Sabah Forestry Dept gets grant to save endangered trees
KOTA KINABALU (July 5): The Sabah Forestry Department has secured a conservation grant totalling £45,000 (approximately RM270,000) over three years (2025–2027) working with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the world's largest network for plant conservation, headquartered in the United Kingdom.
The conservation project, titled 'Conserving Critically Endangered Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana in Sabah', represents a significant milestone in global recognition of Sabah's commitment to conserving its unique and threatened plant biodiversity. Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana are both listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Among more than 500 threatened tree species in Sabah, these two have been identified as facing some of the highest risk of extinction, highlighting the urgent need for targeted conservation action to prevent their disappearance from the wild.
A rare treelet, Saurauia sammanniana.
The technical and financial assistance provided by BGCI for this work is part of BGCI's Tree Conservation Programme, dedicated to saving the world's threatened tree species in their natural habitats, funded by Fondation Franklinia and many other international donor organisations. Malaysia is one of four Southeast Asian countries to receive funding this cycle from Fondation Franklinia (2025 to 2027), under the Global Trees: Action for all tree species – Tree Conservation Action Project.
'Receiving this international grant is not only a proud moment for us, but a testament to the critical importance of Sabah's unique biodiversity. These two endemic species are only found in Sabah and may face serious threats due to habitat loss and lack of in-situ protection. The department has been actively committed to biodiversity conservation efforts, more so, for the rare and threatened species, in line with the Sabah Forest Policy 2018,' said Datuk Frederick Kugan, the Chief Conservator of Forests.
Over the next three years, the project will implement a comprehensive conservation strategy based on five core objectives:
Identification and mapping of wild populations – Field surveys will be conducted to locate and document remaining wild populations of the two species.
Propagation and ex situ conservation – The department aims to achieve at least 65% success in seed and cutting propagation, leading to the establishment of genetically representative ex situ collections in Sabah.
In situ population reinforcement – At least 20 individuals of each species will be planted back into their natural habitat to strengthen wild populations.
Capacity building and public awareness – Training workshops for conservation staff and education activities for local communities will be held to raise awareness and build local capacity.
Development of conservation action plans – Species-specific action and propagation plans will be developed and published for national and global use.
Sabah Forestry Department will lead all project activities, with technical mentoring and oversight provided by BGCI. The department is also responsible for reporting progress annually through BGCI's GlobalTree Portal, ensuring transparency and data sharing across the global conservation community.
'This collaboration places Sabah on the global conservation map and reinforces our role as a key guardian of Borneo's endemic flora. It's not just about saving plants. It's about protecting the natural heritage that sustains our ecosystems and communities,' said Alviana Damit, Project Coordinator and Assistant Research Officer at the Forest Research Centre.
Kugan would like to thank BGCI and Fondation Franklinia for this opportunity and the department looks forward to working with local stakeholders, communities and international partners in protecting these irreplaceable species for future generations.
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