Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak project – progress and future activities

Tropical forests in Borneo (Brunei Darussalam, Kalimantan, Sabah and Sarawak) are considered as one of the twelve mega biodiversity centres in the world. However, until now, there is no up-to-date or complete documentation on the flora of the island. The Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Project, jointly undertaken by the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), the Forestry Department of Sabah and Forestry Department of Sarawak since 1991, is aimed at providing detailed and up-to-date botanical and ecological information on the tree resources of Sabah and Sarawak. Since its implementation, the project has established a close collaboration with and received generous help from botanists from local and international institutions/herbaria around the world. Up to 2007, a total of 1 745 species in 72 families and 267 genera have been revised and published in six volumes of the Tree Flora. These include the discovery and publication of 188 new species in 37 genera and 25 families. In addition, the project also published two Botanical Gazetteers, i.e. Sabah (1995) and Sarawak (2006) Gazetteers.
Besides this, the project had carried out a number of activities such as botanical expeditions and various kinds of related workshops to achieve the objectives of the project.


INTRODUCTION
The island of Borneo of which Sabah and Sarawak are integral parts is the third largest island in the world. It has been frequently recognized as one of the twelve mega biodiversity centres in the world. The island which occupied a total land area of c. 740 000 km 2 , is conservatively estimated to harbour about 12 000-15 000 species of flowering plants of which about 3 500 -5 000 are tree species (Soepadmo 1995, Soepadmo & Wong 1995, Soepadmo 1999, Soepadmo et al. 2006). Since to date there is no complete and systematic documentation of tree flora for Sabah and Sarawak, there is an urgent need to revise and update the taxonomic status of all tree species occurring in the two eastern states of Malaysia.
The Project is jointly undertaken by the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), the Sabah Forestry Department and the Sarawak Forestry Department with the following objectives: -to provide detailed and up-to-date botanical and ecological information of tree resources of Sabah and Sarawak; -to contribute and enhance fundamental scientific knowledge instrumental for the achievement of sustainable management, conservation and protection of forest tree resources of the country; -to assist the Government of Malaysia in implementing National Forestry Policy and National Policy on Biological Diversity, and in fulfilling her obligations towards the International Convention on Biological Diversity of which Malaysia is one of the signatories; -to upgrade national capability in botanical research and in the development of forest tree resources; -to establish national reference and botanical specimen databases of trees species native to Sabah and Sarawak; -to conduct detailed botanical and ecological research, inventories, and document the diversity of forest tree resources in Sabah and Sarawak; -to disseminate research findings through the publication of eight volumes of the Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak and other scientific publications; -to consolidate and upgrade research capability of young Malaysian botanists in taxonomy, survey, documentation and evaluation of forest-tree resources of Sabah and Sarawak; -to develop and strengthen the managerial competence of personnel of the herbaria of the participating national institutions.
Since its full implementation in 1993, the project has established a close collaboration with and received helps from botanists of well-established botanical institutions/herbaria such as the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, USA (A); Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, UK (E); Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (K); National Herbarium of the Netherlands, University of Leiden branch (L); Singapore Botanic Gardens (SING) and several others.

PROGRESS UP TO 2007
So far, six volumes of the Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak have been published, i.e. Volume 1 (1995); Volume 2 (1996); Volume 3 (2000); Volume 4 (2002); Volume 5 (2004) and Volume 6 (2007) which contained up-to-date accounts of c. 1 745 species in 72 families and 267 genera. Out of these, 188 species in 25 families and 37 genera are new to science and 735 species are endemic to Borneo (Fig. 1).

FUTURE ACTIVITIES AND TARGET
Future activities are focused on taxonomic revisions of families to be published in TFSS volumes 7 and 8. These include: Annonaceae, Bombacaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Ster culiaceae, Theaceae, Tiliaceae and Verbenaceae (Table 1). First draft manuscripts of certain genera in the families Bomba caceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Sterculiaceae, Theaceae, Tiliaceae and Verbenaceae have been received and currently are being upgraded and edited. Illustrations (line-drawing) and photographs of selected species are being prepared. As in the previous years, botanical expeditions to Sabah and Sarawak and at least one seminar/workshop/training course will be organized in the next 3 years.

CONCLUSION
Since its full implementation in 1993, the project has benefited many sectors. The main beneficiaries of the project include: Forestry departments, departments of wildlife and national parks, national institutes of higher learning, local, regional and international botanical communities, general publics and private sectors dealing with eco-tourism and wood-based industries.
Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Project is a long term project which requires commitment, collaboration, help and dedicated support from local as well as international botanists currently attached to various institutions and universities. With these supports, it is hoped that the project will be able to achieve its objectives and complete the accounts of the Tree Flora in Sabah and Sarawak.