SANDAKAN: The Sabah Forestry Department’s SAN Herbarium has opened a new Exhibition Gallery at the Forest Research Centre (FRC) in Sepilok to promote greater public awareness of Sabah’s plant diversity and conservation efforts.
The gallery was officially opened by Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Zulkifli Suara on Monday.
The exhibition offers visitors an insight into botanical science and the work of herbarium researchers, including plant identification, species documentation and the preservation of scientific specimens.
Established in 1916, SAN Herbarium is the state’s principal botanical repository, housing more than 280,000 preserved plant specimens. It is the largest herbarium collection in Sabah and includes specimens from across Borneo and beyond.
The collection serves as an important resource for scientific research, plant identification, biodiversity studies and conservation planning. It also provides historical records that help researchers monitor changes in plant diversity and distribution over time.
Through the new gallery, SAN Herbarium hopes to make botanical science more accessible and encourage greater appreciation of Sabah’s natural heritage and the importance of plant conservation.
The gallery is open on weekdays for pre-arranged educational visits by secondary schools and academic institutions. It does not accept general walk-in visitors.
Interested institutions may arrange visits through the SAN Herbarium Curator via its official website at https://sanherbarium.com/. – James Leong
Zulkifli Suara (third right), cuts the ribbon to officially open the SAN Herbarium Exhibition Gallery.
