The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity

1. The are at least two research groups in Malaysia, that I know, that look into the economics of ecosystem and biodiversity. One in Universiti Putra Malaysia led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Awang Noor Abdul Ghani and Prof. Dr. Shahwahid, both are forest economists and the other in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia led by Prof. Dr. Jamal Othman, an economist.

2. There is so much benefits that ecosystem biodiversity service could provide us and also the growing cost of biodiversity loss, not to mention also ecosystem degradation. There are studies elsewhere that are aimed to:
a) integrate ecological and economic knowledge to structure the evaluation of ecosystem services
b) address different ecosystem valuation methodologies
c) determine the economic costs of biodiversity decline and loss
d) raise public awareness of the impact on biodiversity and ecosystems

3. The challenge is really to manage our desire for food, energy, drugs and raw materials. while minimising adverse impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem service For instance it has been estimated that about USD3 trillion per year is lost as a result of defrestation and degradation. It is ironic that about USD 45 billions of the annual investment went into protected areas. It is thus estimated that some USD 5 trillion a year is needed to secure the delivery of ecosystem services.

4. When we prepared the National Biodiversity Policy document in 1998, we talked about the inclusion of sound ecosystem management and the inclusion of green capital in governmental and business accounting. However, that talk went on deaft ears.

5. I see this should be addressed at three levels. A policy toolkit is necessary to provide guidance for policy makers, coverig subsidies and incentives, environmental liability, new market structure, national income accounting, cost-benefit analysis etc

6. Secondaly, there is a need to create public awareness on the direct and indirect value o ecosystems and biodiversity and thirdly, it is imperative to mitigate or offset corporate impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. There are many examples in the developed countries that showed successful business models that recognise the value of ecosystem services and biodiversity.

On the diversity of Haniffia Holttum (Zingiberaceae)

1. In Peninsular Malaysia there are four genera named after notable Malaysians. The fungus genus Nawawia named after Emer. Prof. Dato' Dr. Ahmad Nawawi Hj. Ayub, ex Deputu Vice Chancellor, Dean & Head of Botany Department, University of Malaya. The genus Kochummenia (Rubiaceae) is named after the late Mr. K. M. Kochummen, once the living dictionary of dendrology of FRIM; Abdulmajidia (Lecythidaceae) is named after the late Mr. Abdul Majid, ex Forest Conservator of Malaya. He was the father of jazz-singer and celebrity Sheila Majid and Haniffia is named after the late Mohd. Haniff, a famous plant collector, gardener and curator of Penang Botanical Gardens

2. The genus Haniffia was named and described by the late Holttum in 1950 to accomodate a taxon, Ellettariopsis cyanescencs of Ridley (1904). The species is known from Bukit Tangga, Negeri Sembilan.

3. The second species Haniffia albiflora is described by Kai Larsen & J. Mood in 2000 based on specimens from Narathiwat province, Thailand. This species has white flowers with labellum white and yellow blotch at base. Whereas H. cyanescens has violet flowers and its labellum has white veins.

4. In the same year, Datuk Seri C K Lim described a new taxon from Penang that has white flowers with labellum veins blotched violet. In addition, the petiole apparently very short or absent. He named it Haniffia cyanescence var. penangiana.

5. Last year Datuk Seri C K Lim apparently collected another taxon that may be new, as it differs from the above taxa, from Perak. The specimen lacks flowers to ascertain its taxonomic status.

6. My student Ms. Rohana Kamarul Ariffin (2009) studied the three taxa, excluding H. albiflora and noted that they differ in detailed morphology and anatomy. She investigated the anatomy of petiole, midrib, lamina (margin), adaxial and abaxial epidermis. There are enough evidences to elevate var. penangiana to a specific rank. However, she is short of doing molecular studies, in particular DNA sequencing to ascertain their phylogenetic relationship.

7. I am keen the get the fresh samples of the four taxa to do some molecular studies.

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On Botanical Gardens and Arboretum

1. In the colonial days the British established a few Botanical Gardens in Malaya, the Botanical Gardens in Singapore, Penang, Taiping and Kuala Lumpur. The one in Singapore remains vibrant as a Botanical Garden, giving prestige and scientific integrity to the island republic. The one in Pulau Pinang is best called, "Botanical-Monkey" Gardens, that in Taiping has become a Tai Chi Gardens and the one in Kuala Lumpur has become a mixed bag garden of a sort. Thanks to the independent Malaya!

2. In the last decade the Botanical Garden in Putrajaya is established but it has not acquired the status of a Botanical Gardens in the scientific sense. In Melaka there is Ayer Keroh Botanical Gardens, again it is mixed bag garden. These gardens are developed by engineers and landscape architects without much botanical and scientific inputs. In the case of the former there was a futile attempt to incoprporate some of the botanical brains of the country, the like of Prof. E. Soepadmo, Dr. Francis S. P Ng, Dr. Saw Leng Guan and Prof. K. M. Wong but it not materialise.

3. At the other state level there are no Botanical Gardens, though there was a rumour last year that Terengganu might want to establish one. Johor has one Botanical Garden in Batu Pahat which is yet to qualify as a botanical garden. Sabah and Sarawak have no botanical garden.

4. The Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia wishes to establish a National Arboretum in Bidor, Perak. This augurs very well with the national aspiration in light of the country becoming a some-what developed nation by 2020.

5. Currently, there is one Arboretum at FRIM in Kepong. The Non-Dipterocarp Arboretum and the Dipterocarp Arboretum are well maintained for education and research.

Biodiversity Seminar of Gunung Gagau & Tasik Kenyir

1. On 11-12 May, some 50 scientists and staffs of PERHILITAN and KETENGAH gathered at Lake Kenyir Resort & Spa to discuss the findings of the Scientific Expedition to Gunung Gagau. The expedition was conducted in february 2008 and this seminar was organised by Akademi Sains Malaysia with PERHILITAN & KETENGAH.

2. The geologists, Dr. Kamal Roslan, Dr. Che Aziz and Prof. Shaffea discussed the geological formation of Gunung Gagau (1376 m above sea level) and the geology of the surrounding areas as geoassets. The geological heritage of Gua Bewah and Gua Taat was also discussed.

3. Three papers on herpetofauna were presented. Dr. Norhayati discussed the diversity of the herpetofauna of Sungai Tebat area; Mr. Daicus Belabut discussed the herpetofauna of Gua Bewah and mr. Hamidi discussed that of Gunung Gagau. In a way the three presenters covered the whole area of Tasik Kenyir and Gunung Gagau. While there is no new species discovered, there is a need to investigate further the lizards of Gua Bewah.

4. Ms Nik Norhazrina discussed the moss flora of Gunung Gagau that recorded a total of 45 new records for Terengganu bryoflora. Mr. Razali Jaman presented the pteridophyte flora of Gunung Gagau, with a few new records and two unresolved taxa. Dr. Mohd. Nazre discussed the flowering plants along the trail to Gunung Gagau. He pointed the occurrence of some populations of Rafflesia cantleyi and Rhizanthes infanticida at Sungai Cicir and Sungai Pak Chau.

5. In my summary, I pointed the need to translate this rich and diverse biodiversity and geodiversity of Gunung Gagau and Tasik Kenyir area for the development of ecotourism products. We took note of the future proposed physical and ecotourism development of Tasik Kenyir by KETENGAH.

*picture from KETENGAH official website

Biodiversity Scientific Expedition of Pulau Pangkor

1. From the early morning of 5th May to the late evening of 7th May, more than 130 scientists from the local universities (UM, USM, UPM, UKM, UMT, UiTM, UTM, UPSI), research institutes (FRIM, SIRIM) and government departments (PERHILITAN, Forestry departments, Botanic Gardens Putrajaya, NAHRIM) took part in the Scientific Expedition of Pulau Pangkor. It was efficiently and systematically organised by the Forestry Department of Perak & Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia.

2. This time no geologists took part as the rock formation of Pulau P)angkor is not interesting - they are all granites.

3. Dr. Wan Ruslan of USM surveyed the water quality of small rivers and streams and concluded that it belongs to Class 1 - hence very clean. The researchers from NAHRIM also surveyed the water resources. Apologies from the team of Dr. Mohd Kamil of UPM whose vehicles went into trouble at Slim River, hence it was hauled back to the campus.

4. The fauna teams had their day. The team Dr. Shahrul Anuar (USM) caught and observed many species of bats and other non-volant small mammals in their harp traps and mist nets. The teams from FRIM led by Ms Azlin and PERHILITAN led by Ms Rahmah observed the avifauna. All of us were amazed by the behaviour of the hornbills which waited to be fed early in the morning by the spoilers. Dr. Norhayati Ahmad (UKM) surveyed the amphibians and reptiles.

5. Dr. Y F Ng (UKM) surveyed the thrips, Dr. C Y Choong (UKM) surveyed the odonates, Dr. Fauziah Abdullah (UM) surveyed the beetles, Azman of Forestry Department Pahang and Mr. Chooi (UPM) surveyed the spiders, Mr Cheong (UPM) surveyed the termites, the team from UKM caught the moths and butterflies.

6. Haji Ahmad Zainudin (Putrajaya) and Kak Fah (UPM) surveyed the higher plants, Dr. Rusea Go (UPM) and Mr A Rhman Jalil (Pahang) surveyed the orchids, Mr. Tajuddin (UPM) collected the medicinal plants, Dr. Haja Maideen surveyed the pteridophytes, Cik Gu Nasir (ULP Kepong) and Ranger Salleh (Terengganu) surveyed the dipterocarps, Dr. Wan Juliana surveyed the mangroves and Dr. Mohd Nizam (UKM) studied the forest structure.

7. Mr Azid Adam (Perak) surveyed the Balau Putih (Shorea lumutensis) in Sungai Pinang Forest Reserve especially in Compartment 2 and 5. The Forestry Depantment intends to carry out a 100% inventory of the species. It is an endemic species found only in Pulau Pangkor, Lumut and Segari Melintang. Cik Gu Nasir casted some doubts on its present distribution as he thinks the species also occur in Terengganu and Johor. Accordingly, the species is closely related to Shorea cuspidatum, if not conspecific with it.

Details of their findings will be featured in my future postings.

A trip to Mount Kinabalu

1. Some members of the Faculty of Science & Technology paid a visit to Sabah Parks. On the 30th April we had a tripartite meeting with Sabah Parks and Institute for Tropical Biodiversity Conseercation of UMS. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Jamili Nais, Deputy Director Sabah Parks.

2. The three partners agreed in principle to embark on R & D undertakings at least at two different parks, namely at Kinabalu park and Tun Sankaran Dandai Marine Park, for a start. The former for the terrestrial biodiversity and the latter for the marine biodiversity.

3. On 1st May nine members climbed to Layang-Layang, but in the afternoon Prof. Datuk Dr. Noramly was escorted back as he had a right thigh cram. I was informed three went on to Panar Laban but failed to scaled up the peak as it was raining.

4. On the 1st and the morning of the 2nd May, I worked in the herbarium identifying and annotated the Vitaceae lodged there. Apparently, I did this work twice in 1984, repeated it in 1987 and went back there in 1993. But this was my first visit to work in the new herbarium. Incidently I had identified all the specimens except one sterile specimen of Tetrastigma of which I had no clue.

5. This morning we visited the herbarium and the labs of UMS and all of us were impressed with the new and first-class lab facilities in this Institute. It was Sunday yet many staffs turned up to be with us. Thank you.

Academy of Science - 14th AGM

1. Yesterday 25th April, as usual as a Fellow of the Academy, I attended the 14th Annual General Meeting of the Science Academy of Malaysia. The meeting started 10 minutes after 10 am and went on as scheduled.

2. The Presidential address was good especially coming from a corporate engineer who wished to see a more meaningful and effective academy in Malaysia. In his capacity as the President, he had visited the Royal Society in London and he tried to make a comparison between a 14-year academy with a 350 years old institution that is full of scientific history. Well, he has the right to compare.

3. The Royal Society as well as other science academies elsewhere had a long illustrious history and scientific innovations and ideas for their Fellows were real scientists who made their names in hard research. Many of our Fellows are not even scientists and let alone had done scientific research in their life times.

4. Apparently, the average age of the fellows of the academy is about 70 and in yesterday inception of 18 new fellows, the average age is 57. Among the new fellows are Prof. Dato Zaini Ujang (UTM Vice Chancellor), Prof. Datin Paduka Aini Idris (UPM Deputy Vice Chancellor), Prof. Phang Siew Moi (UM), Prof. Dato' Halimah Badio Zaman (UKM) and Dr. Wan Abdul Rahman Wan Yaacob (ex RRIM). The academy incepted two new senior fellows including Tan Sri Mustafa Babjee.

5. As in previous years, there were similar debates on the academic criteria to be adopted for the inception of new fellows. While there were those who had wanted to limit the number, there are also who would like to see some deserving scientists to be admitted as fellows. As an academy of science, I would like it to grow bigger in lights of Malaysia wants to be developed by 2020, hence the academy must pursue good science and scientists. The definitions of "academy" must be upheld and preserved and I didn't agree with the admission of some fellows in the past. But they were admited on certain purpose, it is only the founding fellows knew their criteria.

6. All in all, the academy is developing and I look forward to contributing to it in my own small ways.