Latest news with #Kugan
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
Lorry owner fined RM1,600 for moving logs without pass in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: A lorry owner was fined RM1,600 after being caught transporting 59 logs without a removal pass during an operation in Kampung Randagong, Ranau. The Sabah Forestry Department (JPS) and General Operations Force (GOP) detained the two lorries in a late-night operation last Wednesday (July 23). Sabah Forestry Department chief conservator Datuk Frederick Kugan confirmed the logs originated from Sipitang district, with royalty payments of RM4,732.70 already made to the state government. 'The commercial value of the logs is estimated at RM31,600. Following the offence, the licensee was fined RM1,600,' he said in a statement. Kugan emphasised that JPS remains committed to enforcing regulations to protect forest resources and ensure legal logging practices. – Bernama
Korea Herald
07-07-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Why it's vital to save Malaysia's diverse flora
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (The Star) -- The plant kingdom isn't doing so well with at least 600 species facing extinction in Sabah alone. These species, which comprise flowering plants and trees, are under threat due to poaching and other human activities, says Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Frederick Kugan. "Besides pitcher plants, the other types of flora facing threats are trees and flowers," he said. Kugan cited examples such as the dipterocarp (timber) which are being logged and harvested while high horticultural demand for exotic plants like pitcher plants and orchids means they are poached in the wild and sold in the black market. "There is also habitat loss due to plantation expansion," he said. He also spoke about a small distribution pattern which is being threatened by climate change, especially montane (mountainous) species, adding that this has also contributed to the decline of such species. Overall, he said, the species are categorized as "threatened" under the International Union for Conservation of Nature list. The "threatened" category is further divided into CR (critically endangered), EN (endangered) and VU (vulnerable). In fact, Kugan said that 10 species of CR plants had been marked as possibly extinct -- anisophyllea impressinervia, ixora labuanensis, lasianthus subglobosus, melanochyla woodiana, praravinia gracilis, praravinia neriifolia, quercus pseudoverticillata, semecarpus angulatus, semecarpus sandakanus and syzygium badescens. The last seen photos of these tree species ranged from 45 to 148 years ago, Kugan said. "Another possibly extinct species that was part of our conservation project for the last few years is the CR elaeocarpus pinosukii,'" he said. He said that many search operations were mounted to locate this species at its locality, Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau in Kundasang, but none had been found. Kugan said Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau, as it is known today, is no longer a forest like it was 60 to 70 years ago (when the species was first collected) as most of these areas have been turned into vegetable farms. He said all these assessments are based on what have been published in the IUCN Red List. "However, we have thousands of species that have not been assessed yet, especially the non-tree species," he added. Kugan said that more research and conservation initiatives need to be taken to better protect these species and hopefully, prevent their extinction. "There must be coordinated efforts between state agencies, private sectors as well as local communities to find solutions on how to reduce impact on flora and fauna with the development that is taking place," he said. In March, Kugan revealed that the pitcher plant is under threat in Sabah, with seven species listed as threatened on the IUCN list. Pitcher plants, also known as monkey cups, have over 160 species worldwide, out of which 25 are found in Sabah. The world's largest pitcher plant, nepenthes rajah, is only found in Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding highlands. This species can trap not just insects but also small mammals like rats. A report in March quoting the IUCN said that "deforestation, farming and climate-fueled fires are driving increasing threats to fungi, the lifeblood of most plants."
The Star
05-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Sabah Forestry Dept working with UK conservation group to save two critically endangered trees
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has secured a conservation grant totalling over RM270,000 to conserve two of the top endangered plant species in the state. Through the Sabah Forestry Department, this grant, which runs from now until 2027, would see the department working with one of the world's largest networks for plant conservation - the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), headquartered in the United Kingdom. Datuk Frederick Kugan, the department's chief conservator of forests, said this conservation project was titled 'Conserving Critically Endangered Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana in Sabah'. 'It represents a significant milestone in global recognition of Sabah's commitment to conserving its unique and threatened plant biodiversity,' he said in a statement. He said the Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana were 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, said Kugan. 'Receiving this international grant is not only a proud moment for us, but a testament to the critical importance of Sabah's unique biodiversity,' he said. He explained that 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,' Kugan said. 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. Over the next three years, the project will implement a comprehensive conservation strategy based on five core objectives including identification and mapping of wild population, propagation and ex situ conservation and in situ population reinforcement, Kugan said. There will also be focus on capacity building and public awareness as well as development of conservation action plans, he added. He said field surveys will be conducted to locate and document remaining wild populations of the two species with the department aiming to achieve at least 65% success in seed and cutting propagation, leading to the establishment of genetically representative ex situ collections in Sabah,' he said Adding to this, Kugan said at least 20 individuals of each species will be planted back into their natural habitat to strengthen wild populations. He said training workshops for conservation staff and education activities for local communities will be held to raise awareness and build local capacity while species-specific action and propagation plans will be developed and published for national and global use. He said the 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. Project Coordinator and Assistant Research Officer at the Forest Research Centre, Alviana Damit said this collaboration places Sabah on the global conservation map and reinforces their 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,' she said. Earlier, Kugan thanked the BGCI and Fondation Franklinia for this opportunity and looked forward to working with local stakeholders, communities, and international partners in protecting these irreplaceable species for future generations.
The Star
03-07-2025
- Science
- The Star
Vital to save M'sia's diverse flora
KOTA KINABALU: The plant kingdom isn't doing so well with at least 600 species facing extinction in Sabah alone. These species, which comprise flowering plants and trees, are under threat due to poaching and other human activities, says Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Frederick Kugan. 'Besides pitcher plants, the other types of flora facing threats are trees and flowers,' he said. Kugan cited examples such as the dipterocarp (timber) which are being logged and harvested while high horticultural demand for exotic plants like pitcher plants and orchids means they are poached in the wild and sold in the black market. 'There is also habitat loss due to plantation expansion,' he said. He also spoke about a small distribution pattern which is being threatened by climate change, especially montane (mountainous) species, adding that this has also contributed to the decline of such species. Overall, he said, the species are categorised as 'threatened' under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list. The 'threatened' category is further divided into CR (critically endangered), EN (endangered) and VU (vulnerable). In fact, Kugan said that 10 species of CR plants had been marked as possibly extinct – anisophyllea impressinervia, ixora labuanensis, lasianthus subglobosus, melanochyla woodiana, praravinia gracilis, praravinia neriifolia, quercus pseudoverticillata, semecarpus angulatus, semecarpus sandakanus and syzygium badescens. The last seen photos of these tree species ranged from 45 to 148 years ago, Kugan said. 'Another possibly extinct species that was part of our conservation project for the last few years is the CR elaeocarpus pinosukii',' he said. ALSO READ: We need more experts in plant biodiversity, says academician He said that many search operations were mounted to locate this species at its locality, Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau in Kundasang, but none had been found. Kugan said Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau, as it is known today, is no longer a forest like it was 60 to 70 years ago (when the species was first collected) as most of these areas have been turned into vegetable farms. He said all these assessments are based on what have been published in the IUCN Red List. 'However, we have thousands of species that have not been assessed yet, especially the non-tree species,' he added. Kugan said that more research and conservation initiatives need to be taken to better protect these species and hopefully, prevent their extinction. 'There must be coordinated efforts between state agencies, private sectors as well as local communities to find solutions on how to reduce impact on flora and fauna with the development that is taking place,' he said. In March, Kugan revealed that the pitcher plant is under threat in Sabah, with seven species listed as threatened on the IUCN list. Pitcher plants, also known as monkey cups, have over 160 species worldwide, out of which 25 are found in Sabah. The world's largest pitcher plant, nepenthes rajah, is only found in Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding highlands. This species can trap not just insects but also small mammals like rats. An AFP report in March quoting the IUCN said that 'deforestation, farming and climate-fuelled fires are driving increasing threats to fungi, the lifeblood of most plants'. At least 411 fungi face extinction out of the 1,300 varieties, said IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.
Borneo Post
13-06-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Sandakan to set record with first tree trail
Kugan (seventh from left), Lai (sixth from right) and others during the courtesy call. Dr Chung is sixth from left. SANDAKAN (June 13): A tree tagging system is developed with the assistance of Sabah Forestry Department to mark the upcoming Malaysia Book of Records, the First Historical Tree Trail In Malaysia on June 28. It will be officiated by Sandakan Municipal Council president Walter Kenson. This was revealed during a courtesy call to Datuk Frederick Kagan, the Chief Conservator Forests at his office by Lai King Hang, founder and chairman of Sandakan Heritage Trail yesterday. More than 200 participants from all walks of life are expected to follow the trail starting from Masjid Jamik, pausing at Agnes Keith's House for the official presentation of Malaysia Book of Records Certificate. Forty-two prominent trees within the Sandakan Heritage Trail have been identified, QR coded and tagged for visitors to enjoy the heritage sites and trees too. This significant milestone for Sandakan is organised by Sandakan Heritage Trail Committee and Sandakan Tourism Association STAN with full support from the Sandakan Municipal Council and other voluntary organisations. Present at the courtesy call were Dr Arthur Chung, Deputy Chief Conservator Forests who is also a senior team member of Sandakan Heritage Trail, senior officers of Sabah Forestry Department, representatives from STAN and Sabah Society Sandakan.
