity and the Environment (iCUBE), the research was then funded by RGS.The recently officiated UBD Botanical Research Centre plays an important role in the conservation of Brunei Darussalam endemic plants through an ex-situ conservation project. It is currently developing a project that focuses on the conservation of dipterocarp species in danger of extinction.With mid and long term plans to expand its accessibility to visitors, the centre can engage primary and secondary schools, developing “hands on” projects that allow the new generation closer contact with plants and raise the awareness of nature conservation.
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