SANDAKAN: The Forest Research Centre (FRC) of the Sabah Forestry Department has announced the publication of Sandakania Volume 26, a special issue dedicated to “Plant Conservation in Borneo.” The volume is now available online, with the print edition released recently.
This landmark issue, made possible by the generous financial support of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), Malaysia, brings together leading experts to address the unique botanical challenges and wonders of the region.
Guest-edited by Dr. Wong Khoon Meng of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the volume features ten scholarly articles that explore the science driving conservation, the critical importance of botanical documentation, and the ongoing progress towards a comprehensive Flora of Borneo. It seamlessly blends rigorous taxonomy with cultural and natural history perspectives to foster greater public awareness of Borneo’s irreplaceable biodiversity.
Featured research in this volume includes the following – Iconic Species and Habitats: Insights into Sabah’s Dipterocarps, biodiversity hotspots, and the significance of historical botanical collections; The Flora of Borneo Project: An overview of this critical scientific endeavour by Dr. Wong Sin Yeng (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak); Key Plant Groups: Studies on Durians, Orchids, and the large families Annonaceae and Rubiaceae by Dr. S.K. Ganesan, Sebastian C. Wong, Dr. Louise Neo and Dr Chen Junhao, researchers from the Singapore Botanic Gardens; New Discoveries: The description of a remarkable new genus and species of Araceae, Huluarum enigmaticum, by Dr. Peter C. Boyce and Conservation Perspectives: A reflective piece on natural history publishing and conservation ideals by Datuk C.L. Chan.
The publication of Sandakania is overseen by an editorial committee chaired by Dr. Arthur Y.C. Chung, with John B. Sugau as Editor. The committee, under the leadership of the Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, continues to champion scientific research to advance the understanding and appreciation of Borneo’s flora. – James Leong
