DISCOVER RESEARCH08UBD Botanical Research Centre Secures Dipterocarp Conservation ProjectBotanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is a plant conservation charity based in Kew, London, England. It formed the world’s largest plant conservation network, working with 800 botanic gardens in 118 countries. Its mission is to mobilise botanic gardens and engage partners in securing plant diversity for the well-being of people and planet.In collaboration with other botanic gardens in Asia, including the Bogor Botanic Garden in Indonesia and the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre, Malaysia, the project is part of the Global Trees Campaign which aims to improve the knowledge and status of 15 endangered and endemic Dipterocarp tree species. Dr Daniele Cicuzza, Curator of the UBD Botanical Research Centre (BRC), leads the project from UBD’s side as it aims to ensure the botanical garden’s inclusion in reforestation programmes, which include both in-situ and ex-situ conservation.The UBD Botanical Research Centre (BRC) focuses on seven endangered and endemic Dipterocarp species, including the Shorea superba, Parashorea malaanonan and Anisoptera reticulata by collecting seeds, seedlings and saplings for ex-situ conservation at the garden. Data collected through location surveys may also help in improving the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List conservation assessments for these targeted species. The Centre also hopes that this project will aid in creating and developing material and carrying out training especially for local conservationists on the propagation and plantation of these Dipterocarp species.CITES aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Additionally, due to deforestation, forest fire and land use, this plant can be easily removed from the wild thus contributing to its population decrease. Additionally, in an ex-situ environment, many of the species have a lower survival rate during acclimatisation in the nursery. More field visits are expected this year to increase the UBD BRC collection and overcome the challenges of keeping these plants alive in an ex-situ environment.Endangered Dipterocarp species are those species that fall under either one of the following categories i.e. including vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List. These species are considered to be facing extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, mainly due to climate change, logging and deforestation, pollution and land use changes. Dipterocarp species do not flower regularly, and only do so at intervals of many years. They also have slow growth rates. As a result, when their population sizes are decreased due to anthropogenic disturbance, this low reproduction means their populations cannot recover quickly. As a newly established botanic garden and the only research-focused botanic garden in Brunei Darussalam, UBD BRC is honored to be part of this important project where its researchers can contribute crucial data and interact with other botanic gardens within South East Asia. The UBD BRC has been a member of the Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI) since 2018, when UBD BRC was officially launched. As a member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Botanical Research Centre was entitled to a National Geographic Society grant, which was obtained for a project entitled “Securing the Threatened Tree Giants in Borneo”.The UBD Botanical Research Centre embarked on the “Securing the Threatened Tree Giants in Borneo” project, focusing on endangered and endemic Dipterocarp species. Photo: Courtesy of Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER)
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