SANDAKAN: The Sabah Forestry Department successfully organised the “Fig Awareness and Sustainability Programme: Ecology and Importance of Fig Silviculture” at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok yesterday.
The one-day event, officiated by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, drew approximately 100 participants from various government agencies and organisations across Sabah.
In his opening address, Kugan emphasised that the programme was more than an academic exercise; it was a vital platform to underscore the critical role of fig trees as a keystone species in tropical forests.
“Figs, from the Ficus genus, are renowned for their remarkable adaptability,” he stated.
“This unique trait allows them to provide a year-round food source for a wide array of wildlife, which is fundamental to maintaining biodiversity and the delicate balance of our forest ecosystems.”
The event featured informative presentations from the Sabah Forestry Department, 1StopBorneo Wildlife, Explore Gaia, and BORA. These were followed by an interactive dialogue and a hands-on demonstration on fig propagation, culminating in a visit to the nursery at the Forest Research Centre. The programme was supported by several key agencies, including the Sabah Wildlife Department, Sawit Kinabalu, and HUTAN.
This initiative is designed to enhance understanding of fig silviculture—encompassing propagation, planting, and nursery management—which is crucial for conservation and restoring forests affected by logging, land development, and climate change.
The programme is a key component of the Sabah Forestry Department’s project under the Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) for Biodiversity Conservation initiative, titled “Fig Tree Planting Project as Support for Forest Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Sustainability in Sabah.
Aligning with the project’s goal to boost community awareness and participation, the event not only highlighted the ecological significance of figs but also strengthened collaborative ties through knowledge-sharing among government bodies, NGOs, and local communities. This integrated approach lays a solid foundation for achieving long-term, holistic forest conservation. – James Leong
