Editorial Board - Forest Research Institute Malaysia

Editorial
QUEST TO BE
ABOVE PAR
The past three years since 2009 have been
exceptionally good for the Forest Research
Institute Malaysia (FRIM). FRIM has carved its
name on as many as ten significant awards and
recognitions in various categories beginning
May 2009 to the most recent on February 2012.
It is indeed an enormous accomplishment for
FRIM, led by its current Director General, Dato’
Dr Abdul Latif Mohmod and previous Director
Generals, who have enabled FRIM to realise
its vision of being a world leader in tropical
forestry research.
During 2009 FRIM received two major awards;
the prestigious Nikkei Asia Prize for Science,
Technology and Innovation was presented on 20
May 2009 in recognition of FRIM contribution
to environmental protection in the region. Four
months later, FRIM received the highly acclaimed
Mahathir Science Award under the category of
Tropical Natural Resources in recognition of its
significant role in the development of the country’s
rubberwood furniture industry.
The following year in 2010, FRIM received three
awards; the APECP (Association of Professional
Early Childhood Providers Malaysia) Excellent
Child Contributor Award 2009/2010 for ChildFriendly Eco-Education Destination on 31 March
2010. The next award was on 18 November 2010,
whereby its main campus in Kepong was officially
declared as one of the country’s natural heritage
sites. The final award for 2010 presented on 16
December was the National Book Award 2010
for the Best Technical Book category for the
publication entitled, FRIM Tapak Warisan
Semula Jadi Negara.
Editorial
Board
Advisors
Dato’ Dr Abdul Latif Mohmod
Dr Mohamed Nor Mohd Yusoff
International Socrates
Award (article on page 4)
The following years after 2010, five more awards
were presented to FRIM which will be featured
in this issue of FRIM in Focus. They are the
BrandLaureate Award 2010–2011 for Best Brand
in Forestry–Environment Conservation, the
Celebrity Brand Award for Celebrity Education
under the Category of Shining Stars, NRE Top
Star Rating Award, the International Socrates
Award for Best Enterprise (Applied Research
and Scientific Achievements) Award 2011 and the
National Book Award 2012.
Since its establishment in 1985, the number of
awards and recognition received by the Institute
as well as its researchers has been steadily
increasing. Many of its researchers are recognised
as experts in their fields both within and outside
the country and thus are sought after especially by
the research and industry circles.
The Editor
FRIM in Focus
Technical Editor
Norhara Hussein
Editor & Writer
Ida Suraini Abd Shukor
FRIM in Focus (FIF) is distributed free of charge upon request. We welcome feedback on any of the FIF articles.
Address comments and enquiries to:
The Editor & Writer of FRIM In Focus
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
52109 Kepong, Selangor DE, Malaysia
Telephone : 603-6279 7501 | Facsimile : 603-6273 1076
E-mail : idasuraini@frim.gov.my | Website : www.frim.gov.my
Design & Printing : Concept Press Sdn Bhd
Original articles and photos for the Focus Articles courtesy of Toh An Nee and Yusni Idris respectively.
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A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
Focus article
From left Ong Poh Teck, Wendy Yong, Dato Dr Abdul Latif Mohmod and Dr Saw Leng Guan
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD
The National
Book Award
recognises the
best of Malaysia’s
literature and
honours writers
in form of 18
awards presented
The award-winning publication
in various
categories. This year, Forest Research Institute
Malaysia (FRIM) became the proud second-time
winner of the Award for the Best Technical Book
category for its beautifully illustrated book
entitled, Wild Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia.
The award was presented to FRIM Director General,
Dato’ Dr Abdul Latif Mohmod by the National Book
Foundation (YPBN) Chairman, Datuk Mohd Khalid
Yunus, at the National Book Award 2012 ceremony
held on 2 February at Dewan Merdeka, Putra World
Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur.
The award ceremony was held in conjunction with
the International Book Conference and 1Malaysia
Book Expo, organised by YPBN in collaboration with
the Ministry of Higher Learning, non-governmental
organisations and the Malaysian Book Industry
Council (MBIC).
The Wild Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia, co-authored
by Ong Poh Teck, Peter O’ Byrne, Wendy Yong and Dr
Saw Leng Guan, is a comprehensive, richly illustrated
book showcasing the diversity of the country’s wild
orchid flora and featuring more than 450 indigenous
orchid species.
The book reveals startling new discoveries in
pollination; explains the role of FRIM in the field,
the nursery and the laboratory; as well as discusses
conservation laws, the threats to wild orchids and the
prospects for combating them, among others.
It also represents the summation of work by the
distinguished FRIM botanists who have been working
on the Flora of Peninsular Malaysia documentation
project implemented by FRIM since 2005. Other FRIM
publications which are based on the documentation
project are Flora of Peninsular Malaysia Series 1:
Ferns and Lycophytes, Volume 1, Flora of Peninsular
Malaysia Series 2: Seed Plants Volume 1 and Flora of
Peninsular Malaysia Series 2: Seed Plants Volume 2.
With its second time National Book Award won, FRIM
is continuing its efforts which started in 2008 to
produce more attractive and easy-to-read publications
to share its scientific knowledge, findings and other
relevant information with the public.
Earlier on, FRIM won the award for the first time in
2010 for its publication entitled, “FRIM Tapak Warisan
Semulajadi Negara”.
Adapted from the article "FRIM Wins Best Technical Book
Award Again" at www.frim.gov.my
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
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Focus article
INTERNATIONAL SOCRATES AWARD FOR
BEST ENTERPRISE AWARD 2011
The International Socrates
Award is given to recognise the
intellectual development of
today’s society by the Europe
Business Assembly (EBA),
an independent corporation
formed for social, economic
and humanitarian cooperation.
EBA is a non-governmental
organisation that facilitates
economic transformation
through the exchange of up-todate experience and practice. It
encourages the establishment
of economic, educational,
cultural and scientific ties and
supports the national
business elite.
The FRIM DG receiving the award from Christina Howell & Paul Briggs,
Chamber of Commerce/European Business Assembly and International
Socrates Committee Award
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) received
double awards from the European Business
Assembly (EBA) at The Oxford Summit of Leaders
on 12 December 2011 held at The Oxford Town Hall,
Oxford, United Kingdom. The Institute received the
International Socrates Award for Best Enterprise
(Applied Research and Scientific Achievements)
Award 2011 while its Director General, Dato’ Dr
Abdul Latif Mohmod accepted the International
Socrates Award for European Manager of the Year
(Applied Research and Scientific Achievements)
Award 2011.
FRIM obtained the award for the Institute’s reliability,
consistency and excellence of achievement and
professionalism in the area of research and
development (R&D). FRIM conducts R&D in
tropical forestry and forest products through its
five research divisions namely the Forestry and
Environment Division, the Forest Products Division,
the Biotechnology Division, the Forest Biodiversity
Division and the Natural Products Division. The
Institute’s researches are mainly to develop the
forestry sector, to conserve the forest resources, as
well as to supply information in the areas of forest
management and use of forest products. FRIM also
collaborates with other bodies in its research and
forest development activities.
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FRIM in FOCUS
The FRIM Director General was awarded for his
efforts in initiating change in the system and
traditional work practices that has propelled
the performance and ranking of FRIM globally.
His achievements also include transforming the
research delivery system and implementing scientific
professionalism in environmental awareness and
economic generation from R&D.
FRIM and Abdul Latif are the first recipients from
Malaysia since the inception of the 47 Oxford
Summit of Leaders. The Summit draws together
senior executives in the business, education and
agricultural sectors who are determined to make
their businesses thrive rather than become victims
of market trends.
Adapted from the article
“FRIM Receives the
International Socrates
Award 2011”at
www.frim.gov.my
The trophy and medal
won by FRIM and FRIM
Director General
Focus article
TOP PRIZE FOR
NRE STAR RATING
The Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment’s (NRE) Star Rating Award
was organised based on criteria by the
Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and
Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) for
measuring the performance of public sector
agencies. The Forest Research Institute
Malaysia (FRIM), an agency under the NRE
emerged as the winner of the competition
held for the first time by the Ministry.
FRIM Director General Dato’ Dr Abdul Latif
Mohmod received the prizes comprising a trophy, a
certificate and RM5000 from NRE Secretary-General
Dato’ Zoal Azha Yusoff at the Ministry’s Innovation Day
2011 celebration, on 14 November 2011.
In conjunction with the celebration of Innovation Day
2011, the Ministry conducted various competitions
between September and November 2011 for which
FRIM won the following:
• Second for the NRE Goes Green Competition
• Second for the Best Human Resource
Management Award
• Third for the NRE 5S Mini Convention:
Implementation of 5S Practices
• Third for the Innovation Choir Competition
• Third for the NRE Dakwah Songs Competition 2011
• 5-Star for the Malaysian Government Portals and
Websites Assessment Excellence Award
1
The event also attracted the participation of all 12
agencies and departments under the Ministry in the
Best Exhibition Design and Decoration Competition,
which saw displays of various themes and latest
information.
Later in December, FRIM was presented the second
prize for best Exhibition Design and Decoration Award
which came with a cash prize of RM2000, trophy and
certificate.
Adapted from "FRIM Wins Top Prize for NRE Star Rating"
at www.frim.gov.my
2
The main objective of the celebration was to promote
a healthy competition among the various agencies
and departments under the Ministry, in effective
implementation of management and service delivery,
and to accord recognition for their continuous efforts
to improve their performance through innovation and
creativity.
1. The FRIM DG receiving trophy
and certificate from the NRE
Secretary General
3
2. The Minister delivering his speech
at the launching of the Innovation
Day 2011
3. FRIM officers and FRIM DG
(middle) with cheques, certificates
and trophies won during the NRE
Innovation Day 2011
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
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Focus article
1
CELEBRITY
BRAND
AWARD
The Forest Research Institute
Malaysia (FRIM) received
the Celebrity Brand Award
for Celebrity Education
at a ceremony held on 25
November 2011 in Kuala
Lumpur.
FRIM Director General Dato’ Dr
Abdul Latif Mohmod received the
trophy and certificate presented
by HRH Princess Samdech Reach
Botrei Preah Anoch Norodom
Arunrasmy, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia.
The Celebrity Brand Award is an
initiative of the Celebrity Brand
Centre to nurture the trend of
branding, promoting the spirit
of branding perseverance and
sustainability, and to enhance
transformation from the
ordinary to the celebrity brand.
The Celebrity Education under
the Category of Shining Stars
accords recognition to education
providers who have offered
quality education for the present
and future generations.
FRIM has gained an important
distinction having been declared
6
2
one of the natural heritage sites
of Malaysia in 2009, and a model
for successful tropical forest
rehabilitation, management and
conservation.
The Celebrity Education Award
was presented to the Institute
in recognition of its continuous
efforts in sharing knowledge and
experience, and in promoting
public awareness on the
importance of natural forest and
environment conservation.
Early 2011, FRIM won the
BrandLaureate Awards 2010–2011
for the Best Brand in Forestry—
Environment Conservation.
Among others, the Institute
also received the Association
of Professional Early Childhood
Providers Malaysia (APECP)
Excellent Child Contributor Award
2009/2010 for child-friendly ecoeducation destination; Nikkei Asia
Prize 2009 for its contribution to
environmental protection in the
region and the Mahathir Science
Award 2009 for its contribution
to the research and development
of the country’s rubberwood
industry.
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March 2012
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3
1. FRIM’s Celebrity Education Award
2011 Trophy and Certificate
2. FRIM representatives led by its DG
(middle) at the ceremony
3. The FRIM DG receiving the award
trophy and certificate from HRH
Norodom Arunrasmy
Source: “FRIM Wins Another Prestigious
Award” at www.frim.gov.my
Focus article
BRANDLAUREATE FOR
BEST BRAND IN FORESTRY
The Forest Research Institute
Malaysia (FRIM) received yet
another award in recognition of its
achievements—The BrandLaureate
Awards 2010–2011 for the Best
Brand in Forestry–Environment
Conservation.
The award was presented to FRIM
Director General Dato' Dr Abdul
Latif Mohmod by The BrandLaureate
President Dr KK Johan at an official
ceremony held on 23 March 2011 in
Kuala Lumpur.
The award was granted based on the
Institute’s consistent performance
and achievements, including winning
the Nikkei Asia Prize 2009 for its
contribution to environmental protection
in the region; the Mahathir Science
Award 2009 for its contribution to
the research and development of
the country’s rubberwood industry;
the Association of Professional Early
Childhood Providers Malaysia (APECP)
Excellent Child Contributor Award
2009/2010 for child-friendly ecoeducation destination; and National
Book Award 2010 for the best technical
book.
The Institute has also gained further
prominence having been declared as
one of the natural heritage sites in
the country, and become a model for
successful tropical forest rehabilitation,
management and conservation.
As a government agency, FRIM has been
proactive and creative in carrying out
corporate social responsibility (CSR)
activities with corporate partners such
as Petronas, Shell, Tetrapak, Minutes
and Jacobs, including “tree planting for
business tourism” activities with MYCEB
Tourism Malaysia.
The BrandLaureate
trophy
FRIM has also collaborated with other
government agencies, corporate
bodies as well as non-governmental
organisations in organising awareness
raising programmes including the
annual celebrations of the World
Environment Day and World Forestry
Day, and other activities of mutual
benefits for the public.
Among others, FRIM is also the first
research institute in Malaysia to obtain
ISO 9001:2008; it is one of the three
Bionexus Referral Centres in Malaysia
and it has six laboratories with Bionexus
status and 12 with ISO 17025, apart from
having the only FIRA-certified furniture
testing centre in Malaysia.
Source: “FRIM Wins Award for Best Brand in
Forestry" at www.frim.gov.my
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
Dato' Dr Abdul Latif after
receiving the award
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
7
Forestry article
TREATING THE PEAT
SWAMP FOREST
Perlis
Dr Ismail Parlan
ismailp@frim.gov.my
Kedah
Pulau
Pinang
Kelantan
Terengganu
Perak
Pahang
Selangor
Federal
Territory
Negeri
Sembilan
Melaka
Johor
Major peat swamp
areas in Peninsular Malaysia
Peat swamp forest should
be managed in a sustainable
way, as it plays an important
role in maintaining a healthy
environment, particularly by
sequestrating and stocking of
carbon dioxide. Peat swamp
forest is able to store six
to ten times more carbon
dioxide compared to
other forest types due
to its high organic soil
content. An intact peat
swamp forest in Malaysia
is able to store an average of
2000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
per ha. Although peat swamp
forest covers only about 6% (0.30
million ha) of total forest area in
Peninsular Malaysia, it is one of
the largest wetland ecosystems
and contributes significantly to
the environment.
Peat swamp forest areas also
produce timber, though not as
much as the dry inland forest.
Mainly due to human activities,
some of the peat swamp forest is
now degrading including parts of
the North Selangor Peat Swamp
Forest. The degradation of the
North Selangor Peat Swamp
Forest was due to its state land
earmarked for development status
before being gazetted as a forest
reserve in the early 1990’s.
Rehabilitation trial of peat
swamp forest at Sungai
Karang Forest Reserve,
Selangor using Gonystylus
bancanus
8
Degraded peat swamp forest
requires silviculture treatments
to assist its recovery. Proper
treatment could improve the
productivity of the logged-over
peat swamp forest, sustain high
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FRIM in FOCUS
quality timber production without
compromising the environment, aid
the recovery of the forest and enrich
it with commercial peat swamp
forest species. Untended areas of
degraded peat swamp forest on
the other hand are economically
unproductive and some are highly
susceptible to forest fire. In peat
swamps, haze forest fire has become
a major threat to the environment,
the national economic and human
health.
Forest Research Institute Malaysia
(FRIM) has studied the degraded
peat swamp forest and discovered
its need for rehabilitation measures.
A number of factors determine the
success of rehabilitating degraded
areas which include the choice of
planting methods and post-planting
treatments, the supply of quality
planting materials, the timing of
planting, and the protection of
planted sites from forest fires.
In the states of Selangor and
Pahang, FRIM has conducted
trial planting on various types of
degraded areas including grassland,
secondary and logged-over forests.
Degradation may occur as high,
medium and low stages depending
on the activities at the respective
areas and warrants a specific type
of rehabilitation technique. The
common planting techniques for
rehabilitation trials include open
and line planting with mounding in
certain areas, and some of the tested
species include mersawa paya
(Anisoptera marginata), bintangor
gambut (Calophyllum ferrugineum),
durian paya (Durio carinatus), nyatoh
ketiau (Madhuca motleyana), ramin
melawis (Gonystylus bancanus) and
meranti paya (Shorea platycarpa).
Forestry article
The cost of rehabilitating a peat
swamp area is considerably more
expensive than the dry inland forests
and may reach up to about RM2000
to RM3500 per ha depending on the
planting technique but excluding the
cost of post-planting treatments.
In the state of Selangor, FRIM
cooperates with the Selangor
Forestry Department and Universiti
Putra Malaysia to conduct open
planting activities on grassland and
ex-burnt areas, as well as open and
line plantings for secondary forest.
In the state of Pahang however, FRIM
works together with the Pahang
Forestry Department and the Danish
International Development Agency
(DANIDA) to conduct line planting
and mounding trials on logged-over
forests. For secondary forest and
open areas however, open and line
plantings were conducted with the
support received from the United
Nations Development Programme/
Global Environment Fund (UNDP/
GEF) Peat Swamp Forest Project.
The planting trials showed positive
results after five years with a
survival rate of more than 70% for
some species. Thus, it is possible to
restore degraded peat swamp forest
not only in Peninsular Malaysia but
other similar areas in the country.
A proper set of rehabilitation
guidelines for peat swamp forest
is being developed based on
the studies for the managers of
rehabilitation programmes.
1
2
3
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Currently is the Head of the Wetland
Section under the Natural Forest
Programme. Obtained his first
and second degrees on forest
management from Universiti
Putra Malaysia (UPM) and PhD on
ecology from Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia (UKM), the author also
served as research officer at FRIM
since 1996. His research areas
are mainly on peat swamp forest
ecosystem, covering aspects of
forest rehabilitation, reduced impact
logging (RIL), ecology, forest fires
and wetland management and
conservation.
1. Planting materials of peat
swamp forest species at a
temporary nursery
2. Rehabilitation trial showing a
10-year old plot
3. Degraded peat swamp forest
4. Rehabilitation trial at Pekan
ForestReserve (open/mound
planting)
4
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
9
Biodiversity article
A female Draco melanopogon basking
on a tree trunk
BLACK-BEARDED
FLYING LIZARD, DRACO
MELANOPOGON
Kaviarasu Munian
kaviarasu@frim.gov.my
The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) main
campus in Kepong is home to a diversity of floral and
faunal species. Although it is already known that some
of its forest were planted back in the 1920`s, its faunal
inhabitants do not need any introductions. One of the
naturally occurring animals that are easily sighted at
FRIM campus is the black-bearded flying lizard, or
D. melanopogon is also known for their territorial
behaviors which are communicated using its throat
scientifically called Draco melanopogon.
fan, neck lappets and patagial skin.
Draco melanopogon is cold-blooded, like all other
D. melanopogon is often seen at eye level on tree
reptiles and classified under the family Agamidae. It is
trunks and sometimes higher up to the canopy level.
also a flying lizard species
in which males are instantly They prefer shady lowland tropical forest and are
recognised by their big and distributed up to the middle range elevation. In FRIM
campus, they are usually observed on tree trunks
brightly coloured throat
along the Canopy Walkway and the Rover Trail, as
pouches. This species is
well as other covered forest patches. They usually
among the smallest and
most abundant in its group, feed on ants, termites and sometimes on beetles
and moths too.
sizing to about 24 cm per
individual. The males have
The black-bearded flying lizard under the
long, black throat fan and
International Union for Conservation of Nature
a slightly slender body.
Females on the other hand, (IUCN) is a least concerned and not a protected
species under the Wildlife Act, 2010. Nevertheless,
have a smaller throat fan
humans should be responsible to ensure that the
than males, or none at all.
Yellow spots on its patagium
forests remain pristine and intact for the continued
As all flying lizards, they
survival of this and many other species.
also have an extension
of skin radiating from their body, called the patagium
which is supported by five elongated and foldable ribs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The patagial skin for this species is black with yellow
Kaviarasu Munian is a research officer at the Zoology Branch,
speckles.
Forest Biodiversity Division, FRIM. His area of research is
Although D. melanopogon is seen to fly, in reality it is
merely gliding using its extended skin which enables the
lizard to sail in significant distances down to a particular
tree.
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FRIM in FOCUS
mainly on reptiles. He has previously written several articles
in FRIM in Focus namely “Clean Tips on How to Keep Snakes
Away”, “A Malayan Horned Frog Story. Is it A Myth?” and “A
Tale of the Phyton”.
Biodiversity article
GENTLE GIANTS
OF THE POND
Izzati Adilah binti Azmir
izzati_adilah@salam.uitm.edu.my
Kaviarasu Munian
A trip to the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) campus will not be complete without paying a
visit to the three giants of FRIM pond. These giants are freshwater fish known as the Arapaima that live
in a pond nestled between two buildings marked
as D1 and D6, and situated adjacent to the
Foxworthy Road.
As the name suggests, this fish is enormous and can
reach up to five metres and 200 kilogram in length
and weight. Due to its monstrous size, the Arapaima is
sometimes known as the river monster but in reality,
it is a gentle animal that naturally feeds upon smaller
fish, molluscs, insects, crustaceans and even food
pellets. Harmless as it may appear, the Arapaima,
which gut is 1.8 times its body length is known as a
formidable predator.
The giant fishes swim towards the glulam bridge where they
usually obtain food from visitors
The Arapaimas at FRIM pond however, enjoy eating
bread as they have been trained by tourists and FRIM
Zoologists. Arapaima eats by sucking noisily on its food International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora) and listed in Appendix II.
making sounds similar to a huge balloon popping. It
surfaces to suck on food and obtains oxygen which is
The Arapaima prefers sandy areas usually at the banks
required every 10 to 20 minutes.
of lakes, temporary lakes, and connecting channels
during high water levels to build their nests in. The adult
Arapaima is also known by a Brazilian word, piracuru
meaning “red fish” because of its colour during mating Arapaima spends three to five days building its nest and
spawns immediately. Its young hatches three to five days
season. Males display an intense red color of the
abdominal scales which is less intense for the females. later.
The Arapaimas at FRIM consist of one male and two
The Arapaimas of FRIM have been around for almost 14
females.
years since 1998 and are able to live up to 50 years. Earlier,
Arapaima gigas as it is scientifically known belongs to they lived in a pond in front of the FRIM mosque but were
one of the oldest fish lineages from the Osteoglossidae later transferred to the current pond as they grew bigger.
Hopefully, these gentle giants will live to 50 years or more,
or the bony-tongue fish family. In Asia, Arapaima is
associated with prosperity and good luck to its owner. thus continue to fascinate visitors, young and old alike.
Arowana, a famous ornamental fish also belongs to the
ABOUT THE MAIN AUTHOR
same family (Osteoglossidae) but it is smaller in size.
Izzati Adilah Azmir was a former Research Officer at the Zoology
Branch, Forest Biodiversity Division, FRIM. Her area of research
Wild Arapaima inhabits both white or clear water, and
is mainly on fish. She is now serving at the International
black or muddy water of forest rivers and lakes. Due
Education Center (INTEC), Universiti Institut Teknologi MARA,
to increasing human pressure, its population has been
Shah Alam, Selangor.
in steady decline since the 1960s, and in 1975 it was
protected under CITES convention (the Convention on
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
11
Book review
REVISION OF MALAYSIAN SPECIES
OF BOLETALES SL (BASIDIOMYCOTA)
DESCRIBED BY EJH CORNER (1972, 1974)
Book Title
Revision of Malaysian species of
Boletales sl (Basidiomycota) described
by EJH Corner (1972, 1974)
Author
E Horak, 2011
Series
Malayan Forest Records No 51
Publisher
Forest Research Institute Malaysia
Price
RM70/USD 53
The 1972 publication of EJH Corner’s Boletus
in Malaysia (and a 1974 follow-up publication)
represents a landmark in the taxonomy of
boletoid fungi. The importance of this work
is twofold. First, it provides the first (and still
largely unsurpassed) extensive exposition of the
prodigious biodiversity of boletes in tropical East
Asia. Corner (1972) described nearly 100 new
bolete species; furthermore, he noted that many
species could not be described due to the sheer
abundance of collections and environmental
conditions that caused many to decompose
before they could be examined, as well as to the
abundance of suitable habitat, stating in regard
to the latter: “When I consider the immense
number of places unexplored mycologically in
Malaysia, I think 300 species of boleti may be
no exaggeration.” Second, Corner’s book called
into question the tidiness of generic concepts
that were constructed around the comparatively
depauperate north temperate mycota. Corner
maintained that the defining characteristics of
many bolete genera (such as color of the spore
deposit) did not hold when tested by the tropical
mycota, but rather exhibited a continuum
between genera.
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Despite the importance of this work, its impact
on—and utility for—subsequent taxonomic studies
in tropical Asia and Australasia has been somewhat
diminished by taxonomic out-datedness and the
restricted availability of type collections and other
material examined by Corner. In accordance with
his observations on intergradation of characters
between genera, Corner (1972) recognised only four
bolete genera—Boletus, Gyroporus, Heimiella (now
Heimioporus), and Strobilomyces—while placing
many taxa under subgenera (eg, Austroboletus,
Leccinum, Tylopilus) that are widely recognised at
generic rank by other workers. Therefore, many taxa
are in need of nomenclatural revision to bring them
up to date with current taxonomic concepts. As a
result of high humidity in both field and herbarium
storage localities, primitive field conditions for
drying specimens, and storage methods, many
of Corner’s collections were damaged by molds,
degraded by storage in alcohol formalin (or hardened
by evaporation of AF during storage), or rendered
toxic by treatment with mercuric chloride; restricted
access to collections and restricted accessibility of
important microcharacters have been the result.
Given the importance of Corner’s collections and
the difficulties inherent in their study, the present
revision by Egon Horak is a most welcome and
important contribution to the taxonomic study of
boletes. Dr. Horak presents revised descriptions
of taxa combining information from Corner’s
original protologues and Latin diagnoses (the latter
translated into English to facilitate study), data
gained from additional studies of Corner’s holotypes
and other collections, and data from studies of
holotype collections from other collectors (including
Baker, Heim, Höhnel, Hooker, and Ridley, among
others) for those species included but not described
by Corner. Horak provides analyses of 160 (124
accepted, 22 doubtful, and 14 rejected, excluded, or
invalid) species, including emended descriptions,
line drawings of microscopic features (127 figures),
Book review
molecular evidence presented after the preparation
of Dr Horak’s volume (Osmundson and Halling 2010),
but other species remain to be evaluated in the light
of DNA sequence data. In the meantime, a provisional
placement based on spore morphology seems
reasonable; this example emphasises that some of
our present taxonomic concepts contain inherent
contradictions and may very well change in the light
of additional data and analyses.
lists of observations and conclusions from his
studies, and nomenclatural changes necessary for
bringing the nomenclature of Corner’s taxa upto-date with current concepts. Additional features
include taxonomic keys to all of the treated taxa,
a list of additional important taxonomic studies of
boletes from the Far East, a synopsis of all of the
treated taxa arranged by currently accepted genus,
and species list indexed by specific epithet. Perhaps
most importantly, Horak brings to this study his own
extensive personal experience working in Malaysia
and the Asian tropics, and is therefore able to
conceptualise Corner’s taxa in a broad comparative
context.
Any taxonomic revision requires some judgments as
to the placement of species in more inclusive taxa. In
the boletes, a longstanding taxonomic issue involves
character weighting of species with pale shortelliptical or phaseoliform basidiospores; an example
of this issue is Rubinoboletus, in which species
have been placed that share this spore morphology
but differ significantly in other characteristics
(see Osmundson and Halling 2010). In the present
revision, Horak places a number of species with
pale phaseoliform basidiospores in Gyroporus, and
in so doing emphasises spore morphology over
characteristics (eg, presence/absence of clamp
connections, orientation of hyphae in the stipe)
emphasised by some previous authors. In the case of
Gyroporus balloui (Peck) E Horak (= Tylopilus balloui
(Peck) Singer), this placement is contradicted by
In Boletus in Malaysia, Corner—considering existing
taxonomic problems in the boletes—wrote, “I have
no doubt that if the fungus flora of Malaysia can be
explored before the destruction of the main forests
or the elimination of the non-commercial trees,
fresh discoveries will resolve these problems.”
Biodiversity discovery, conservation, and the solution
to taxonomic problems share the need for carefully
researched scholarly work on the description and
revision of species and higher taxa. Horak states
that “the present revision is only one further step in
the direction to unravel the numerous bolete taxa
described from SE-Asia and Australasia;” however,
his “one further step” is a critical one: by providing
a detailed re-examination of Corner’s specimens
and by bringing the taxonomy of Corner’s taxa
into a modern context, Horak has made two highly
valuable contributions to the study of boletes. In
this outstanding volume, Horak will not only earn
the gratitude of boletologists, but has provided
an important tool for assessing diversity, rarity,
endemicity and—unfortunately, but quite likely, given
the extent and rate of forest conversion in Malaysia—
extinction of the morphologically striking and
ecologically important bolete fungi of the East Asian
tropics.
Todd W. Osmundson
Department of Environmental Science,
Policy & Management,
University of California, Berkeley,
CA 94720, U.S.A.
toddo@berkeley.edu
Source: Mycotaxon 117 (2011) at
http://dx.doi.org/10.5248/117.499.
More on FRIM publications visit
www.frim.gov.my (Publications).
For purchase/enquiries contact
frim_publications@frim.gov.my
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
13
EAS Strategic Options
2012/March No:12
THE RICHER THE COUNTRY,
THE MORE ATTRACTIVE THE TIMBER MARKET?
ISSUE
At a global level, forest products consumption appears to follow one of the most general empirical rules
whereby the richest consumes the most. When applied to countries, the rule changes into the wealthier the
nation, the higher the timber consumption. The macroeconomic data confirms such trend, where the volume
of timber consumption of a given country is noticeably related to its Gross Domestic Product. Figure 1
illustrates this trend, with some dispersion explained by different cultures, habits of using wood, marketing,
tastes and history in the various countries. Such observation, which matches the intuition, may be related to
the common myth that economic development automatically comes from selling products with the highest
added value; earning the highest income from exporting the most advanced or expensive products; or being
the most competitive by producing the highest quality goods. This article discusses a more nuance approach,
taking into account the different realities regarding tropical and temperate forest products.
PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY
While the trend illustrated in Figure
1 is clear and undisputable, the
reality of a country’s wealth and
timber markets is very different
when comparing tropical to
temperate forest products, taking
into consideration the different
strategy implications at the macroscale.
The Lorenz curve of world
consumption of temperate
timbers (by country) is extremely
dissymmetrical, compared to
the theoretical line of perfect
equality. A perfect equality is when
every country’s consumption is
proportionate to its population
(theoretical straight line in Figure
2). In reality however, the richest
countries which form 20% of the
world population consume 85%
of the world volume of temperate
timbers (Figure 2). In terms of
marketing, a country producing only
temperate forest products could
theoretically reach 85% of its global
market by focusing on the 20%
population of the richest countries.
Conversely, the Lorenz curve of
world consumption of tropical
timbers (by country) is more
symmetrical and equalitarian
(Figure 3). The pattern is
equalitarian for the poorest 10% of
the population which consume 8%
14
of the tropical timbers, and is still
relatively equalitarian onwards; the
poorest 45% consume 40% of the
world tropical forest products, and
the poorest 75% consume 60% of it.
The 20% richest however, consume
less than 2% of the world tropical
forest products. The curve shows
several humps corresponding to the
huge population and consumption
of Indonesia, India and Brazil.
Altogether, the global markets for
tropical forest products are quite
evenly spread between countries
with low, medium-low, and mediumhigh purchasing powers, and a few
countries having high purchasing
powers.
OPTIONS
In the context of temperate forest
products, national policies should
focus on high added value or
expensive products to meet the
demand of the 20% richest share of
the world population that buys 85%
of the volumes.
For tropical forest products,
timber companies could still
shape their strategy according
to the niche markets for tropical
timbers. Particularly in the richest
countries, a volume of less than
2% still generates high revenues.
Nevertheless, national policies
should refrain from putting all
investments in a particular high
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
added value market. Policies
should follow the ISO 9000
definition of quality by matching
production efforts to global market
requirements.
Quality is not only limited to
excellence or high technical
characteristics but more towards
product compliance (in terms of
characteristics, cost and price) to
the quality standards of the ISO
9000. Thus, profit maximisation for
tropical forest products is possible
by adhering to the high quality
approach. For example, a boiler
and steam generator at a sawmill
and particle panel factory at the
Republic of Central Africa does not
have a quality outlook because of
its dirty surroundings, and its use
of a recycled part from an old train
locomotive. However, the company’s
strategy is close to achieving perfect
quality since it caters only the local
African market which demands low
prices and less of the characteristics
of the product. Thus, the company
saves cost by using converted old
and cheap machines and focuses on
high recovery rates although with
higher wood flaws. Their products in
turn, are accepted by the customers
and match the requirements of the
market. In this scenario, a higher
level of mechanisation and fewer
flaws in the products instead, would
be over-quality.
1.00E+09
1.00E+08
Logarithm of wood consumption in
Round Wood Equivalent (m3)
Logarithm
of wood
consumption
in in
Logarithm
of wood
consumption
Round
WoodWood
Equivalent
(m3) (m3)
Round
Equivalent
EAS Strategic Options
1.00E+09
1.00E+08
1.00E+07
1.00E+06
1.00E+07
1.00E+06
1.00E+05
1.00E+05
1.00E+04
1.00E+04
1.00E+03
1.00E+02
1.00E+03
1.00E+02
1E+07
1E+07
1.00E+09
1.00E+08
1.00E+07
1.00E+06
Figure 1: World
1.00E+05
pattern of countries’
consumption of
1.00E+04
timber according to
1E+08
1E+09
1E+10
1E+111.00E+03
their
GDP (United
Nations data, 2006)
Logarithm of GDP (USD) 1.00E+02
1E+08
1E+09
1E+10
1E+11
90%
100%
80%
90%
70%
80%
60%
70%
50%
60%
40%
50%
30%
40%
20%
30%
10%
20%
0%
10%
0%
1E+12
1E+07
1E+13
1E+08
1E+09
1E+10
1E+11
1E+12
1E+13
Logarithm of GDP (USD)
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 10%
of world
population
(from
0%Cumulative
10% 20% %
40% 50%
60% 70%
80%poorest
90% 100%
30%
0%
to richest)
Cumulative % of world population (from poorest
to richest)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Cumulative % of world population (from poorest
to richest)
Figure 2: World Lorenz curve of the countries’
consumption of temperate timber according to the
population (ranked by GDP, United Nations data, 2006)
Figure 4: Boiler and steam generator in a company at the
Republic of Central Africa. The equipment was converted
from an old steam train from the colonial era
100%
90%
100%
80%
90%
70%
80%
60%
70%
50%
60%
40%
50%
30%
40%
20%
30%
10%
20%
0%
10%
Cumulative % of world temperate
tropical consumption
Cumulative
% of world
temperate
Cumulative
% of world
temperate
tropical
consumption
tropical
consumption
1E+13
100%
Cumulative % of world temperate
timber consumption
Cumulative
% of world
temperate
Cumulative
% of world
temperate
timber
consumption
timber
consumption
Logarithm of GDP (USD)
1E+12
100%
90%
A quality approach requires each product characteristic
to echo the demand, in terms of design, price, technicality
60%
and environmental issues, as well as address both under50%
quality and over-quality standards. Failing to take into
40%
account the nuances of the global markets for tropical
30%
forest products, the policies promoting sustainable forest
20%
management through market tools such as ecocertification,
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
10%
0%
FLEGT, Lacey Act and others, as well as the policies
of world
population
(from
0%Cumulative
10% 20% %
40% 50%
60% 70%
80%poorest
90% 100% 0%
30%
focusing only on the high income markets, are unlikely
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
to richest)
to succeed in both matching their costs and revenues. In
Cumulative % of world population (from poorest
Cumulative % of world population (from poorest
to richest)
conclusion,
anytosuccessful
policy should take into account
Figure 3: World Lorenz curve of the countries’
richest)
the whole range of segment markets, in order to maximise
consumption of tropical timber according to the
the revenues.
population (ranked by GDP, United Nations data, 2006)
FURTHER INFORMATION
PLEASE CONTACT:
Jean-Marc Roda, PhD
Noor Aini Zakaria, PhD
Ismariah Ahmad, PhD
Lim Hin Fui, PhD
Rohana Abd. Rahman
80%
70%
ECONOMIC AND STRATEGIC ANALYSIS PROGRAMME (EAS)
Innovation & Commercialization Division,
Tel : +603 6279 7544 / 7541 / 7714 / 7549
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM),
Fax : +603 6275 0925
52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Email : frim_eas@frim.gov.my
Malaysia
Website : http://www.frim.gov.my
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
15
News article
KANCIL
TAKLUK
GUNUNG
RAJAH
Pokok periuk kera
(Nephentes sp)
Zaridah Mohd Zaki, Mohd Jemain Mohd Ridhwan, Azam Shah Mat Rata,
Nurdalila Zailan, Mohd Faisal Iskandar Shukairi & Muhd Khair Mohd Ayob
Unit Kancil Kelab FRIM telah menganjurkan aktiviti pendakian ke puncak Gunung Rajah pada 12 hingga
13 November tahun lepas. Gunung Rajah yang berketinggian 1654 m terletak di Kampung Bukit Tinggi,
Bentong, Pahang. Puncak-puncak yang berdekatan dengannya termasuk puncak Pelesong, Bukit Ulu
Bakau, Bukit Ulu Telang, Bukit Penchaboh, Bukit Kunong dan Bukit Medang. Hutan kawasan ini terdiri
daripada jenis-jenis dipterokarp bukit, dipterokarp atas dan hutan gunung. Gunung Rajah pernah menjadi
sebutan ramai iaitu pada tahun 2004 kerana kematian dua orang pendakinya akibat panahan petir.
Kumpulan Kancil yang disertai
oleh 13 peserta dewasa dan
dua orang kanak-kanak telah
memulakan perjalanan di sebuah
kawasan perkelahan di Hutan
Lipur Chamang. Perjalanan
bermula di laluan balak bertanah
merah di mana pertengahannya
terdapat sebuah empangan mini
hidro-elektrik dan kawasan
perkampungan Orang Asli.
Setelah sejam melalui laluan
balak, kumpulan kami melalui
pula trek hutan yang agak landai
dan ditumbuhi pokok-pokok rotan
yang besar-besar saiznya. Ada
juga laluan hutan yang terbuka dan
panas serta ditumbuhi pokok-pokok
senduduk (Melastoma sp) malah
kami juga menempuhi laluan tepian
Sungai Perting.
Kumpulan Kancil berhenti untuk
makan tengah hari di kawasan
percantuman dua batang sungai
iaitu Sungai Ceruk dan Sungai
Terling. Perjalanan seterusnya
menuju ke Kem Hijau melalui
Lata Naning memakan masa tiga
jam lagi. Kem Hijau terletak di
ketinggian 1053 m dari aras laut,
bersebelahan sebatang sungai
sebagai sumber air. Menu hidangan
pada malam tersebut adalah nasi,
barbeku ayam, sosej dan udang.
Keesokan harinya tepat jam 8 pagi,
kumpulan kami telah memulakan
pendakian ke puncak yang dijangka
mengambil masa kira-kira empat
jam. Laluan pendakian kali ini agak
curam dan setelah satu jam 20 minit
perjalanan, kami tiba di Permatang
16
Bonsai yang berketinggian 1378 m
dari aras laut. Pemandangan di sini
sungguh indah di mana terdapat
banyak pokok bonsai berdahan
keras dan berdaun kecil seperti
pokok cina maki (Leptospermum
flavescens).
Perjalanan satu jam 20 minit dari
Permatang Bonsai sebahagiannya
melalui trek berbatuan tegak
yang hanya boleh dilepasi dengan
bantuan tali. Kumpulan kami tiba
di Permatang Punca Air yang
berketinggian 1522 m dari aras laut.
Anak sungai kecil di permatang
ini adalah punca air terakhir
sebelum pendakian ke puncak.
Sepanjang laluan tersebut, terdapat
banyak pokok-pokok periuk kera
(Nepenthes sp) dan kacip fatimah
(Labisia sp) yang tumbuh meliar.
Tanah di laluan ini berkeadaan
lembut, berair dan banyak bahan
reput.Kehadiran lumut (Briofit) juga
semakin ketara setelah melepasi
ketinggian 1500m dari aras laut.
Tepat jam 12 tengah hari semua
ahli kumpulan kami telah selamat
tiba di puncak Gunung Rajah.
Pemandangan di sini sungguh
menakjubkan; kelihatan Empangan
Kuala Kubu dan puncak Genting
Highlands dari kejauhan. Malah, jika
tiada kabus, pendaki boleh melihat
beberapa puncak pada Banjaran
Titiwangsa seperti Gunung Bunga
Buah, Bukit Kutu dan Gunung
Benum.
Kumpulan kami juga melakar
sejarah kerana pendakian kali ini
disertai peserta berumur lapan dan
A Quarterly of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
March 2012
FRIM in FOCUS
10 tahun yang mengatasi rekod peserta
termuda yang berumur 10 tahun.
Kumpulan kami meninggalkan puncak
Gunung Rajah pada jam 1.10 petang
dengan membawa seribu kenangan.
Sekalung penghargaan kepada
pemandu arah kumpulan Kancil iaitu
Zamri Arif dan Abd Hafiz Nazamuddin
yang tanpa sokongan mereka, agak
sukar bagi kami untuk menjayakan
ekspedisi kali ini.
Laluan tanah merah, sebelum
memasuki permulaan trek hutan
TENTANG PENULIS UTAMA
Zaridah Mohd Zaki ialah seorang Pegawai
Penyelidik di Bahagian Penemuan Hasil
Semulajadi FRIM. Selain daripada tugas
hakiki sebagai penyelidik, beliau aktif dalam
menyertai aktiviti-aktiviti yang dianjurkan
oleh Unit Rekreasi Luar KANCIL, Kelab FRIM.
Artikel-artikel beliau yang pernah diterbitkan
dalam FRIM in Focus ialah “Kayuhan Rekreasi
di Alam Semula Jadi FRIM” dan “Repelling
Insect Pests”.