News Published: 28 October 2026

The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) conducted an introductory taxonomic training course entitled “Workshop on Critically Endangered Plant Species in Sabah: The Role of Taxonomy and Field Documentation in Developing Conservation Perspectives” from 13th to 14th October 2026 at the Forest Research Centre (FRC), Sepilok, Sandakan.

The workshop focused on two contrasting species, Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana, which the SFD are conserving under the BGCI programme, “Global Trees: Action for All Tree Species”, funded by Fondation Franklinia. The event closely followed the SFD’s success earlier this year in discovering additional wild populations.

Around 37 participants attended the workshop, many hailing from local institutions in Sabah such as the SAN Herbarium, Sabah Agriculture Department, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Sabah Parks, and Kipandi Park. Staff from Forestry District Offices in Kudat, Ranau, and Kota Kinabalu, where the species can be found, also participated along with regional and international attendees from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Conservation International Singapore, and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

Dr Arthur YC Chung, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests (Research & Development), SFD delivered the opening remarks, noting that “effective plant conservation begins with knowing what species we have, where they occur, and what makes them vulnerable”. Dr Greetha Arumugam from BGCI Southeast Asia shared an overview of the Global Trees programme, while Alviana Damit, project manager and workshop coordinator, SFD presented their team’s recent achievements and progress.

Dr Wong Khoon Meng, author of the taxonomic descriptions for A. dransfieldii and S. sammanniana, was invited as the main resource speaker and honoured guest to discuss the taxonomy of the two species, the richness of tropical biodiversity, and the importance of a united in situ and ex situ conservation approach. Participants were given the opportunity to examine herbarium collections and live specimens of the species, noting diagnostic characters and growth habits.

Overall, the workshop was successful not only in sharpening participants’ taxonomic skills – critical for field surveys and conservation assessments – but also in providing them opportunities for networking and future collaborations. The workshop organisers noted that the number of attendees (double what was initially intended) showed how taxonomic training remained relevant and sought-after for capacity-building among plant conservation practitioners.

To conclude the event, Dr Joan T. Pereira, Head of the Forest Biodiversity & Conservation Programme, SFD delivered the closing remarks, thanking everyone for their attendance as well as their continuing participation in the conservation of these rare and threatened species.