Sapuan (right) taking a closer look at a timber exhibit held by Dr Nakashizuka. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: The Forest Department has always encouraged research on the state’s biological resources, including at its totally protected areas (TPA).

Its director, Sapuan Ahmad, said his department was always supportive of local and foreign researchers.

“Our forest is one of the world’s most vital ecosystems, and it is globally important in many ways, one of which is climate change – which is today one of the world’s greatest challenges. We need the best minds and the best scientists to understand the changes that are taking place in the tropical forests and the global effects that climate change will have on the ecosystems, and how best to preserve them,” he said when launching the ‘International Symposium Frontier In Tropical Forest Research: Progress in Joint Projects Between Forest Department Sarawak and Japan Research Consortium for Tropical Forests in Sarawak’ here yesterday.

Sapuan said the state and Japan Research Consortium for Tropical Forests in Sarawak (JRCTS) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Nov 5, 2012, to enable the department and JRCTS to collaborate in a joint research project on tropical forest in the state.

“Under this MoU, both parties have committed to encourage and to foster join research and development (R&D) activities, including developing novel arrangements to increase the sharing of knowledge and expertise.

“This will help to establish greater academic, research and industry collaborations, and build a firm relation for the mutual benefit of tropical forests in Sarawak.”

On the symposium, Sapuan said it was the result of a long standing friendship between the Forest Department, Japanese universities and research institutions from Japan. The symposium is a platform for researchers to share their knowledge, ideas, and aspirations, especially on research on tropical forests in the state, including Lambir Hills National Park.

Therefore, he hoped the two-day gathering would lead to newresearch developments and nurture the development of international collaboration between Japan and Sarawak.

Among those present were JRCTS chief research coordinator Prof Dr Tohru Nakashizuka, Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment’s Permanent Secretary’s representative Tessy Nimos, Research Development and Innovation Division assistant director Runi Sylvester Pungga and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas)’s Prof Dr Hamsawi Sani.