Call to set up biodiversity panel in Sarawak

The Star 1 Apr 10;

KUCHING: The state Forestry Department was urged to take the lead in setting up a panel of biodiversity experts responsible for charting future research needs and government policies on biological resources.

A panellist at the Sarawak Biological Resources Forum, Dr Paul Chai, said the forum revealed that a lot more could be done in biodiversity research, conservation and sustainable use.

“Form a panel of experts to discuss and identify the most urgent things to do now, and get researchers from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Japan (who have carried out studies on Sarawak’s biodiversity) to contribute as well.

“Prepare a strong recommendation and submit it to the Government for policy-making,” he said during a panel discussion yesterday.

Dr Chai, a botanist and International Tropical Timber Organisation project manager, said young people should also be encouraged and provided with opportunities to carry out biodiversity research.

Bearing in mind that biodiversity experts are currently scattered in different organisations, Sarawak Forestry Corporation biodiversity conservation senior manager Oswald Braken Tisen agreed that the Forestry Department should be the focal point in getting everyone to move towards better research initiatives and documentation, and information-sharing.