Print
    10 July 2012| last updated at 08:38PM

    'Malaysia's flora, fauna can attract researchers and scientists'



    0 comments

    BESUT: Malaysia is still able to preserve the uniqueness of its forest landscape by making use of its variety of flora and fauna to attract local and overseas researchers and scientists, said Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department(FDPM) deputy director-general, Datuk Masran Md Salleh.

     

    He said the biological treasures existing in the tropical rain forests were found to be more than million years, thus making Malaysia among the 12 mega-diversity countries in the world.
     
    He said based on a research there were 17,631 flora species and 9,563 fauna species, from the smallest microscopic organism and bacteria to big species such as the mammals, fish and birds.
     
    Currently, he said, efforts were being made by the agency to collect related information for conservation and development as well as to manage the forestry resources more efficiently, in line with the 1978 National Forestry policy.
     
    "Of the 4.74 million hectares of permanent forest reserves in the peninsula , 2.09 million hectares are protected forests which function as water sources, for biological conservation and environment stabilisers," he told Bernama here today. 
     
    He said the agency had also set up a special group to do research on various types of orchids, shrubs and tall trees for socio-economical benefits, particularly in eco-tourism. -- BERNAMA

    Leave Your Comment


    Leave Your Comment:

    New Straits Times reserves the right not to publish offensive or abusive comments and those of hate speech, harassment, commercial promos and invasion of privacy. Your IP will be logged and may be used to prevent further submission.The views expressed here are that of the members of the public and unless specifically stated are not those of NST.